X-Plastaz are back to the studio, and an album will be released soon. Though no date is set, it will sound different with African instruments incorporated. Jared Ombui talked to Steve Chrizostom Rutta a.k.a. Kamaa.

Jared Ombui: X-Plastaz has been silent or off the scene for long. Why?
Kamaa: Not that we are silent, but we are working on our second album. You can remember the first one was called Maasai Hiphop. It somehow fused different sounds from around Kilimanjaro.

Jared Ombui: What is the name of the second album? 
Kamaa: We haven’t settled on the name. But we expect to release a song very soon called Afrika. We believe it will touch hearts so, keep watching. In this track, we featured FidQ and Bamba Nazar.

Jared Ombui: What is Afrika about? 
Kamaa: It talks in-depth about poverty caused by war in Africa that seem a hard topic tackle because of web of causes and players. Remember, war is a business to some, and to others, impoverishment.

Jared Ombui: Poverty and war are topics already covered by so many artists in the continent but no pacification. Do you think you repeating such will have a far reaching impact?
Kamaa: Ours is simple. We are asking for war to end or not to occur. Success in that will obviously mean end to poverty.

Jared Ombui: Earlier, you mentioned about the album that is under-way. Where have you reached with it? 
Kamaa: At the moment we are recording a number of tracks. The date of release and album title will be official very soon.

Jared Ombui: Where are you recording the tracks? 
Kamaa: We are doing it in a number of studios. We have some at Bamba Nazar Studio and Kid Sundance Studio both in Holland, KZZ Production in Sweden and Fnook Records in Arusha, Tanzania.

Jared Ombui: Isn’t it dangerous to use multiple studios? 
Kamaa: No. Instead, a benefit of a different feel or taste from track to track. This can result to satisfying different people.

Jared Ombui: X-Plastaz first album was “Maasai Hip Hop” released in 2004. Do you think the new album will outshine it in art and sales? 
Kamaa: I think it will outshine the first one because “Maasai Hiphop” only came from one source, a label in Germany calledOut Here Records and never sold in Tanzania. The reason behind it could be that people or fans pirate the copies rather than buy. This new album will be marketed through all channels in Tanzania and across the globe. Looking at the art part of it, a unique sound is here. We have incorporated live instruments both contemporary and traditional.

Jared Ombui: As we wrap up, a word to X-Plastaz fans? 
Kamaa: The words of the late Faza Nelly, in a song, Msimu kwa msimu. “Listen Kamaa, people said that X-Plastaz is dead, but we never gave up. Instead we grew by moving across the world like a shining star.” Faza is no more, but we are at the helm of the revolution. The upcoming album is somehow a tribute to Faza Nelly but mixed with many other issues. We are proud to say that we have a new member, she is our younger sister called Maria. She is a talented singer, rapper and break-dancer.

*X-Plastazbegan in 1996. It is composed of Ruff, Gsann, Ziggy, the late Faza Nelly, Kamaa, Yamat Ole Meipuko a.k.a. Merege and Maria.Kamaa is participating in the Generation Bass Global Mashups duringIncubate Festival (Holland) this September, a project that pools music talents from non-western countries. Follow them onTwitter, Facebook and Myspace.