Month: June 2012

Yap! It’s about that time of the year for one of our celebrities, that gets them all thankful and jovial for all that they have been through.

He is a member of the fastest rising hiphop group in Kenya and probably the most successful of the new era. 19 years ago, Camp Mulla’s Taio Tripper, real names Mathew Taio Wakhungu was born.

Today, we celebrate this ambitious and talented artist, for he and his group has taken Kenya to higher heights than it already was/is.

You can follow him on twitter to make personal shout-outs and birthday wishes @TheeTaioTripper.

#NP Camp Mulla – Hold it down. Check it out below.

Yap! It’s about that time of the year for one of our celebrities, that gets them all thankful and jovial for all that they have been through.

He is a member of the fastest rising hiphop group in Kenya and probably the most successful of the new era. 19 years ago, Camp Mulla’s Taio Tripper, real names Mathew Taio Wakhungu was born.

Today, we celebrate this ambitious and talented artist, for he and his group has taken Kenya to higher heights than it already was/is.

You can follow him on twitter to make personal shout-outs and birthday wishes @TheeTaioTripper.

#NP Camp Mulla – Hold it down. Check it out below.

Team Ghafla! recently caught up with upcoming Genge artiste Noxium Mgenge (@Mgengee) from the Kisii region and this is what he had to tell us:

 

Ghafla!: Tell us a little bit about yourself. What does your name represent? How did you come up with it? When did you start singing/rapping?

Noxium: I’m LENNOXE ONGERE, 20 years old i started my music back in 2008 after discovering it was one of my talents. By then I was in Bungoma High School. I do music as a hobby. Apart from music am a student too.
My stage name NOXIUM came out of my nickname NOX which is the short-form of lennoxe and decided to add IUM to become NOXIUM

Ghafla!: Care to share any challenges you face as an upcoming artistes? How did you overcome them?

 

Noxium: As an upcoming artist I face many challenges e.g Rejection because maybe of my dressing, and many of my pals say I got pride which is not so in the case.

Many of my fans listen to the beat and not the message. But I take Heart this kind of challenges are a motivation to me.

 
Ghafla!: What genre would you describe your music?

Noxium: I can describe my music as HIPGENGE because i can fuse HIP HOP and GENGE together in a song.

Ghafla!: What new offings should your fans look forward to in the immediate future?

Noxium: Am in the studio doing some hot stuff for my fans and my aim is to be nominated in the MOBO awards and that   gives me motivation.

Ghafla!: Are you part of a music group? What does Noxium Mgenge love doing in his leisure time?

Noxium: Am a solo artist , in my leisure time i love listening to HIP HOP and Genge music and some reggae. 

Ghafla!:  Which music artists/role models do you look up to in the Kenyan music industry and internationally?

Noxium: I like JUA CALI , he is a motivation to me and internationally i enjoy KANYE WEST music.

Ghafla!: Being an election year, what are your thoughts on politicians corrupting songs for political purposes?

Noxium: I don’t like that idea because it gives a false impression about them. This can not help us to elect quality leaders who can help us achieve vision 2030.

Ghafla!: The gospel music industry is taking the Kenyan entertainment scene by storm. What are your thoughts on this? Would you consider a shift into the gospel genre of music?

Noxium: For real I like the gospel industry, they are together and they support each other, they are not beefing as compared to the secular industry. I believe in God I can do a gospel song but in a secular way.

Ghafla!: Where do you think the Kenyan music industry will be 5 years down the line?

Noxium: Very very far as you can see Hip Hop is now paying so many artist will try to keep it real inorder to deliver their best.

Ghafla!: Any words for your fans and/or other musicians in Kenya?

Noxium: I thank my fans for their support and for other musicians BADO MAPAMBANO! You can also get more of my music and ary on my blog here

 

There is Noxium Mgenge for you guys. Better watch this space and don’t forget to listen to his music below.

 

 

 

Team Ghafla! recently caught up with upcoming Genge artiste Noxium Mgenge (@Mgengee) from the Kisii region and this is what he had to tell us:

 

Ghafla!: Tell us a little bit about yourself. What does your name represent? How did you come up with it? When did you start singing/rapping?

Noxium: I’m LENNOXE ONGERE, 20 years old i started my music back in 2008 after discovering it was one of my talents. By then I was in Bungoma High School. I do music as a hobby. Apart from music am a student too.
My stage name NOXIUM came out of my nickname NOX which is the short-form of lennoxe and decided to add IUM to become NOXIUM

Ghafla!: Care to share any challenges you face as an upcoming artistes? How did you overcome them?

