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Brenda Phiri Entertainment Reporter
Hip-hop artiste Alishias “Maskiri” Musimbe, who recently released a song “Africa” with RnB/pop singer Keisha White, seems to have turned over a new leaf. Once a “king of controversy” on the local music scene, Maskiri said he has left behind the bad boy tag to focus on growing his music. The singer, who is in South Africa to shoot the video of his new song, has been singing a new anthem of positivity and productivity lately.

“I have grown from those days when we used the bad boy tag as a strategy to draw attention. I have always wanted to be different. I am the same person but it is all about growing the brand now,” he said.

True to his sentiments, it had been a while since his mischief made newspaper headlines and many had concluded that he had lost his edge.

Instead, the topical collaboration with the international star comes at a time when he was recording success with his fragrance AlishiasMaskiri with a clothing line being said to be coming up.

“I have been receiving messages from different people who are commending me for the good work and I must say, these are completely different comments from what I used to get,” he said.

Maskiri also revealed that his union with the “Weakness in Me” hit singer went beyond their duet.

He said she introduced him to her team who he had been showing the ropes in the music ever since.

“I cannot reveal much at this stage but all I can say is that more great things are coming in the near future. Music is all about learning,” he said.

“There is work to be done before we, as locals think of dominating beyond Zimbabwe. There is need for us to work together and uplift each other. The problem with our artistes is that they are selfish. It is each man for himself, you know several times I have had to persuade quite a number so that we work together.

“I look them up on social media and inbox them. This is because I understand that we need to be a single unit for us to push our music outside Zimbabwe. I support all local artistes.”