On the eve of their album release, Prends soin de toi, I was fortunate enough to stumble upon and witness Muhoza, a Cameroonian-Rwandan, Montreal-based rapper, alongside his eight-piece band. His music blends jazz rap with R&B elements, resulting in a sound that’s vibrant but just really, really smooth.
If there were one word to describe their performance, it would be infectious. Muhoza raps with clarity and intensity, but radiates pure, unadulterated joy. He bounces around the stage, hyping up his band and high-fiving them between songs. His band returns the energy in kind. Everyone looks genuinely happy to be there.
His right-hand man, Carson [Alphonse], is a fixture on almost every song. His soulful voice and skillful vocal runs provide the perfect complement to Muhoza’s rapping, usually in the form of a catchy hook or a gorgeous chorus. The two play off each other effortlessly.
Not enough can be said about the rest of his band. Somaya, a Montreal-based singer, brings a softer vocal touch, while Bianka, the man who can’t seem to stop smiling, lays down tasteful guitar licks. Then there’s his saxophonist and flutist, Noah Tremblay-Mimouni, who weaves flourishes of jazz into the music. Each member brings something great to the table.
Look, I can’t speak French. I have no idea what any of the songs are about. But if we’re going to challenge the age-old (corny) idea that music transcends language, there’s no better artist to make the case than Muhoza.
