Month: September 2012

Rabbit’s clothing line is growing bigger and bigger by the day. He has now stepped out of his own branding, and decided to endorse Gor Mahia, his favorite Kenyan soccer team.

With the maximum love for Gor Mahia that is found withing its fans (which at times can be a little bit too extreme), it only felt right for Rabbit to make his team proud, and that he did.

The new Gor Mahia T-shirts that Rabbit has endorsed bear his clothing line label, KAKA CLOTHING and are quite colourful (with the trade mark green involved of-course).

The entreprenural spirit that is taking over the Kenyan rappers is so motivating. No more depending on album sales and shows. 

Are you a Jose Chameleone fan or a fan of his hit ValuValu?

If your answer was in the affirmative to either one or both questions, then you know he has an upcoming concert this Friday aye? If you don’t then read Ghafla! But that is neither here nor there, today the story of the morning is that he has arrived and is busy preparing for ohis concert.

The concert will be held this Friday at the Deep West Resort which is in Nairobi West and will feature Jaguar as one of the performers.

Get ready for another one of Chameleone’s crazy performances!

Are you a Jose Chameleone fan or a fan of his hit ValuValu?

If your answer was in the affirmative to either one or both questions, then you know he has an upcoming concert this Friday aye? If you don’t then read Ghafla! But that is neither here nor there, today the story of the morning is that he has arrived and is busy preparing for ohis concert.

The concert will be held this Friday at the Deep West Resort which is in Nairobi West and will feature Jaguar as one of the performers.

Get ready for another one of Chameleone’s crazy performances!

Last week we managed to get Avril to spill the beans on her relationship with comedian Jalang’o and though she tried her best to hide what’s going on, I think it’s pretty clear to all of us.

Well, one DJ Define seems oblivious of this and was not-so-long-ago busy trying to solicit for a kiss from the attractive Kitu Kimoja hit maker without success only settling for a peck.

All this was happening at Cray Fish Camp recently during Pulse retreat in Naivasha. Check out these photos courtesy of The Standard.

Watch out Jalas! Somebody is invading your “territory”.

We told you Camp Mulla is the best in this game but some of you were at odds. Well, fresh from releasing their first album Funky Town, Camp Mulla has just dropped a new track featuring Naija star WizKid called Prices.

Camp Mulla continue to churn out awe-inspiring music with international luminaries raising the bar to a whole new level for Kenyan music. This track was one of the group’s most awaited singles prior to their album release last week.

The song Prices was recorded a couple of weeks ago when WizKid and the EME crew where in Kenya for the Channel O Special. We think the track is very very dope.

Meanwhile their album is in stores now. Grab your copy for only 250/-. Check out Prices below;

DJ Stylez’s and his lover Wambui Wanyoike are now ready to get married.

The two announced their engagement in a private event where only close friends were in attendance. DJ Stylez has managed to keep Wambui out of the public eye, however, we managed to obtain a proof of their engagement from a member of the bride-to-be’s family. The same family member told us that the two have been dating for several years, and that this announcement was a long time coming.

I remember Wambui was quite the hot number amongst my social circles in high school. My mboyz must be shedding tears as they find out these news. Poleni!

We at Ghafla! would like to wish them all the best in their upcoming nuptials. Congratulations Stylez!

Lon’ Jon is in the country and he is doing great stuff musically. Going H.A.M on hip hop, Jon is about to drop his latest track titled ‘Go get it’ and is said to take Nairobi by storm. Did I say Nairobi, oops… I meant, Africa.

Check out the behind-the-scenes photos of the video shoot.

Remember the Illuminati rapper, Raj? This is just an an update of what he is up tots. Just today he released a video for his earlier track, Jeff Koinange. Check it out here.

Jeff Koinange has nothing to do with the Illuminati, but does that mean Raj has given up on his devilish pursuits? Not really. He has just finished the first phase of the shoot for the controversial track. The second phase is set to begin soon.

He will concurrently work on a new track to be recorded this weekend. He usually produces his own tracks but this time, he will have the services of Silverstone at his disposal. Silverstone is the top Nigerian beatmaker who produced Habida’s Girls Night Out and Isis and Bamboo’s Tribal Dance.

Check out a breakdown of the Blood Bars lyrics and what they might mean in the Illuminati world here. Learn about a new Facebook group that wants to save Octopizzo and other artistes from the sect here.

