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In the year 2000, I was working at the National Academy of Sciences with a great group of people. One of whom was a guy who taught me a lot about music, specifically hip-hop and rap music. His name is Dumisani Ndlovu, but today, you’re going to get to know Dumi Right, the performer, the activist, the artist.
Dumi Right is a performing artist, MC and songwriter, who has been recognized as a standard bearer in global and progressive hip-hop circles for many years. He was first introduced to audiences during hip hop’s golden age (early 90s) as a member of Zimbabwe Legit, one of the first African hip-hop groups to gain international recognition.
He’s released a number of noteworthy album projects and has performed all across the country and on the world stage. He’s a throwback to the classic hip-hop style, with thought-provoking lyrics and poignant wordplay over a backdrop of rugged beats.
With hip-hop celebrating its 50th anniversary, I decided to reach out to Dumi to catch up, find out what he’s got going on now and upcoming and of course, what his favorite hip-hop albums are of all time.
What are you working on now in the music/hip-hop world? I am stepping more into the formal role of a hip-hop educator, doing rap workshops and teaching songwriting and performance. I have done that informally for a long time, but now I’ve been able to set up some real established situations where I have a budget and venue - all the infrastructure required. I like to consider myself as a communicator so I’ve done some really cool collaborations like winning a business pitch contest at SXSW called Pitch and Flow with a rap about a sustainable enterprise that turns trash into electricity in Addis Ababa.
Then I collaborated with the VCU Computer Science and Music Departments to highlight their program that teaches youth principles of computer programming through making beats. I also led a hip hop ensemble at GWU in DC. I have been finding as many opportunities as I can to perform and share my talents and message with audiences in venues of all kinds.
At the beginning of the year, I headed up a sold out show at the Kennedy Center titled, “2023: A Hip-Hop Odyssey.”
Besides that, I’m in the process of finishing up a new Dumi Right album that will also be pretty impactful once it drops. It embodies all the work and experience I’ve accumulated over the years. And I’m bringing along some marquee guests once again including Speech from Arrested Development, Chubb Rock, El Da Sensei, Breez Evahflowin’, YZ and more. The lead single is called “Life Is What You Make It” and it’s an epic anthem celebrating hip-hop and all the greats that have made it what it has become today, 50 years later.
Along those lines, tell me more about the work you did with the Kennedy Center: Back in 2014 (I can’t believe it’s been that long), the Kennedy Center was organizing their first ever hip-hop festival. I was fortunate to be able to get connected with that and I was the MC for a series of international artist concerts as well as having my group, Zimbabwe Legit perform.
Since that time, I have been fortunate enough to perform there four or five more times as part of various events, block parties and stand alone shows. I did a show with two hip-hop luminaries, Mike G from the Jungle Brothers and YZ. I also did two Dumi Right shows featuring ensembles that I put together including vocalists, musicians and dancers. It’s such an incredible place to perform and I consider myself very fortunate to have been able to share my talents at such an auspicious venue over the years.
What music are you most proud of that you’ve been a part of so far? I think hearing from listeners, I never realized until the emergence of social media how much of an impact our debut EP, Zimbabwe Legit had globally. I mean people all over the world heard it and it resonated with them. Just a few weeks ago I got a random message from someone that said they heard about it while they were out in a remote area in Zimbabwe back in the day, and were inspired by it. More recently though, the last album I dropped called Doin’ It The Right Way was pretty special. It was 100% my brainchild from inception to implementation.
I will also say that the Zimbabwe Legit House of Stone was an unbelievable feat given the roster of talent I was able to assemble as supporting artists, from Mike G of the Jungle Brothers to Stic from Dead Prez. I still am not sure how I pulled that off and on the independent tip.
Finally, what are your top hip-hop albums of all time? That’s so hard to narrow down to just ten, so here are eleven that I love, even though I have easily a Top 30:
Public Enemy - It Takes a Nation of Millions
A Tribe Called Quest - Low End Theory
The Notorious B.I.G. - Life After Death
Queen Latifah - All Hail the Queen
KRS One - Return of the Boom Bap
Outkast - Aquemini
Common - Like Water for Chocolate
The Roots - Illadelph Halflife
Masta Ace - Disposable Arts
Run DMC - Raising Hell
Organized Konfusion - Stress the Extinction Agenda
You can learn more about Dumi Right and all he’s got going on at his website and through his social media channels:
I hope you all get to experience and appreciate the amazing stuff that he’s doing.
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