Tinashe Gonzara
13th of April 1993
Harare

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Ti Gonzi,(real name Tinashe Gonzara),is a multi-award winning rapper from Zimbabwe popularly known for Hipu Hopu YekuGhetto fame. He was born on the 13th of April in 1993 and bred in the dusty streets of Mufakose where he attended his primary education at Ruzivo primary school,his form 1 and 2 at Mhuri imwe secondary school and completed his form 3 and form 4 education at Mount Pleasant High school when his parents moved there with work.

Imwembeu,as he is referred to in some quarters, began freestyle rapping as a teen which earned him a name in the surrounding neighborhoods before national fame, however, he started recording professionally in 2008 and released his first 6-track album which was produced by Spencer Masango at Track Records in 2009 when he was 16 years old. The album however was not a success due to poor marketing and distribution and in 2012 he released his second offering titled M.P.M (Moyo Pfungwa neMweya/Motsi Piri Muyedzo) album a 12 track album which also did not reach mainstream success.In 2014,Ti Gonzi scooped his first ever award, the Best Freestyle Artist Award at the ZimHipHop Awards which was decided by the crowd present after a freestyle battle on the day.

All hell broke loose late 2015 when he dropped the hit single, "Zvenyu" which became very popular nationally in the streets as well as on all local radio stations."Zvenyu" settled on number one on the Star Fm charts for over 9 weeks and dominated the charts on Power Fm and Zi Fm Radios eventually making him the rapper the biggest winner at the 2015 ZimHipHop Awards walking away with 3 accolades,1.Best Collaboration Award, (Zvenyu featuring Baller),2.People's choice Award as well as 3. Best Freestyle Artist which he won again in 2016 and the category was removed in 2018 where no rapper had the guts to battle Ti Gonzi for the award.

 Hipu Hopu YekuGhetto album which the "Zvenyu" hitmaker released in 2016 was his most successful album which spawned hits such as "Hurombo" which he featured the song-bird Cindy, Dj Tamuka produced,"MaEx Angu single,"Photo Album", "Chirungu","Kwatabva","Ende Makaoma" featuring Dancehall musician,Ras Caleb including "Zvenyu" as well just to name a few.In 2017 Hipu Hopu YekuGhetto boss dropped "Best Mero" album which carried singles such as,"Tisvikewo","All i need","Chii","My Statements" and the likes. The album was produced by Bilberry and Gray Beats and it perfomed fairly well. In 2017,Shoko Festival chose Ti Gonzi to represent Zimbabwe at an African Festival which was hosted in Senegal.In 2019,Ti Gonzi collaborated with Ishan on the single titled,"Kure" which became a national hit, arguably the song of the year outside the ZimHip Hop boundaries making Ti Gonzi the first ever Zimbabwean rapper to reach a million views on Youtube.

Sadly on the 17th on March,2019,the talented rapper was heavily attacked on his way home from Oskid Productions studio  which left him battling for his life. During this period he dropped singles which bacame very popular such as,"Kufamba Murima" which got over 300 000 views,"MaBazooka Enzo nemaPumacol" as well as many features with popular musicians such as Jah Signal,XQ,Sniper,Maskiri,Willis Wattafi,Trey Young and a whole lot of other upcoming talent.
Ti Gonzi is arguably one of the Zimbabwean Hip Hop greatest of all time within a short space of time making ZimHipHop an acceptable genre to the Zimdancehall followers who contribute the larger population on Zimbabwe. He announced that Hipu Hopu Yekughetto Volume two has been recorded, mixed and mastered but did not specify more details on the project.His music is characterized by deep emotions, aggression,wordplay, witty rhymes,metaphors and similes as well as social and political commentary. On the 28 of September he will be perfoming in UK (Leicester) where he will share stage with Freeman and Jah Signal.He has also shared stage with the likes of CassperNyovest,Mafikizolo,Platnum Diamond,Emtee,Winky,Jah Prayzah to mention a few.

He has also perfomed in South Africa,Mozambique,Senegal and United Kingdom.The sky remains the limit for the talented rapper as he is well known for his ability to shake crowds during perfomances.

An award winning artist, he bagged 2 gongs at the NAMA Awards 2020. He beat powerhouse Winky D and Mambo Dhuterere to land the coveted Best male musician award. His collaboration with Ishan -Kure Kure, also scooped the Song of the year award beating off the stiff competition from songs like Ngaibake by Freeman ft Alick Macheso, Mugarden by Winky D ft Gemma Griffiths & Mweya Ndisesekedze by Mambo Dhuterere. Ti Gonz had two nominations at the Zimbabwe Music Awards (ZIMA) but he did not scoop any prize.

At the Star Fm music awards 2020, Ti Gonz came out as the biggest winner with six awards, ‘Imwembeu’ as he  is affectionately known by his followers, bagged awards in the Best African Pop Song Award, Best Newcomer Award, Best Collaboration Award, Song of the Year Award, Most Played Song on Star FM and the Best Male Artist Award categories
Ti Gonzi intends to change the face of Zim Hip Hop by targeting the ghetto youths.

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Albums

 

• Hipu Hopu YekuGhetto

• Sendiri Two
  
   

Awards

 

ZimHipHop Awards
Best Freestyle Artist Award 2014
.Best Collaboration Award, 2016
People's choice Award 2016
Best Freestyle Artist 2016

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Nama 2020
Best male musician award
Song of the year award

StarFm Awards 2020
Best African Pop Song Award
Best Newcomer Award
Best Collaboration Award,
Song of the Year Award,
Most Played Song on Star FM
Best Male Artist Award

Changamire Hip Hop Awards
BEST MALE
SONG OF THE YEAR
BEST HIP HOP VERSE
PEOPLE’S CHOICE