Placed 5th on the ‘Top Hip Hop Artists’ list in Kenya on Reverbnation, behind Nonini, Diamonah, Mandech and Verse Kali, but already ahead of the likes of Chiwawa and Abbass Kubaff, there’s no denying that Camp Mulla are the current reigning hip hop group in Kenya.
Taio Tripper, Young Kass, K’Cous and Miss Karun have taken not just the country, but the region by storm with their urban hip hop musical movement and their chart domination, even making history by becoming the first Kenyan group to be featured on America’s Black Entertainment Channel (BET).
There’s a lot that Kenya’s Camp Mulla have in common with America’s Black Eyed Peas. Here’s what makes our top 5 list in the comparison
1. Pure Duo Rap History
The Black Eyed Peas initially consisted of 1988 eight graders William Adams (Will.i.am) and Allan Pineda (Apl.de.ap) rapping and performing around the streets of Los Angeles, California. The pair was eventually noticed in 1994 by Ruthless Record CEO Eazy E and signed on to the label, though they never released their album, GrassRoots, because Eazy E passed on.
They teamed up with another friend of theirs, Dante Santiago, and together they were known as the ATBAN (A Tribe Beyond a Nation) Klann. They reformed and changed their names to the Black Eyed Pods but again to the Black Eyed Peas as Santiago was replaced by Jamie Gomez (Taboo)
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Camp Mulla also consisted of just two rappers at the onset, Young Kass and Taio Tripper who teamed up under manager Myke Tuchi to do a series of experimental projects around 2009. Their talent was clearly evident as they mostly did their gigs at gatherings and on campus.
Their music distribution was mainly on online platforms Sound Cloud and Reverbnation in addition to word of mouth and connections.
2. The Ladies Spiced things Up
Miss Kahun later on joined Camp Mulla, adding her sultry and sassy vocals. This proved to be just what the group needed as she also came in with K’Cous summing up the membership and ensuring the group could make their beautiful music.
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Fergie, the ‘blonde haired bombshell’ according to American newspaper Rolling Stone, joined the Black Eyed Peas in 2001. Nicole Scherzinger had been approached first though she was under contract to another band at the time. Her vocals also completed what is today THE Black Eyed Peas, pushing them to their massive success
3. Fashion and Style Defiance
The Black Eyed peas refused to conform to the ‘gangsta rap’ sounds and style that were predominant in Los Angeles at the time, instead choosing to go with their own sort of live band sound as well as an eclectic dress code, shedding off all the ‘bling bling’ and grabbing subtle accessories and ‘futuristic’ fashion senses.
They also did what few hip hop bands would go for, fusing Hip Hop and RnB to come up with pleasant sounds and unique tunes and beats.
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Camp Mulla call there music ’25 Flow’ which sounds like Kenya’s country code ‘254’ and is representative of their own style of Hip Hop and RnB fusion that makes their music ‘fluid’ to the ears. This is important to their producer, Marcus Kibukosya, who keeps a ‘Kenyan state of mind’.
The groups fashion sense is unique in that they look ‘gangsta’ yet fashionably sensible to the African youth at the same time.
Checkout Camp Mulla music Lyrics here >>
See Camp Mulla’s latest video ‘Fresh All Day’ below…
