Month: May 2012

No wonder guys were all up in Octopizzo’s allegations of being a member of the Illuminati. The guy has so many businesses that success just can’t help but follow him around. To those with the claims, I say get your hustle on and let Master Mason do his thing.

Slowly building his empire, he has opened various businesses such as his own touring company called ‘Chocolate City Tours’, his own stall for clothes among others. He has now added his own clothing line to his list of businesses.

Last week I shared with you some of the Snapbacks that bare his name and are currently doing good in the market.

Octo has now added tops in his set of customised clothes for sale (OCTOPIZZO WEAR), both for males and females and I have to say that they look really good. I wouldn’t mind having one for myself. They also come in different colours and designs, the choice is yours.

Place your orders on Octopizzo’s site while stocks last.

Sensational award winning artiste Jimmy Gait will be launching his new song ‘Oleey oleey’ featuring talented gospel rapper

Holy Dave and this year’s best dancing group, Altamin Dancers by the end of this week.

Jimmy confirmed to us that it’s a motivational song that is intended to motivate many people not to give up even when there is no money, but to believe in God and oneself. Anything is possible when we believe.

The song is a fusion of Lingala, West Africa and Niger, but gospel’s hip hop sensation Holy Dave complement it with a hip hop swagg.

Check out some of the photos during the video shoot

 

 

 

The melodious singer/ pastor, Rev Kathy Kiuna has dropped a new album titled

‘Arise music’ together with the ever energetic JCC worship team.

If you haven’t seen Rev Kathy singing, then you better visit JCC church and get to know the talent that this woman has. The JCC Worship team will always make you dance when they are on stage thus make you think that you are in a disco.

Rev Kathy promises that this will be the best praise and worship album.

See the preview of what to expect in the album

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Websites and social media have become an integral part in a music artist’s career and quest to push their music and their brand in an increasingly competitive scope in Kenya. 

Entertainment industry gurus and celebrities have to keep up with international trends and further their reach not just to local fans but also to potential international ones as the global music industry becomes close knit and seeks for ‘connected’ artistes.

It is important then that as an artist of any scope, you keep your fans in the loop of what’s going on in not just your music but your life, so that fans may corelate with you and become more loyal to your brand. We’ve picked out some websites which we think stand out in Kenya for both their design and the effort to connect with fans. Here they are:

 

NoniniMusic.com

His website features regular updates and sneek peaks, including professionally done videography about his social responsibility campaigns such as Colour Kwa Face. When he has musical releases, the first place to get the videos or audios is on his site.

Regular features as on most international artiste sites are present, such as Downloads, Gallery, Biography and Press features with captions from his mentions in both local and international media outlets. You can also register and log into the site to get a fuller experience and leave comments or subscription notices.

 

Octopizzo.com

The automatic audio feature on the site announces that you have arrived at a hip hop site, and the layout is user friendly and simple. Features included are events, a gallery and direct feedback access for fans as you can send your shoutouts or comments and also find out more about the rapper on the site.

 

ThisisCreme.com

This website is more or less an entertainment news site which utilizes the top DJs connections and keeps his fans up to date with what he has been upto.

In addition to the news features, downloads are available as well as trending music and galleries of your favourite celebrities.

 

JulianiOnline.com

This relatively new website is quite breathtaking, and we appreciate it more for its design qualities than the content, which we hope will steadily grow. The website is more of a portal for fans to register their neighbourhoods and participate in various competitions the artiste has.

He takes his youth empowerment seriously, with the Kama Si Sisi movement updates and press releases featured on the site. Mostly though, you can also connect to his official social media accounts on sites such as Twitter, Facebook and YouTube.

 

ParkingLotGrass.com

The design and layout of this website is undoubtedly attractive, with regular news features and updates keeping the look fresh and urban.

There are portals to check out tour dates and gigs as well as recurrent galleries as well as a comprehensive biography. You can also listen to their music via a nifty audio widget on the site.

 

StellaMwangi.com

This girl definitely does get busy, with tours and constant travel across two continents and one of the most vibrant social media footprints of any artiste in the region, STL keeps her fans in the loops of all that goes on.

Her site is extensively linked to her Facebook and YouTube accounts as she involves Team-STL in her life, which is why she has a firm online following and leading hits on her video links. On her website you can make your bookings as well as find out more about her or her music.

 

JoeMfalme.com

This is one busy DJ, from the constant hit mixes he releases to this comprehensive website that keeps his fans up to date with what he is upto. The website has a large collection of his mixes and available downloads as well as tour dates and galleries.

His social network scope is also up to scratch as the site is linked to his Twitter and Facebook accounts, with an active fanbase that regularly tweets, comments and downloads.

The whole Africa is talking about Kenya’s representative in the Big Brother house. He has been bringing drama in the Upville especially

when he frequently attacks South African representative.

