Month: April 2013

At some point in the past, Mr. Nice was the alpha male in as far as East African music was concerned. He was the top dog. And then something went wrong. He headed down to S.A and just seemed to lose it all. He wound up broke and addicted to illegal substances.

He tried making a come back with this track…

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…but that didn’t pan out to be all it was cracked up to be. And now he has decided to work with Grand Pa records, the newest powerhouse in Kenyan and indeed East African music scene.

With that said, he has collaboed with DNA on his latest musical offering titled “Tafuta” and you can watch it below:

While the rest of the nation waits with bated breath for President Uhuru Kenyatta to roll out his much anticipated Laptops for Kids government initiative, Caroline Mutoko has already put her daughter ahead of the pack by buying letting her use a top of the range Apple iPhone and iPad.

There is no hiding that Caroline is a proud parent that her kid can operate these devices at a young age. Caroline Mutoko boasted of this fact on her Facebook page, saying:

When I said in my article today that I can see the dream of these devices through my daughter’s eyes, I meant it. Bless The STAR they simply don’t have enough space for the days I’m on a roll. When you’re done reading, gasping and sharing these links and hopefully finding more, here’s what I know for sure “…. At 2 years my daughter operates my Iphone with ease. She knows where the pictures sit, where her items on YouTube sit and all her apps are about learning – ABCs, counting, numbers, songs, animals, instruments,cars, planes etc. Annoyingly, she also knows how to take the phone off “airplane mode”. I used to think I could save myself some money if she couldn’t access YouTube – but when the phone says “disable or cancel” she chooses disable – I weep. She can’t read, but she knows what gets her what she wants. If your phone isn’t “touch”, she tends to give it back with the words “a not working”. The iPad may be bigger than her little hands, but she doesn’t care –she’s all over it. Nduku’s future is digital, technology is her language.

Caroline is a mysterious one. Her posts on social media often draw hate and love in equal measure. I wonder how Facebookers will react to this one, as it seems to me like she is half-bragging, half-talking sense here. What do you think?

When I was called for a press conference, I did not know what to expect! I knew it was gonna be someone big but this I had not expected.

Then I saw someone posting about it on Facebook but I was still incredulous. Well it’s true, Mr Nice is back. Famous for Takeu style and hits like fagilia, you shall be seeing him on your television screens! He has just launched a new song called tafuta, a collabo between him and DNA. The video will be out today.

The press conference was organized at Florida 2000 by Grandpa records, and contained journalists from all media houses. A clear indication that he’s back, bigger and better. More on this unfolding story later.

Just got my mitts on a photo of a young DJ Kalonje. Enjoy!

DJ Kalonje for those who don’t know, mixes for top Kenyan radio station 1FM on Friday afternoons right before Tina Kagia and J.B Masanduku go on air.

Hottie has been away from the music scene for a minute.

I remember when she came out with the hit song “African Bam Bam” I was feeling that one. But she took a break from the studio, where she had another job, and was hosting karaoke gigs around Nairobi. Now she’s back with a new track called ‘Ona Sasa’ featuring Ugandan artist ‘Mith.’

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I caught up with her to give me the low down on how they made this collabo happen at Homeboyz, and this is what she told me:

“Challenges I faced was travelling from home to shoot the video in UG. Was apprehensive cause I had featured an artist I had not met on the song, but whose skills I admired, being a member of the hip hop group Klear Kut. I sent a demo to the Mith,he loved it. Challenging in the beginning as we did most of the work separately and online, and only met for the 1st time during the video shoot. We had to shoot till the wee hours of the morning, their entire team were great & supportive. Been away from the Kenyan music scene due to school & work commitments but still having the passion to make music,I have been actively involved in the music scene in Vienna(where she is currently based). I have a band called Mashariki (we perform around Europe) & I’m currently putting final touches to my album that will feature some great artistes in Kenya & from different places around the world. I intend to launch it at home this year.”

Nyi wasee tumetoka Githurai! Tumekam kuwapa rhymes zingine dry-y!

