10 of the Best Music Groups That The Kenyan Music Industry Has Ever Seen

The Kenyan music scene is hard to maneuver as an individual, which is why many artists have tried their hand at the game as music groups and bands. I guess like they say two heads are better than one.

Today we break down 10 of the hottest music bands that have graced the Kenyan music industry, some of whom are still in the business while other are now long forgotten.

Here are the 10 hottest music groups in Kenya’s music industry;

1.Sauti Sol

One word to describe this band would have to be phenomenal. They are the first Kenyans to win an MTV Award (and not the homegrown MAMA Awards).

And on YouTube they are equally as popular, with most of their videos surpassing the 500k views and others like ‘Sura Yako’ surpassing the 1 million mark.

Clearly Sauti Sol have come a long way from their Lazizi days and hopefully still have a long way to go. With a rap-sheet like that in my opinion they are the best of the best when it comes to Kenyan music.

2. E-sir and Nameless

I know, I know, you are probably wondering why I put E-sir and Nameless on this list. Well as you might remember the two partnered for a couple of tracks back in the day, which as I recall were on everybody’s lips and on constant rotation on the airwaves. And the two I believe would have kept at it if it weren’t for the tragic accident that saw the end of E-sir’s reign.

Plus you just can’t make a list of the greats and exclude the Godfather himself, E-sir.

3. J.A.B (Just a Band)

Just a Band will be most remembered for their song ‘Makmende’ that gained them the world’s attention and even got them a spot at one of the largest news networks, CNN.

But it’s not just one song with these guys, they’ve constantly produced hot jams the likes of ‘Huff Puff’, ‘Dunia ina Mambo’ among others. And in all of these songs it is their unique sound a sort of fusion between trance music and a futuristic African sound (I guess, I don’t know what it is) that captured our ears and attention each time.

4. Kalamashaka (featured in the Source)

But when it comes to raw Hip Hop in Kenya, the boys from the Dandora Slums, Kalamashaka. They were the embodiment of raw Kenyan hip hop and the first to get international acclaim working with artists like Dead Prez among others. They were even featured on American Hip hop magazine ‘The Source’.

However these achievements alone are not what make Kalamashaka truly one of the greats, rather it is the fact that in their wake they have rallied countless other hip hop stars in Kenya the likes of Lazizi, Necessary Noise, K-South, Ukoo Fulani, Mashifta and many others I’m sure.

5. K-South (created what we now call Kapuka)

The group comprised Abbas Kubaf and Bamboo and created the ‘Kapuka’ music revolution. Their’s was hip hop with a Kenyan feel, which they called Kapuka in their song ‘Kapuka’.

Soon enough everyone else was doing Kapuka and before K-south broke off they had already put up an album with a lot of songs which you might remember, the likes of ‘Tabia Mbaya’, ‘Nairobbery’ (Which is the name of the album), ‘Kapuka’ among others.

Together Abbas and Bamboo were like Redman and Method man, if you bump to that type of ish.

6. Camp Mulla

We all know and remember Camp Mulla and they’re sad break-up story, but what we remember them most for is their music.

Their music was in a few words, crisp, clean and new-age hip hop. Their videos were the same too, Camp Mulla were just a breath of fresh air in an industry that had very little to offer and certainly nothing new.

But the youngsters’ individual egos got in the way and the group broke-off. And even as talented as they were, as individuals none of them can accomplish anything close to what they did in a group.

7. Kleptomaniax

Before Camp Mulla brought young swag to the TV screens, it was Klepto that was holding it down for the youngsters out there.

The Kleptomaniax put up songs like ‘Magnetic’, ‘Swing’ but we most remember their song ‘Tuendelee’, their best song ever which sprang up from a beef between them and ‘Chiwawa’.

After that Klepto broke off and went on to individual projects. Roba and Nyashinski vanished into nothingness and Collo put up a few good tracks before going Houdini himself.

8. Necessary Noise

Remember the song ‘Kenyan boy’? We all bumped to it and many of Necessary Noise’s jams back in javs back in the day.

Yep, before Nazizi, became the hot Instagram Diva she is now and cut her dreads, she used to make sweet sweet music with Wyre.

The two have gone solo now, but it is their time and music together that we remember most.

9. Wakimbizi

“John, nampenda John,” my word I wish I knew what I was singing back in the day when this jam came out.

Back when senseless Kenyan music had meaning, it was Wakimbizi that had us singing their silly songs. But after a while they slowly slipped into distant memory.

Where are Wakimbizi?

10. P-Unit

It was with Nonini in the song ‘Si lazima’ that P-unit broke off and won us over with their witty lyrics and catchy hooks.

This past year was especially good for P-Unit putting up songs like ‘Weka Weka’ before they eventually broke off and went their separate ways.

As you have read, with the exception of Sauti Sol and J.A.B. Kenya has a dark history when it comes to music groups.

But hopefully this can be changed, and you could start the change. If you believe you have musical talent then the Star Africa Sounds Music competition is for you.

Orange brings you the Star Africa Sounds 2015 Music Contest for a chance to live your dream as a musician. Maybe you can start your own music group and it can be as successful as Sauti Sol.

Log ontohttp://en.starafrica.com/music/registrationand get registered today!