Do you think our own CMB Prezzo is playing his cards right or he should change his tactics?

South African fans are so annoyed with Prezzo to the extent of calling him abusive names. Kenyans are happy with their man because they see him as the person who will bring the price money home.

Prezzo is one of the most liked people in Upville by his fellow contestants although there are some who hate him especially after he told Barbz that she is too old to not be married with kids.

Barbz accused Prezzo of being afraid of her during her diary private session, but I think she should just be brave enough and tell Prezzo instead of back biting him. Prezzo manned up when he apologized to her, why then should Barbz say that God is the one who forgives and yet she tearfully accepted the sweet apology on camera.

Either guys hate on Prezzo or not, he is still our 254 representative, and will support him.

‘My land is Kenya’ is a patriotic song that will always remind you how lucky we are to have such a beautiful country. When Roger Whittaker,

who is an English- Kenyan singer/songwriter sang this beautiful well crafted song just for Kenya, he trully gave us a reason of being proud of our country.

He was born in Nairobi, Kenya in 1963 and since then his love for his motherland is great, I think he is a living example that no matter the tribe, colour or social class, we still are Kenyans.

I think this the best patriotic song about Kenya. If we didn’t have a national anthem, there is no doubt it would be voted as one.

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You can now be part of the Juliani Mtaa Tour and even get to mingle with him. For those who are not familiar with this tour, it is all about Juliani performing in the hoods of Nairobi.

The theme of the tour ‘Kutabadilishwa na nani kama si sisi’. These are the lyrics to the song ‘kama si sisi’ that paved way for Juliani.

He has now set up a website in which you can neatly select the hood you come from and stand to win marvelous Juliani merchandise with the main price being a concert in your hood. What’s even better is that in this concert, you get to be the sole V.I.P.

You simply visit the site, click your hood route number and order Juliani’s album, ‘Pulpit Kwa Street’. All you need to get started is click here.

Kenyan producer Chris Adwar has put together another sterling musical offering which is set to firmly place this rising star back in the limelight after a prolonged hiatus from the scene.

Meet Wini Nkinda, who was one half of the famous BOOMBA GIRLS and has risen to fame as a result of her involvement and passion in Dance. Wini is now a recording and performing artist with her first track just released over the weekend at a spectacular launch in The Office, on Nairobi’s Mombasa Road.

HISIVI features QQU and is doing well on local media since its audio release, with great feedback both on and offline. The launch, which happened on the 12th of May 2012, coincided with her birthday. Have a look at the video to ‘Hisivi’ and show Wini some love by commenting below….

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The super producer, Ulopa Ngoma is known for his club hitting productions, but he also teams up as a talented musician. He is specialized in

secular music, but this time round Bwana Ngoma (Ulopa) has shifted to singing gospel music.

He has featured in Uganda’s gospel artiste Camouflaged brand new song ‘Gimmie more’. I think Ulopa has discovered that gospel pays more than secular music.

Have a look at the video

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Gospel singer and one of the most original and true at it, Eunice Njeri has just released her latest song. Speaking of her undying love for The Creator in a way that captures your heart and soul, she comes with ‘Nimekubali’.

The song produced by R Kay, has a colourful and wonderful video that goes well with the uplifting lyrics of the smooth voiced artiste. ‘Nimekubali’ talks about the daily life happenings and the acceptance of God and His Works into life.

The video of the song has just been released and yet again through us, you are among the first to see it.

Shot along the University Way, this is one of the simplest yet awesome videos ever shot. Check it out.

Five lyrically lethal rappers teamed up to narrate their experience of one (imaginary) wild night that turned into a crazy morning. Kind of something like the movie Hangover, except this is the rap version.

Rappers Abbas Kubaff, Kayvo Kforce, 6Foot, VooDoo Seller and Dirty Damu collaborated on this track that takes us through the shocking morning full of discoveries of the previous night that was apparently the craziest night they’ve ever had.

The verses are delivered back-to-back by the rappers, in a conversation kind of way which makes it even more interesting.

The track is produced by the Headbangaz International studio and has just been released/uploaded one hour ago, so you know that you are among the first to have a listen to it.

I’d hate to have experienced what these guys went through. Just check it out.

Twice Tusker Project Fame winner Alpha Rwirangira might be working on something with American singers after he

wrote: ‘’In California, Los Angeles, something nice cooking. Stay tuned… Love is the key to success.’’

The Rwandese artiste posted photos of him and Brandy’s younger brother Ray J, Michael Jackson’s video director Mr. Banks, James Canon and Nick Cannon’s dad which he took during his trip in California.

The talented singer hinted that he might be collaborating with an American artiste but he didn’t say who it is. 

Check out his photos

                             Alpha with Ray J

                                         Alpha with Nick Canon’s dad

2012 Groove Awards Group of the Year Adawnage, together with Zidi the band will headline the ZiAda Concert from the 1st of June 2012 at the Mombasa Pentecostal Church.

