TIPTOPSTARS

The widely acclaimed Cameroon based MuMak label is thrilled to announce the online release and cover art of Jovi’s highly anticipated debut album. H.I.V, the title of the said album stands for Humanity Is Vanishing referring to mankind’s evolution from a state of naturalness to a rather dysfunctional and artificial lifestyle.

Earlier this year, Jovi dropped a series of successful club-banging hit singles including Don 4 Kwat, Man Pass Man and Pitie featuring Congolese rumba legend Rochereau Tabu Ley. All his releases have been critically acclaimed by many Cameroonians and foreigners alike who feel Jovi has somehow put his country (affectionately known in the genre’s palance as “Kamer”) Hip-Hip on the spotlight with renowned TV networks such as Channel 0, Trace TV and MTV Base airing his songs unstoppably.

Jovi’s rap style is unique simply because he successfully fuses Cameroonian pidgin English and standard English to vividly portray and satirise people’s lifestyle and mentality. This further gives his music the much-needed local and global appeal, an ingredient to breakthrough in today’s ever-changing and highly competitive music industry.

The album cover is a chef-d'oeuvre that shows a close facial portrait of Jovi like an African version of the legendary Che Guevara, symbolising him as the leader of a new musical movement on the Cameroon urban music scene. The photography and cover art design is the handiwork of fellow Cameroonian visuals guru, February 16th.

H.I.V is a 13-track classic that portrays Jovi as a multi-talented innovative African Hip-Hop artist/producer. The album is one of the most anticipated African Hip-Hop rendezvous of the year and promises to exceed the expectations of Jovi's fans across the world. Also featuring alongside Rochereau Tabu Ley (Pitie) are Cameroonian music legends Eko Roosevelt (Attends-Moi/Bushfalla), and Krotal (Achombo House). The other artistes that appeared on this project are fellow MuMak label mates Magasco, Elad, Renise, Rachel Applewhite, Deecey and Will Kan.

As part of the social media build up to the H.I.V release, the Cameroonian- born rapper will release a sequel of up close and personal interviews, a fan rap contest, behind the scenes happenings and another breath taking music video accordingly. The album will be available on iTunes, amazonmp3.com and other popular online stores while the physical CDs will be available in stores soon after.

It should be recalled that Jovi picked up prizes at the recent Cameroon Entertainment Awards – best rap act and best music video respectivelyas well as Best collabo alongside Sine in Koh Koh and Best music producer under his producer pen name LeMonstre.