And it goes on and on. Threats here and there about striking. First the teachers, who are now sorted, then the doctors. I was horrified when I heard that rappers were next. First because, it just doesn’t make sense. It just can’t happen. Then I later found out that this was just a brilliant idea for a rap song.

Baseline’s O-Mae does it again. Way to ride on a trending topic. Is there any better way to get noticed? First, he released the ‘Turkana Pela’ song immediately after we discovered oil in the region. He wasted no time at all. That fast.

In this song, titled ‘Rappers on Strike’ (what a catchy title), O-Mae raps about the outcome that would be if rappers were to ever strike. Stuck with the RnB we would be. What a horrifying thought. I get the shivers just imagining it. This would probably result in the strike of listeners too.

Here, have a listen to the track below. Tell Ghafla! what you think about it.

After partnering with K South’s finest, Abbas, to make the biggest hit in the country for 2011, the charming Chantel is about to toklezea with another track. The song will feature another Kenyan artist whose name she refused to disclose.

Asked whether she had quit music due to her disappearance from the music scene, Chantel was quick to negate this claim saying that she still in music. Chantel owes her music career success to Abbas for introducing him in the music scene in a major way. Chantel currently appears on KTN’s drama series, Lies That Bind.

Born Winnie Wambui Naisula Ole Siameto 21 years ago, Chantelle is a child of mixed race, with a father of both Maasai and Indian origins. Chantelle is a firm believer in the Kenyan music industry. She is happy her generation is storming into the music scene and has great admiration for the Camp Mulla group, whose music is great although they are quite young.

The question is: will her new single will be a huge hit like Toklezea?

Raj is a rapper/producer who has worked with the likes of Coola Gang and rappers in the game. His has finally released the video for his track, Jeff Koinange.

You might remember him as the artiste who did a song with clear illuminati connotations. Read about that here. Blood Bars carried some controversial messages which Jeff Koinange, does not. The song is about “pulling a Jeff Koinange,” which–according to him–is quitting to start your own thing.

Jeff Koinange was produced by Raj himself through his MusicBank production outfit. The video was directed by Hector Beaze and features clips from the celebrated K24 journalist, Jeff Koinange. You can check out what else the rapper has been working on here. Check out the video below.
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I think I need to refresh your mind about I.T and I’ll do that with just one description. Remember Bamzigi’s first track that had that electronic, new school sound? It was titled ‘Sitaki’ and it was off the hook. Immediately it was out, guys started asking who this I.T guy was and it was so clear that he has that magical touch on music.

Now, I.T (Isaac Tenacy) is set to collaborate with the very much ‘on his own leage’ rapper, Khaligraph Jones. If this will be a hip hop track with that electronic feel, then we are in for a real treat.

The track, ‘The Best’ has not yet been released since they are still waiting on the video and they will be simultaneously released sometime this week. Just giving you the heads up.

Urban Design Studios (UDS) will be behind this hot-to-be track production.

In the meantime, check out Bamzigi’s track with I.T, ‘sitaki’ below, to get you familiar with I.T.

Genge artiste, Mejja, is set to launch a talent search contest as a way of giving back to society. It is also in response to the artiste inspiring rise from Nyeri’s Majengo and Nairobi’s Mathare slums to become a nationwide superstar.

The search will start in the Calif star’s hometown of Nyeri and move on to other parts of the country as the search progresses. The contest will be done in conjunction with DJ Abbas and Banana Greenleaf Hotel.

The theme of the star search is ‘Believe’ and it will begin on the 6th of October. It is about giving hope and inspiration to the youth to take charge of their future through their own endeavours instead of looking for handouts.

The three Gospel artistes have been missing in action for quite some time now but we have now figured out what they are up to. It now emerges that Eko Dydda has been leading his two fellow musicians on a music tour.

At the end of this week, the three artistes will be rocking Kisii County with their cream of the crop songs. Eko Dydda explained that they have been receiving positive feedback from previous tours and that’s what has been giving them the push to stage shows in different parts of the country.

Probably the success of their tours is the fact that the three artistes’ music is contemporary urban gospel which identifies with most of their audiences. Eko Dydda also revealed that he will be releasing not one, not two but THREE music videos very soon, so watch out for that.

Both Eko Dydda and Kris Ehh Baba have so far had a fruitful year with the former being a four time groove awards nominee. Kris on the other hand has done massively thanks to his jams Katikia Yesu and Mmh Baba. As for A-Star, whose album CTA (Cleaning The Airwaves) was free has been in this game for long having started out in 1996.