 

Noxium: As an upcoming artist I face many challenges e.g Rejection because maybe of my dressing, and many of my pals say I got pride which is not so in the case.

Many of my fans listen to the beat and not the message. But I take Heart this kind of challenges are a motivation to me.

 
Ghafla!: What genre would you describe your music?

Noxium: I can describe my music as HIPGENGE because i can fuse HIP HOP and GENGE together in a song.

Ghafla!: What new offings should your fans look forward to in the immediate future?

Noxium: Am in the studio doing some hot stuff for my fans and my aim is to be nominated in the MOBO awards and that   gives me motivation.

Ghafla!: Are you part of a music group? What does Noxium Mgenge love doing in his leisure time?

Noxium: Am a solo artist , in my leisure time i love listening to HIP HOP and Genge music and some reggae. 

Ghafla!:  Which music artists/role models do you look up to in the Kenyan music industry and internationally?

Noxium: I like JUA CALI , he is a motivation to me and internationally i enjoy KANYE WEST music.

Ghafla!: Being an election year, what are your thoughts on politicians corrupting songs for political purposes?

Noxium: I don’t like that idea because it gives a false impression about them. This can not help us to elect quality leaders who can help us achieve vision 2030.

Ghafla!: The gospel music industry is taking the Kenyan entertainment scene by storm. What are your thoughts on this? Would you consider a shift into the gospel genre of music?

Noxium: For real I like the gospel industry, they are together and they support each other, they are not beefing as compared to the secular industry. I believe in God I can do a gospel song but in a secular way.

Ghafla!: Where do you think the Kenyan music industry will be 5 years down the line?

Noxium: Very very far as you can see Hip Hop is now paying so many artist will try to keep it real inorder to deliver their best.

Ghafla!: Any words for your fans and/or other musicians in Kenya?

Noxium: I thank my fans for their support and for other musicians BADO MAPAMBANO! You can also get more of my music and ary on my blog here

 

There is Noxium Mgenge for you guys. Better watch this space and don’t forget to listen to his music below.

 

 

 

When we say Kenya is full of awesome talented artistes, it ain’t no joke. You know for sure that a DJ/VJ is good when an international artiste bigs him up all the way from his country.

Yap! We have a video of Koshens throwing a shout-out to one of our very own VJ, known as VJ Ernest.

VJ Ernest.

Check out the shout-out right here.

When we say Kenya is full of awesome talented artistes, it ain’t no joke. You know for sure that a DJ/VJ is good when an international artiste bigs him up all the way from his country.

Yap! We have a video of Koshens throwing a shout-out to one of our very own VJ, known as VJ Ernest.

VJ Ernest.

Check out the shout-out right here.

While still on Abbas being in Germany (read the article) for a University lecture, take a look at these photos of him having the time of his life.

It’s not been long since he left Kenya, but the music industry already misses the rapper. Hopefuly he’s getting some awesome inspirations for music while he is there.

While still on Abbas being in Germany (read the article) for a University lecture, take a look at these photos of him having the time of his life.

It’s not been long since he left Kenya, but the music industry already misses the rapper. Hopefuly he’s getting some awesome inspirations for music while he is there.

Abbas Kubaff has been in Germany for quite a while giving students valuable lessons on the Kiswahili literature (read related article) and Hiphop culture in Africa.

It seems that his brief stay there has been fruitful and very enjoyable. He posted a photo on his facebook profile, giving us a small taste of what he is having out there.

Flossing a handfull of Euros with his friend, this amazing lyricist might just be feeling at home while still abroad.

Check out the mulla.

Abbas Kubaff has been in Germany for quite a while giving students valuable lessons on the Kiswahili literature (read related article) and Hiphop culture in Africa.

It seems that his brief stay there has been fruitful and very enjoyable. He posted a photo on his facebook profile, giving us a small taste of what he is having out there.

Flossing a handfull of Euros with his friend, this amazing lyricist might just be feeling at home while still abroad.

Check out the mulla.

So, lately Octopizzo has been doing it big in Eldoret. Having numerous concerts in schools in Eldoret.

The photos keep on coming from Octopizzo himself, showing briefly how the concerts have been and as usual, Octopizzo gave the students at the Moi University Eldoret Campus the time of their lives.

Check out the pics.

