Month: January 2013

It is indeed very unfortunate that we had to start the year like this. Great established Kenyan artistes being dissed by an upcoming rapper.

But hey, let’s not even front. This kid got punch lines like whoa! I Cabu Gah is just one of those rappers who would only do good in a diss track because let’s face it, he is really good at it.

 

Cabu Gah is the rapper almost all artistes and radio presenters are now ranting about. I don’t know what his beef with the Kenyan artistes is exactly, but it’s clear that he is really bitter about the music industry, especially the gospel sector of it.

That is probably why he composed this punch lines filled lyrics for his new diss track, ‘Praise the Vod’ which is entirely for the Kenyan gospel artistes.

 

I don’t support this at all, but a brother gotta admit, he has some hot punch lines. This right here is my favorite, “Mtake msitake mtaniskiza tu/ Niko right in your ears ka skiza tune.” Ha ha ha! That’s a goodu one.

Check out the lyrics for the song here and listen to the track below.

So this morning on Classic 105, Maina was discussing the consequences that perpetrators of hate speech on Facebook faced if the authorities caught up with them. As such he warned those fond of posting hate messages to desist from that habit.

It’s at this point that Mwalimu King’ang’i interjected and alleged in jest that The Star’s headline was hate speech against TNA’s presidential hopeful Uhuru Kenyatta. The title read, “Uhuru To Spend Sh10 in Campaign”. According to King’ang’i this was “good hate speech” because that’s a positive thing which anyone would be proud of. He even went further to joke that he’s planning to sue his landlord for referring to him as “nguruwe”.

Anyhow, King’ang’i was just trying to urge guys to watch their words especially now that the political temperatures are rising daily as the election approaches. He even extended his debate to his Facebook page where he advised guys to embrace “love speech”, “#Kasheshe….wachana na #HateSpeech, tujikaze sana na #LoveSpeech….for example…”

 

This comes just hours after the Government issued a warning to the media against spreading hate messages.

The Longombas was one of the most popular local music groups in 2000. Gaining fame with songs like the female-form-appreciating Dondosa, cementing their star status with the dance number, Piga Makofi and gaining respect for the (kinda) conscious Vuta Pumz.

The duo has been living in the States for a while now, where they have continued to work in the entertainment industry. They have released a couple of songs but it seems they have also been doing some behind-the-scenes work.

Christian Longomba, through BadManVisual Pro directed a music video for Afrik Moto late last year. Check out Generic below.
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Through Katenga Entertainment, Alfayo Way has just signed up with a new band.

 

This is by far the sleekest band I have ever seen, and they are portable too.

This is all Alfayo had to say about it, “Alfayo Way… with The Real Sauti Sol.”

Nonini has over the years made it quite clear which soccer team is his favorite. Even through his songs. He is a die hard Arsenal fan. I can’t feel sorry enough for the poor guy.

 

His son on the other hand, has made a rather wise choice despite his father’s feelings.

 

The kid chose Barcelona. Check him out proudly donning his new jersey. Click photo to enlarge.

It seems marriage is on the “To do list” of most celebs this year. Just a day after Jua Cali announced that he will be tying the knot this year, yet another celeb has hinted that she will be walking down the aisle this year.

This morning, 1FM’s Tina Kagia, in a Facebook status update insinuated that she could be getting married. “2013 is a good year to get married,” posted the beautiful petite radio presenter. Sometime last year Tina was talking about getting her adorable daughter, Imani, a sibling and it appears she may just have founded the right guy.

Who’s the lucky guy? We are yet to find out. For now, it’s a wait and see situation. Over to you Tina…

Yesterday someone on twitter challenged me about the 7 elements of hiphop when i said that today’s underground artists seem to only put a premium on beef.

Now, i have to say that my source is the hiphop documentary Beef which chronicles beef between rap and hiphop’s top luminaries over the years. From Pac and Biggie to 50 Cent and Ja Rule.
It was there that i had that with hiphop’s evolution, alot of it’s luminaries have argued that increasingly, beef has become one of hiphop’s mainstays making it a pillar.
Why am i talking about this, well, i figure i need to school you on hiphop if we are to understand what is happening in Kenya’s hiphop scene. The pillars of hiphop are:

1. Break dancing
2. Rapping
3. Graffiti art
4. DJing
5. Beatboxing
6. Street fashion
7. Beef

<Cabu Gah>

#1. In Kenya, Break dancing is well represented by a host of dance crews who fuse it with African styles aswell as Carribean styles. Crews such as F.B.I and Altarmin (the best gospel crew out there).

#2. Rapping. We have a host of rappers both on the underground and mainstream tha spit fire!

#3. Graffiti; visit “Wapi?” and you’ll see just how alive and vibrant the artists of the hiphop world are.

#4. DJing. DJ Joe Mfalme has this covered.