If you remember this song, then you remember Mr. Lenny!(PS: Get all the cheesy lyrics to ‘Githurai’ here)

Anyway, Mr. Lenny, who also sang Juju with Nameless back in the day, has been out of the music scene for years, but I managed to get some photos that indicate that the man has been BUSY setting up a family of his own behind the scenes. Here are the cute pictures of a father and his kid:

The way he’s beaming in all the photos, he seems a very proud father. Congrats Mr. Lenny!

Size 8 has gone gospel, and so many people seem to be celebrating, but there are those fans of hers who will miss the old Size 8.

The sexy sultry siren who occupied the thoughts of many men(and some women). Here is a photo gallery dedication to the old Size 8. R.I.P(2009 – 2013)

Size 8 in hot pants, which she has sworn never to wear again

Size 8 in one of her performances which she would grind on one of her fans

Ye olde Size 8 wearing miniskirts that she has now vowed to stop wearing

And some bonus photos:

You will be missed.

I love how DJ Moz has posed for this photo with his daughters. And I have tried but I can’t help but draw a parallel to the photo Tahidi High’s O.J took with his son.

As I’ve said before, I am Old Testament. My upbringing emphasized fire, brimstone, blood, guts and glory ergo i’m a sucker for traditional family values. Call me a conservative if you will. Check out O.J’s picture here to find out what i’m referring to.

But ladies and gentlemen, here’s the photo of DJ Moz and his daughters:

<With his neice>

Today I shared with you, that The Longombas want to feature a Kenyan artist in their new song.

If you did not read that important piece of information, do so here and send your demos to Adelle Onyango! Now, I came across this picture thanks to twitter. It is a picture of Adelle Onyango of Radio Africa’s Kiss 100, posing with Lovi Longomba. The difference in their facial expressions is so stark it’s hilarious! See below.

So Size 8 has gotten saved and made the shift to gospel music. She’s also made 7 other changes to her life since then.

For now, people are celebrating the fact that she has crossed over. But let’s look at the long term. It’s no secret that some artists have tried the whole gospel conversion thing and not seen it through. Look at DNA and DNG.

Also, there is the niggling feeling in the gospel industry that some people do gospel for the money. But we’re not ones to judge. We’ll leave it up to a democratic voting process.

YOU DECIDE: Can Size 8 permanently become a gospel artist and stick to the straight and narrow?

{acepolls 44}

Don’t forget to leave a response in the comment section below as well:

Well well, I just saw this on the Mziki Kibao Facebook page and I just had to share with you!

The song is called Kweli and it was released yesterday. If I’m not wrong, it is the sophomore release from this amazingly talented singer and TV host! Watch it below, it was directed by J.Blessing. Rauka, the show she presents airs on Citizen TV every sunday. Joyce Omondi where have you been hiding!

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The accompanying links show the story in greater detail.

1. Getting saved(of course): https://www.ghafla.co.ke/news/music/item/8336-size-8-gets-saved-vows-to-leave-everything-secular-for-gospel

2. Releasing a gospel track: https://www.ghafla.co.ke/news/music/item/8348-ladies-and-genmtlemen-here-is-size-8-s-new-gospel-track

3. No longer crying at night after shows: https://www.ghafla.co.ke/news/music/item/8350-size-8-when-i-was-secular-i-used-to-cry-at-night-after-shows

4. No more wearing short skirts and hot pants: https://www.ghafla.co.ke/news/music/item/8352-size-8-also-swears-to-stop-wearing-short-skirts-and-hot-pants

5. She will still, however, be going to the club: https://www.ghafla.co.ke/news/music/item/8366-size-8-insists-that-she-will-still-go-to-the-club-as-a-gospel-artist

6. She is never performing her seductive songs again: https://www.ghafla.co.ke/news/music/item/8372-size-8-says-she-will-never-ever-perform-her-seductive-songs-again

7. She has a new set of Terms and Conditions for her man: https://www.ghafla.co.ke/news/music/item/8380-after-getting-saved-here-are-size-8-s-new-terms-and-conditions-for-a-man

You know how you listen to a song, and the colour of someone’s voice also called tone tells you if they can sing? Well this girl has a very soothing tone, and that is what I believe makes her voice pleasant to listen to. What am I on about?