So, lately Octopizzo has been doing it big in Eldoret. Having numerous concerts in schools in Eldoret.

The photos keep on coming from Octopizzo himself, showing briefly how the concerts have been and as usual, Octopizzo gave the students at the Moi University Eldoret Campus the time of their lives.

Check out the pics.

It’s been two years since Afropop group, Just-A-Band, released the video for Ha-He, the second track off their sophomore album, 82. The video racked up YouTube views faster than any other Kenyan (and possibly African) video has. It inspired memes and had articles about it on Cracked, The Wall Street Journal and even had CNN do a feature on it. Makmende became so big that Capital FM did an advertising campaign based on the character and his exploits.

More than 450,000 views later, the band’s creation is a great example of an alternative media landscape in Africa, where artistes don’t have to rely on mainstream media channels to not only showcase their work but popularize their art. The dust may have settled but once in a while you will see references to the character.

An animator, Anto Dezignz, has come up with a whole backstory for Makmende and animated it. The five-minute animation Makmende Begins offers insight on Makmende’s roots and sets up a whole new story. It seems that this is only part of a larger film or series. Those looking for locally produced and inspired content might want to subscribe to Anto Dezignz’s YouTube channel and follow the series once it is updated.

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What exactly does Bamboo’s return spell for Kenya’s hiphop artists?

That really depends on the emcees approach doesn’t it? Think about it like this, Bamboo has returned to a changed landscape: both physical and metaphorical.

The older generation that remember Bamboo for his hard hitting rapid fire style of hiphop have since aged and have been replaced by the cool kidz. This generation has it’s kings.

One approach Bamboo could adopt is doing jams with the kings of the cool kids and he’s already begun to spread out his antennae and he’s been reaching out to the leaders of the cool kidz. Earlier today pictures begun doing the rounds showing Bamboo with both Octopizzo and K’Cous (Camp Mulla’s resident bad boy).

The other approach would be for Bamboo to declare open season on anyone and everyone. Beef is one of the pillars of hiphop and while this is an unlikely approach, it would actually be the more explosive approach.

I don’t know what approach Bamboo will adopt but one thing is a given though, and that is that the Kenyan entertainment scene just got real exciting!

 

The hiphop maestro flew back in the country last night.

Bamboo’s much anticipated arrival has finally come to fruition. And the hiphop artist is in the country and word has it that he has been a busy man.

He seems to be networking, possibly setting the groundwork for a collabo. Here are some pics courtesy of Buddha Blaze that show Bamboo meeting the leaders of the cool kidz.

 

 

Many thought Kenrazy was fast asleep as he’s been mostly abscent from the scene, instead choosing to focus on his music production and also managing his better half’s career.

Click here to read more on Sosuun’s recent release

The rapper has come back with nothing short of a bang, releasing the track ‘Jua Cali’ which is basically a tribute to one of Kenya’s greatest genge icons, Jua Cali.

The song features heavy beats and firm lyrics which are set to stamp Kenrazy’s authority in the genre yet again.

“wanauliza nani alinimake nawaambia,
Jua Cali
Wanataka kujua nani alini-inspire,
Jua Cali” Kenrazy says.

Need we see more? Have a listen to this BRAND NEW amazing song by Kenrazy featuring L.C below…

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Shaffie Weru is well known as a radio presenter who is not afraid of pulling of wild antics in public. As reported on Ghafla! he was even once guilty of being dragged off from a Nakuru rugby stadium, after causing a drunk and disorderly ruckus.

 Well, besides all that, Shaffie is now trying his hand at being a comedian. He has turned his social media pages into pure jokes centres where he posts funny statuses, videos and pictures. This might seem to many like he is biting off more than he can chew, but guess what? Some of the gags he posts are actually pretty funny! Here are the 3 best ones:

 

1. – A pastor was caught stealing from the church safe by a church member..He shouted”blessed r the ones who sees and not talk”church member replied in low voice ..”for they shall rceive their shares”.

 

2. –

 

 

3. – Swahili deficiency can land u in trouble…

Onyango,a regular customer of a famous ‘Mama uji’, sent her the message
‘nimemiss uchi wako sana.’

The auditions for the Coca Cola Kenya Olympic Anthem that were held at the KICC on the 3Rd of June saw many hyped up youth show up for a chance to get featured in a collaboration with Kenya’s hit maker, Madtraxx.