#5. Beatboxing. This one is also alive. Go for any hiphop event and you’ll witness it. The likes of Checkmate Mido keep beatboxing alive.

#6. Street fashion. Whether saggin jeans or skinny, with a fresh infusion of African print. Hiphop in Kenya meets the Kenyan culture.

#7. Beef. This one is the unhealthy illegitimate child of hiphop. In Kenya, this pillar has propelled the likes of Octo to prominence and Cabu Gah and Lyon Cash are looking to trave down that path. Coola Gang also had beef with Camp Mulla, Prezzo and Redsan had their tiff, Prezzo and Bamboo, Abbas and Chiwawa, Octo and Abbas. Bamboo and Clepto.

In Kenya by far the most creative and stimulating was Klepto and Chiwawa. They gave us straight heat for days! Remember “Tuendelee”? It was a response to “War Song” which according to urban legend had Mr. Lenny crying. I doubt that though.

<Lyon Cash>

When beef results in good music, i support it. If it’s about twitter and Facebook? Calm down on that. Cut your teeth on a real song! Cabu Gah and Lyon Cash wanted Kenya to sit up and take notice of them aye? Trust me when i say Kenya is now listening. Unfortunately the anticipation for their songs will put alot of pressure on them.

Raised in Kibera, Kevin Ochieng a.k.a Slumdawg, began as a dancer while in high school. He later switched to rapping, focusing on Hip Hop after the loss of both his parents in 2008. In late 2008, Slumdawg won the title of Mr. Kibera which helped increase his profile in the community and wider Kibera.

On his latest release, he says, “I did Peace Song to urge Kenyans to vote peacefully and to maintain peace there after. I lost both of my parents due to the post-election violence, so I know the pain of losing loved ones to such horrific events.”

Slumdawg is a Peace Ambassador has been holding talks and discussions with elders, women and youth both in my hood kibera and areas such as dandora and mathare.

He is also the Kenyan peace Ambassador for Emmanuel Jal’s We Want Peace (WWP). Slumdawg is also the co-founder of Young, Gifted & Black together with Octopizzo, Mistake and Virus.

Slumdawg has performed at numerous events including regular appearances at WAPI concerts, charity events and most recently touring the country with Sprite SLAM. Over the last few years Slumdawg has worked with Octopizzo, Mistake, Virus, Left Arm, K-Plan and K-Force among others.

Check out Peace Song in which he features Yabadoo below.
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Concerned by the ever rising number of beef in the entertainment industry, Hot 96’s Mike Mondo has invited all these artistes (the likes of Lyon Cash and Cabu Gah) on his Saturday show to tell Kenyans why they feel they are better than those they are beefing against.

Mike is saddened that Kenyan artistes are beefing and that most of those who have issues are upcoming rappers. Viewing it as their way of getting to the top, he’s quick to warn them that even if they get to the top their stay there is short-lived.

So, if you are an upcoming artiste and you have beef with any established artist, get in touch with Mike via his email, mnzioka@royalmedia.co.ke and he will gladly have you on the show. However, better go prepared because he won’t go easy on anyone.

Tis the season for DJs to be buying cars now. First there was DJ Kaytrixx who hooked up a Subaru, then DJ Joe Mfalme, who also got himself an Legacy, and now, we have MC Kriss Darling, who has purchased a new BMW X5. Take a look at the blue beast in the highlighted picture. Click the image to enlarge and see the details. What do you think? Leave a comment below:

Makedem is one entertaining artist. From the studio, all the way to the stage. This guy knows how to maintain his fans’ attention.

Check him out now, shaking what he has.

Why is there so much negativity stemming from the underground? Alot of otherwise talented artists are going about making a name for themselves the wrong way.

They all seem to have borrowed a leaf from one of hiphop’s most toxic player: 50 Cent. 50 Cent cut his teeth beefing with the biggest names in the industry when he was a little known fat boy back in 1999.

Kenyan rappers in particular seem to want to use his blueprint forgetting that his method of doing things saw him alienate everyone in the game. Cabu Gah has fired some hard hitting shots at Octo and Amina. Octo himself cut his teeth taking shots at Abbas. Lyon Cash who rose to prominence after signing to Prezzo’s Makini Music Group took shots at his erstwhile general.

Some would have you believe that this is the best way to gain fame fast. I however am more ol’ skool. Unnecessary beef is just that, unnecessary. Beef is one of the 7 pillars of hiphop aye but only when it is necessary. Beef is the darker side of hiphop. I believe in putting in the work. It will take time and you may never get the recognition you deserve but you will have gained everyone’s respect. Think along the lines of Kenrazy. He has everyone’s respect because he has such an awesome work rate even though alot of people overlook him.
Cut the beef out. Grow the industry in harmony. Use the Nigerian formula!