We wish the three all the best in their music tour.

It was just a simple message posted on the Just-A-Band Twitter and Facebook yesterday. As vague as it was, we will take as the announcement of a new album: the date, and maybe also the title.

“For our Nairobi peoples, we haven’t forgotten you 🙂 mark the date Oct 27th. Sorry For The Delay.”

It’s not so surprising, they had kinda already committed to giving the fans an album by the end of the year. We just didn’t know when that would be. And having no dates makes any fan fidgety. 22nd September had earlier been announced as the release date.

The third album comes exactly three years since the group released their sophomore album, which only followed their debut by a year and a half. 82 went on to produce an Internet sensation and a Museke Record of the Year.

No single has been officially released from the upcoming album, even though the band has been performing a new track in their shows, Love Is On Our Side. The title still hasn’t been revealed…or has it?

There’s a high chance it will be called Sorry For The Delay. It may have just have been part of the message but it was also the only part of the whole announcement that was title-cased, so…yeah.

A month to go. The countdown begins.

The self-proclaimed King of Rap, Collo, has once again outdone himself after featuring in most collabos with the most recent being with Octopizzo and six other artistes in what could be the biggest music collabo thus far. Anyhow, Collo will be releasing his “Since 85” album this week.

Featuring Abbas, Didge, Ameelena, Sauti Sol among other artistes, the album will be unveiled on Friday the 28th. Am sure you can guess which songs are contained in the yet-to-be-launched album from the preceding list of artists. The album will be available in stores from October 12th. Details of the venue for the album debut for the former member of Kleptomaniax are not clear.

This would be Collo’s first album since he started working alone and it’s expected it would sell extensively considering his Chini ya Maji single went straight to “the beat of the week” on N.T.V and the only song representing Kenya on the Homeboyz radio hip-hop charts.

Let’s wait and see if Collo really makes music and not songs like he brags.

Kenya’s Afro-fusion artiste, Harry Kimani is set to make a comeback in the music scene after his on-off-on-again-then-off-again days as a drug addict. Kimani was at the Karen Treatment Rehabilitation Centre in Gilgil where he underwent therapy and now he is ready to rock his fans.

Famed for his hit song Haiya, Kimani’s music career was hindered by the drug menace but that’s in the past because he is currently working on his comeback track. Kimani is working closely with Victor Seii who is also his manager.

Aaron “Crucial keys” Rimbui, one of the most illustrious pianists in the country, is also working with Kimani on the same project. The new song will have a touch of acoustic guitar sounds which will be done by one of the most popular guitarists in Kenya.

Afro-fusion fans this is worth waiting for.

Two of the best African acts will combine at the Tusker Malt 100 Club show at The Museum this Thursday, 27th of September. Performing at the event will be Sara Mitaru and Bez.

Sara Mitaru has been touring for six years and has shared the stage with some of the continent’s biggest superstars including Femi Kuti. She was the youngest woman in Africa to have two UN titles, the UN Messenger of Truth habitat and UN Millennium Development Goals advocate.

She has featured in tracks with Just-A-Band from the first album, Scratch To Reveal, to the recent Boxing Day Special. She released her debut single, Make Way last year and a collaboration with Bez, Keep Me From You, this year. Read about it here.

Bez (Emmanuel Bezhiwa Idakula) is the newest sensation in the Nigerian music industry. Considered as the next big thing in Nigeria, he was born 1983 in Jos into a musical family: a gospel artiste father and choir member mother. From the age of 9 years, Bez absorbed every bit of music around him and has been transmitting all of it through his guitar.

Bez has performed at Hennessy Artistry Concert Series, Rhythm Unplugged Concert, Lagos International Jazz Festival, Asa Live in Lagos, Most Beautiful Girl In Nigeria pageant, Sax Appeal and the Maiden edition of the Smooth FM Live Acoustic Session, amongst other performances.

Tusker Malt 100 Club is the discovery of  African musical talent. It is aimed at inspiring talent that hasn’t had the opportunity to perform on a world stage. Registration for the Tusker Malt 100 Club took place last week and members will get to enjoy the first concert this Thursday. Read more about TML100 here.

Who would think Octopizzo, Collo, Rabbit, Frasha, J’mani, Baby T and Jay A would all put their heads together and do one project? Well, they did.