The auditions took place concurrently in Mombasa, Kisumu and Nairobi. Mombasa had DJ Delf and producer Susumila as the judges at Darajani Hotel, Kisumu received DJ Edog and Thomas Milongo of Chagua Records at Sunset Hotel while Nairobi had the legendary DJ Pinye and Madtraxx at the KICC.

“There are some people who are doing a really great job during the auditions but will not qualify,” said DJ Pinye. “This is not because they’re not talented, they are just not the right fit for the project and what we are looking for.”

Madtraxx and DJ Pinye will later choose four from the selected few from each city, after which the two winners will be voted for by the public.

“So far it been very interesting, there are definitely a lot of young people out there with talent and it’s exciting to see. If we can find one person who is a really good vocalist, and one person who can do a good rap, that would give us everything that we need to make this a great Olympic Anthem,” said Madtraxx who was quite impressed with the outcome.

“I just want to thank Coca-Cola for making all this possible,” said DJ Pinye. “I just want to thank Coca-Cola for making all this possible,” said DJ Pinye. “I had always wanted to do something like this, but never got the chance till now.”

In partnership with the world’s largest beverage company, Coca-Cola, which serves their consumers worldwide at a rate of 1.7 billion servings a day, this project promises to be one of the biggest and most successful music project that Kenya has ever seen.

If you were not part of the energy filled auditions, check out how it was.

With the 2012 Talanta Awards around the corner, Kenya’s ever amazing DJ Mo is not just set to perform at the awards but is also currently in the USA headlining a pre-awards tour in a drum up to the grand ceremony to be held sometime in August. Nominations for the Talanta Awards are currently open and you are strongly encouraged to vote Kenyan in all categories.

Click here to find out more about 2012 Talanta Awards nominations

Here’s the exclusively announced tour dates and venues you can catch DJ Mo at (for all the Kenyans residing in the USA):

2nd June – Ohio Cotubic Camp *Already done*
9th June – Richmond VA (pastors Mr and Mrs Mukuria)

10th June – Blossom Hill Menonite church, PA

16th June- Talanta 5th anninversary Gala @Hilton, Washinton DC

23rd June – Raleigh NC at Club Tree Church

30th June – Christ Covenant Church St. Louis MO

7th July – Attending a Kenyan wedding at Seattle Washington state (Pst Steve Ndegwa)

Four Coastal radio stations are currently being investigated by the Media Council of Kenya (MCK) for propagating hate speech and if found guilty, Communication Commission of Kenya (CCK) will close them down and the journalists will face prosecution.

The radio stations, all owned by government officials are as follows; Radio Kaya, owned by Transport Minister Chirau Ali Mwakwere, Radio Rahma, owned by Nassir Abdulsmaad (son of the late Shariff Nassir), Pipili FM which is Balala’s new product and Radio Salaam which is owned by Defence Minister Yusuf Haji.

“We must remind our journalists and media houses that they cannot be duped into promoting or giving voice to divisive politics that can easily lead the country into anarchy,” said Chairman Levy Obonyo.

MCK claims to have audio evidence of this matter and that the investigations are still underway.

This should serve as a wake-up call to all journalists.

Apart from being all over the country and continent with shows here and there, Alemba has been quite busy in the studio too.

The much anticipated track that he has done with fellow gospel artists, Mr. Bonified and Mr. Sam, titled ‘Rise Up’ will be soon released.

The song was actually recorded in November last year and the video shot by Next Level Videos around the same time in the US, during their tour.

‘Rise Up’ is all about uplifting your spirits and take your mind off the discouragements that are often thrown to our faces by people. Check out the teaser below.

Ladies and gentlemen, this just in: Neosoul meets the best of hiphop!

The eclectic and creative Anto Neosoul just sent Ghafla word that he has been working on a song with lyrical genius Rabbit! That’s right, the two have let their creative juices flow free and put the results into a track i’m sure will be kray!
The two were at the studio putting the final touches to the video of the track titled “Prodigal Son” and it should be out shortly. Keep it Ghafla for more info on the track the two are putting out!

Controversial presidential hopeful and jazz maestro, Joseph Hellon is already positive that his newly born son wants to be a musician and he will stop at nothing to make that dream come true.

After dropping the political acts and concentrating on his music shows which have been numerous lately, Hellon now takes time on the weekends to hang out with his family. It actually makes sense that music is the most likely path for his son to take since he is actually born into a family of musicians.

“I do not see why he will not become one considering he is born into a family of musicians. I will make sure that he gets all the mentoring that he deserves,” Hellon told sources.