Bridging Tradition and Modernity: A review of Don Max’s La Tohme Album

La Tohme ( It is Difficult).

There can never be a phrase that describes life and human existence than the difficulty mankind faces and fights with every day to make life better. This is the central Theme of Rapper Don Max’s debut album.

An album that is made raw and exposes the reality of social issues in their raw form, La Tome touches on virtually all aspects of humans’ existence. The Young Rapper might not be your everyday favorite Rapper, but he is the Rapper that would expose everyday societal issues on any day. His touch with tradition is what makes him standout and La Tohme is a manifestation of this trait as he brings together Contemporary Rap music and Traditional Kolkor Music in a seamless manner that is appealing to both the young and the old, the urban folk and the rural folk, as well as Rap fans and Kolkor enthusiasts.

The Ten track album begins with La Tome which is the title of the album and dissects the struggle of human life and the omnipotence of God to protect the down-trodden amidst scorn, neglect and bad faith of family and friends. This song lynchpins Kolkor to Rap as it features Tradition Kolkor musician and instrumentalist – Amodoo.

The second song Poka dela is a hiplife song that talks about ladies and their shenanigans, their love for money and fake lifestyles, and has production credits to the talented Azkonnah.

The standout song and my personal favorite features Atimbila of hit maker fame and is so not just for the message it carries, but its distinct production. I have long been waiting to see an artiste that has vocal prowess and can as well string the Kolkor like what Atimbila did on Gongo Mi’ilum (Education). The melodies of the Kolkor together with the kicks and snares provides a unique sound that the world should listen. The songs proves the power of the Kolkor over acoustic guitars and produces a new sound just as the legendary Atongo Zimba showed the World in 2004 with his world hit ‘No beer in Heaven’.

The message of the song is so instrumental especially with the current development of the nation Ghana, as it educates parents, guardians to make education a priority as it is a basic fundamental right of every child as enshrined in the constitution of Ghana. Gongo mi’ilum also advises young children to pay attention in school since it is their part to learn and stay in school.

Again, Don Max unites modernity with tradition in ‘Bane tom Kumi’ which features another traditional vocalist and instrumentalist called Nyaabila. Here, they talk about realities of life and how mankind is bent on destroying fellow kind.

Don Marx closes the album with a praise to mothers and ladies as the central pillars of home, their unending love for their children and the need to not take mothers for granted. He calls on young people to appreciate their mothers and not forget about them in their ageing stages.

La Tome is an album that you must get, not only does it talk about social issues that mainstream commercial artistes fail to touch, but it also presents a new sound to the world. It opens a new way of making music. Don Max is definitely a prodigy that you should look out for.

Call +2332240315181 or +233209022645 to order for Don Max’s La Tome

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