The Zimbabwean music industry has been dominated by men for a long time, and Zim Hip Hop is no exception. However, some women have managed to go toe-to-toe with the best across the board in terms of skill, quality, work ethic, and many other attributes. When discussing the most prominent female rappers to come out of Zimbabwe, Trae Yung is a name that frequently appears on many people’s lists.
By Tanaka Denglish
Born Tracy Mbeulani, Trae Yung is a prominent rapper and MC from Harare, Zimbabwe. She gained initial recognition with hits like “Ndikoko,” “After Party,” “Tafiniaiser,” and “My Way,” which topped charts on Zimbabwe’s Power FM—an achievement that many are yet to match.”
Trae Yung’s career rose to prominence with her collaboration on the compilation album “SHAURA” alongside artists like Dija, Mr. Noxa, and Snazzy. Her talent led to further collaborations with notable Zimbabwean artists such as Ex Q, Ba Shupi, and Diana Samkange. Early projects like “Kickin Up A Storm” with Dark Face and MC Cut helped establish her further in the music scene.
She released several projects, including her EP, “Easy Does It,” featuring tracks like “Toziva Zvipi,” “Pachi Corner,” and “Switch Up.” Another significant project is “G.O.A.T (Greatest of All Time),” a collaborative album with Noble Stylz.
Trae Yung performed at numerous prestigious events, including ZIMFEST in Oslo, Norway, and other gigs across Europe. In Zimbabwe, she has performed at several shows and shared the stage with major artists like Professor from South Africa and Rn’B & house songstress Busisiwe ‘Bucie’ Nqwiliso also from South Africa who she shared the stage with at Shoko Festival 2015 at the Zimbabwe Museum of Human Sciences.
Her achievements include winning the Best Female Hip-hop Artist award at the Zim Hip Hop Awards in 2012 and 2013, among other nominations. Additionally, she expanded her influence by launching her company, Tribe Trae, which offers services such as PA system hire, event management, merchandise printing and more.
She has been quiet from the Zimbabwean music scene for some years now and we would love to connect with her and hear about her current creative projects. Keep your ear on the ground!”
– X: @tanakadenglish
– IG: @kingdenglish
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Great read. She made waves back in the days, we called her the Masofapanze Queen. She was big