De Mthuda – Ubuhle Bakho (Noise Reshuffle) ft. Thuli P Amapiano heavyweight De Mthuda returns to a classic with “Ubuhle Bakho (Noise Reshuffle)”, bringing in Thuli P for the concluding track of his “Noise” EP.
The original “Ubuhle Bakho” by Mas Musiq, DJ Maphorisa and Acatears already had a lot of weight in the Amapiano collection. Bringing it back in new form with Thuli P’s loud contribution is no casual decision. It is De Mthuda bridging the dots between his history and present – finishing the “Noise” EP with something that pays homage to his roots while adding a contemporary dimension.
The most defining characteristic of the reshuffle is Thuli P’s voice. She has a warm and expressive delivery, over a reconstructed production, which De Mthuda shapes differently than the original, without losing its emotional core. Because a shuffle that sounds like the original is of little value, but a shuffle that removes some pieces and rebuilds around a different vocal center offers something worth returning to on its own terms.
And it’s also a good structural move to close the EP on this tune. “Noise” commences with “Skuta”, a solo instrumental that establishes De Mthuda’s supremacy as a producer without anyone else. Then it ends with a Thuli P vocal over a reshuffled classic — warmth and emotion after energy that grew thru the center of the project. That arc gives the EP a start and finish that feels intentionally crafted rather than haphazardly slapped together.
As for this final tune, it’s a reminder to listeners who have been with De Mthuda since the days of the “Ace of Spades” with Ntokzin, that his instinct for emotive production has never left him — it just continues finding new forms.
Listen to “Ubuhle Bakho (Noise Reshuffle)” and let us know if De Mthuda saved the best for last on the “Noise” EP!
Discussion