Riddims And Raps
Earlier this year, Guti Razor dropped Gratitude Wave. No hype roll-out, no city-wide billboards — just the music and the belief that if it’s good, it’ll speak for itself. But sometimes, the streets take a minute to catch on and Guti felt this one deserved a proper conversation, the same way we unpacked Love Wave on this very platform.
And just so you know, this run isn’t over. Next month we’ll be talking about another tape from his vault that’s already out, but still waiting for its moment in the sun.
The tape kicks off with Gratitude and don’t let the title fool you into expecting some gospel intro. Razor codes the theme with off the mark lyricism short to say naughty, throwing in a left-field line about falling in love with the sober version of himself.
ItsDontWorry and Swaygo slide in to add their own colour, making it an opener that’s more layered than it first sounds.
Pick Up the Pieces comes off like a street hustler’s mantra. Gold Furnace — a name you’ll see all over this tape is right there in the trenches with him. Guti Razor says a lot of this was recorded camp-style, and you can hear it: no over-polishing, just grit and breath still on the mic.
Nascar switches lanes but keeps the engine running. Sai’s vocals cut through like warm sunlight on chrome, while Aytee sneaks in a verse that glides over the beat.
On The Man, the vibe flips to chest-out braggadocio. Gold Furnace returns, this time flanked by Donne Jovi and if swagger was a currency, this track would be inflation-proof.
Summer Jam feels like a mid-session breather. Swaygo’s back, the bounce is relaxed and you can almost hear the chairs scraping on the studio floor between takes.
The tempo spikes again with VamaNyoni — a hype joint built for dance floors but dressed with a hustler’s gospel. “Go hard, thank the Lord” is the undertone, and Gold Furnace proves once more he’s not just a recurring feature, he’s Guti’s in-pocket chemistry partner.
How Much I Love You is an interesting pivot. Sonically, it’s the most accessible track here with polished instrumentation, relatable lyrics and Griffin Makwiramiti’s steady flow in the background. It’s built for more than just hip hop heads; this one could easily sneak into any playlist.
Then there’s Face Your Fears which the writer feels is the heavyweight bout of the tape. Guti and Donne Jovi both show pen game, but Donne Jovi lands the sharper jabs. The beat is hard enough to match the intensity, and for rap purists, this is the one.
Sheikh Zayed Road closes the project in slow motion. Mizoan helps steer it into reflective territory and makes the kind of track you don’t dance to, you just sit with.
Gratitude Wave isn’t a flawless project, but it doesn’t pretend to be. It’s campfire hip hop — messy in parts, brilliant in others, and powered by genuine chemistry between Guti Razor and his circle. Some joints are clear standouts (Face Your Fears, VamaNyoni, How Much I Love You), while others feel like session-born experiments that made the cut because the vibe was right.
Guti’s not playing the traditional “drop and disappear” game. He’s pulling projects from his catalogue, holding them up to the light, and letting the public judge. And from where I’m standing, that’s exactly how you build a discography that lasts.
Here's the link to the project, share your rating in the dialogue box below