Doing a remix of Octopizzo’s Bila Mic, this great masterpiece was released just a few hours ago and already it has over 500 hits, signs that it will take the airwaves by storm.

Bila Mic was one of octopizzo’s biggest joints to date. Word of a remix leaked early on even before the song got out. Many were eager to see who would be on the remix and whether it would match the hype that accompanied the original single.

As usual the man that has become synonymous to succcess never dissapointed. Octopizzo brought out an all star cast for the remix of Bila Mic.

Enjoy the music below;

Nigeria’s pop singer and former representative to the BBA, Goldie, has top of class rides in the market.

Check out her whips;

I was just about to go to sleep when I got a rather special update on my Facebook news feed. It said, “Akon has created a new event: Nairobi, Kenya show.” I checked the source of the announcement and sure enough, it was the official Akon Facebook page. The sneaky bugger chose to announce this big concert via FB!

 A quick look at the details of the event announcement reveal that he will be performing on Sunday October 28th, 2012, starting at around half-past-eight, Kenyan time. After years of promoters promising that he will come to our beloved country, I certainly hope that this time it is not a hoax. Fine, I know he was here for the first edition of the MAMA Awards in ’09, but I’m still excited that he’s now here, not as some show host, but to perform his classic tracks like ‘So Paid'(my favorite), ‘Smack That,’ ‘Mr. Lonely,’ and ‘Right Now.’

You can register for the event on Facebook here.

(PS: Just cross checked on his verified Twitter account, and he’s also updated about the concert there. This thing seems 100% legit.)

Okay, we don’t know how they did it but Camp Mulla managed to include a song that was reportedly recorded only a few days before the album hit the shelves.

As can be seen from this article here, the group announced a song with Wiz Kid on the 15th of September. The album hit Nakumatt stores a week later with the official release on the same day at the Safaricom Sevens event (read about it here). The tweet read “@CampMulla Studio nights.. @KusMa_ mixxing the new Camp Mulla ; Wiz Kid single, #Prices cc. @wizkidayo.. salute bruh!!” Read about the announcement here.

Today, Camp Mulla released a song, Prices featuring the Nigerian superstar, Wiz Kid. The song is not only already out barely two weeks later but it is also one of the tracks from an album that was released only a week later.

Does it mean the FuNKYToWN CDs were burnt way after the dates had been set and even some of the songs recorded? It still puzzles me. I’ll try wrap my head around it as I listen to the track below. Check out Camp Mulla and Wiz Kid on Prices.

Camp Mulla released their highly awaited album Funky Town last weekend at the Safaricom 7s Village after the rugby event.

The music event also included performances from the other Niko Na Safaricom Live performers complete with the MC Jalang’o. Size 8 was missing in action, though.

The first performer was gospel artiste and Make It or Make It ambassador, Jimmi Gait. He was followed by Jaguar who performed just before Camp Mulla finally took to the stage.

They performed Party Don’t Stop and Addicted among other tracks as their CDs sold on the grounds. The concert was closed off with a performance by afro boy band, Sauti Sol.

Funky Town being sold at Nakumatt outlets for Kshs. 250.

The Vault is a bi-monthly pure hip hop event that will be launched on the 7th October 2012 at the Kenya National Archives.

The aim of the event is to create a platform that exposes and promotes hip hop talent in the country, especially in the Gospel music industry. This is because the genre doesn’t enjoy the kind of support it so much needs.

“We found out that some very talented Kenyan MCs end up giving up on their dreams after being ‘frustrated’ by the industry,” says one of the organizers. The launch will feature some of the best artistes in the gospel hip hop industry.

Some of the artistes performing on that day will be S.P.A.T (Allan T and St. P), Kelele Takatifu, Maluda, H3, Nasara, Dan-gee among other hip hop heavyweights. Entry to The Vault is Kshs. 200. The main artiste in the inaugural show is Kelele Takatifu.

Rock Therapy is back. Beetle Entertainment brings you the bimonthly rock music event. After a successful first edition, this time they bring you one of the finest Kenyan rock bands, Murfy’s Flaw.

The event will take place on the 5th of October at the Alliance Francaise on Monrovia Street from 6:00 p.m. till late. Entrance to the event is Kshs. 500.

The second edition will bring back the top rock DJ in the country, DJ Jack. This time round, the event adds another feature. It will also feature a tattoo parlour. The first event hosted chart-topping rockstars, Parking Lot Grass who thrilled the fans with original songs and covers at Rangers Restaurant on Langata Road.