He’s back again with his crazy updates. According to Shaffie, he spotted a set of Facebook rules in Othaya and decided to share with his fans. Take a look;

1. Usinitumie friend request kama wewe na mutu wa hapa area. Si tayari sisi ni marafiki hapa
Othaya? Unataka urafiki mwigine wa nini ??

2. Nikikubari fred request yako,tafathari wacha kuniadikia kwa wor ,ati “thanx…” .Unanishukuru kwani ni
nyuba nimekuripia rent??

3. Mimi sipedi ware watu wanaweka update mureeeeefu! Time ya kusoma ndio hatuna hapa Othaya! Unaweka update murefu kwani ni agreement ya shamba ??!

4. Ujinga ya kueka picha ya mutoto mugojwa arafu unaniabia ati “ONE RIKE(LIKE) equals One PRAYER ” sitaki ! Sikuigia FB niobee watoto, Kwani mimi ni Bishop Gitari ?? Niriigia FB kushoshiorais.

5. Ware watu wanapeda kuweka update harafu wanamarizia “HIT RIKE” wawache ujiga! Nikiona mutu akiniabia ati “hit rike” sio “rike” nitaHIT, NI WEWE NITA HIT!

6. Nikiweka update RAZIMA muRIKE. Unakataa kuRIKE kwani ukiRIKE utaripishwo???

7. Hakuna haja ya kureta matusi kwa status yangu. Kuja BIASHARA BIULDING, stall number 24, unitukanie hapo nikuonyeshe!!!

8. Naona kuna kajamaa kanajichocha sana kanajiita CABU GAH. Ati C.E.O! C.E.O kitu gani na hata kwa profile pisha yake hakana nguo? C.E.O mgani anavaaga vest kwa ofisi??

9. Nimeorewa. Kwa ivyo SITAKI kukatiwa!. Unanikatia kwani ni miwa??

10. Kama unataka kurara rara! Unatuabia “Am going to bed” kwani unataka tukuje tukuzimie
stima??

11. Nikicomment kwa status yako. HIO STORY IMEISHIA HAPO. Usianze ati kureta conversation
mureeeefu! Ukitaka kuogea eda bunge!

12. Kama unaeda mahari wacha kutuabia ,”Nairobi here I come”! Hatutaki kujua! Mbona ukieda
choo hautuabiagi,”Toiret here I come???….

The first edition of the monthly Blankets and Wine event this year went down last Sunday (6th January) and it might just as well go down as the most attended edition. At-least as far as I can remember.

This was a total success for the Blankets and Wine crew. Dan Chizi Aceda, Afrology, Makadem and South Africa’s Liquideep held it down for the massive and this is how it was.

Buddha Blaze, Muthoni DQ and Octopizzo

 

Ian Mugoya and Shappaman representing

 

Liquideep on stage

 

 

 

 

Fashion stylist and blogger Yvonne of MYLM

Now, I have always made it very clear that I a not exactly a huge fan of gospel music, but have also been honest enough to say when a gospel track is really really, and I mean really hot.

 

This track and video titled ‘Niwe Nawe’ by Mbuvi is one of them. Truth be told, I just can’t get enough of this track and yes, I am Muslim. This guy Mbuvi just has something that gives so much soul and life to his music. ‘Niwe Nawe’ is that type of song that you would hope to automatically start playing the exact moment you open your eyes in the morning.

Sunshine comes your way with this song. No matter the current situation that you’re in, this is the kind of song to get your head right back up. Mbuvi will never seize to amaze his fans. Very uplifting and joyful this song is.

 

The video’s simplicity gives this song even more humility than it speaks out. The tune continuously plays in your head even after the song ends. Lovely. Just lovely.

Check it out below.

Hardstone was one of the best rappers to ever come out of the Kenyan music industry.

Sadly (for us Kenyans), he had to leave the country and took his musical presence with him too. How we miss this guy.

Still, there in the States, Hardstone gives some of the craziest and most electrifying shows as these random photos will show you.

Check them out.

Today, Abbas celebrates his [RETRACTED] birthday. There are really no publicly accessible records where the rapper’s age can be found but maybe the amount of time he has been in the industry could be an indication.

When asked by Willy M. Tuva in his birthday interview conducted via phone, the rapper’s answer was less than satisfactory, “Miaka tisini na tisa hivi (about 99).” The Mambo Mseto presenter went ahead and asked him how long he has been in the industry and his answer was, “Officially, kama miaka 15 hivi (About 15 years).”

And when Tuva further prodded the legendary MC him about his age and why he was keeping it a secret, he said, “Wewe naweza kukutumia kwa text kwa sababu wewe ni msela wangu. Siwezi taka watu wengine wajue, hatujui ni akina nani wako kwenye mtambo wanasikiza saa hii. Ma-haters hivi, siunajua (I can tell you because we’re homies. I wouldn’t want other people to know, I don’t know who else is listening. You know, the haters.”