This is part of the ‘Nitume Nitumie’ initiative that the acclaimed musicians have embarked on, with a current bible study plan on the book of John chapter 10. with special emphasis on verse 10. The theme for the concert will be ‘What Is Your Story’ and the two bands team up for a weekend of Christian music, amazing performances, preaching and bible study through to 3rd June 2012.

Adawnage’s latest album cover ‘Safari’

 

Click here to see the COMPLETE list of 2012 Groove Awards winners

The collaborative efforts of Adawnage and Zidi Band are meant to discourage young people from negative social habits such as use of drugs and sexual immorality. The dates to mark are;

Friday 1st June 2012: 4pm – 7pm. at MPC Church
Saturday 2nd June 2012: 3pm – 6pm. at Aga Khan Academy theatre.
Sunday 3rd June 2012: Leading worship at MPC Church services.

Following the release of their HOT new single ‘Vile Inafaa’ last week, Muthoni the Drummer Queen and rapper Octopizzo having been working around the clock on the video to the song.

The shoot took place over the past weekend at the Homeboyz Radio rooftop on Baricho Road, and we’re looking forward to see how they match the video and choreographic quality to the audio excellence that we heard.

Click here to listen to ‘Vile Infaa’ – Muthoni DQ feat. Octopizzo

Here are a couple of the photos from the shoot, courtesy of Muthoni’s Photos on Lockerz

The king of mugithi JB Maina is suing the multi national telecommunication company

Safaricom for the use of his songs like ‘Ni sorry muno, Tiga kumute’ and ‘Mundia tawe’as ringtones through their surf and win skiza promotion without his consent.

The mugithi king claims that his CDs and DVDs sale has drastically reduced since Safaricom started selling his songs for as low as Shs 5 bob.

According to the Nairobi Law Monthly, Safaricom claims that they signed a content provision agreement with Interactive Media Services and Liberty Afrika Technologies to make all payments necessary for licenses and rights because they (Safaricom) don’t deal with artistes directly.

The artiste is awaiting a court date from Milimani commercial courts even as Safaricom claims that they paid Liberty Afrika all that is due to JB Maina

We have all heard stories involving treacherous “chipoz” aye?

 If you haven’t then here’s one. G-Kon one of the rappers that gave us “Furu Furu!” was robbed over the weekend by lasses he’s taken home for the night.

After a night of um… how do i hang an air freshener on this… after a night of fitness excersises, he left said “fans” at his place as any gentleman would seeing as he had an early morning engagement (he had to travel to Meru for a performance).

Apparently, the lasses cleaned out his entire house! Yup, they left him with nothing! They stole everything!

If that isn’t a bad way to start your Sunday: walking home to an empty house, then i don’t know what is!

here’s to hoping he will recover financially from this in no time.

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Tracing some international artistes with roots in Kenya, I came across a rather interesting musician who uses ingenious beats and rythmn to piece together unique sounds that set him apart from conventional artistes.

Meet MC Xander, a British musician and producer who is well known for making music using only his voice and a loopstation, and more often than not, the results just leave you with your mouth open.

Describing the sounds he makes as ‘progressive dancehall’, Xander  predominately juggles between the genres of dubstep, dance, electronica and hip hop, as his lyrical flow is nothing short of spectacular.

Born in 1983 in Kenya, he moved to Scotland where he grew up and went to school, studying Commercial Music at the University of Westminster. It would be interesting to have such niche degrees available in Kenya to help our aspiring musicians as well to fine tune their skills.

Xander is next set to perform at the Indiscreet Festival in Cheltenham in the UK on 19th May 2012. Have a look at one of his performances in the video below…

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Trumpet player Christine Kamau and soul singer Atemi Oyungu are featured in BBC’s Africa Beats. Africa Beats is a weekly series that features news African Talent. You get to know that your music is really good if you are featured in this show.

Christine Kamau plays her trumpet for Afro-Jazz music and has been doing so since she was a kid. Her album ‘This is for You’ that was recently released showcases her talent to the fullest.

Atemi Oyungu on the other hand is a beautiful voiced soul singer that has been in the music industry for quite a while now, having done her first album ‘Hatimaye’ in 2008. She has also been featured in the musical ‘Mo Faya’.

Watch the the episode that featured them on BBC Africa Beats right here.

So once again Shaffie is in the headlines for all the wrong reasons.

According to Steven Meundo of Standard Media, Shaffie’s girlfriend from atop the hill has been talking greasy about the media personality.

The journalist quotes an anonymous source who happens to be a blogger who claims to have overheard Shaffie’s lass. Apparently, the lass claims that she is the real celeb in the relationship and that apparently she is the real money in the union. All this was to her company of girlfriends.

Apparently, Shaffie wasn’t too thrilled to hear the whispers when they eventually treackled to him -then again who would be?