Heard of Lalonchi? You need to.

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I will not lie, I was sent the video and so I don’t have much to say about her yet! Nonetheless, this girl Lalonchi can sing and that is what matters. The song is catchy, simplistic and memorable. That is what hits are made of. It’s simplicity in no way dilutes it’s awesomeness. What else can I add? That you need to listen to both of her videos to hear just how precious this girl’s voice is. She is signed to Katenga entertainment.  Keep your eyes peeled for her debut album later this year. Ladies and gents, I present to you Lalonchi.

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Good news people! Are you an upcoming musician and have always wondered what it takes to work with the Longombas?

Read this, and then hit the send button! I pop into Facebook and twitter every so often, and love it when I come across such news! The Longombas who now live in the States, are about to finish their album. Good news for you, because they want to do a collabo with a Kenyan artist, either upcoming or established.

They have asked Adelle Onyango, Kiss 100 radio presenter to pick which artist they should work with. So here’s what to do, Adelle’s twitter handle is @AdelleO, nominate someone you think the Longombas should work with. Alternatively if you are a  musician, send your demos to adelleonyango@gmail.com. This is your chance to feature in a collabo with this talented duo! The new album is set to drop soon so do it as soon as possible! Just to recapitulate, send your demos to miss @ADELLEO of #KISS100, and keep your eyes peeled so that when she asks for nominations you can jump on it! Adelleonyango@gmail.com is that email.

Coca Cola has launched a huge ad campaign targeted at the African market given the stiff competition it has been receiving from Pepsi. ever since Pepsi’s entry into the African market they have been nipping at Coca Cola’s heels. No Softa tings here!

And in the latest ad, Coca cola has featured the self proclaimed African King Kanja himself. yeah, he’s the lad that featured in Camp Mulla’s Kus Ma’s musical offering “How High” which you can watch here and he featured Ghanaian Silvastone in his track “Lights Out” which you can watch here.

Watch the video ad:

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I just shared with you that 6AM Deejays are flying in Mat Zo! Yes, you’d have to be an EDM aficionado to know who he is.

Read his bio below, I got if from the event page for Kikoy Culture 2013 by 6 AM Deejays. Details about this awesome event here. Mat Zo will be the headling act.

“This whole genres business is like the Berlin wall, and I’m there with a forklift and a wrecking ball” Mat Zo

At 22 years of age, Mat Zo is part of a new breed of precocious, unrestricted DJ/producers that are making big noises without the one-dimensional genre blinkers of old. In the last 12 months alone, the London based producer has seen his boundary-blurring productions like “Bipolar” and his latest missive – the big room melodic funk anthem “Easy” with partner in crime Porter Robinson – dominate the Beatport charts.

DJs as varied as Skrillex, the Swedish House Mafia, Tiesto and Above & Beyond hammer them at the biggest events on the planets, while Zo himself spends his time zig-zagging across the planet – rocking the crowds at events like Electric Zoo in New York, Audiotistic in LA, Creamfields Australia and London’s SW4.

As anyone who follows his colourful twitter feed will know, Zo is a ranter as well as a raver. Laid back but full of creative fire, he’s still the music obsessed joker that his mates have always known – but somehow seems like an elder statesman at the same time. As a prodigious teenager, he took both the drum & bass (he records for Hospital as MRSA) and trance scenes by storm. Now armed with a discography of hits that would put some of the longest standing producers to shame, he has gone on to remix pop princess Kylie and become a leading light in both the drum & bass and trance scenes – occasionally topping the Beatport charts in both genres at the same time.

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With “The Bipolar EP” finding its way into the sets of A-Trak, Afrojack, Porter Robinson, Steve Aoki and Roger Sanchez, Zo has proved his chameleon-like capabilities to find fans in whatever sound he turns his hands too. A recent Beatport #1, “Easy” (with Porter Robinson) has been clocking up BBC Radio 1 play from Pete Tong, Zane Lowe and Annie Mac.

With his recent 70-track Essential Mix for BBC Radio 1 journeying from Burial to Sasha and Daft Punk to Noisia, Zo’s kaleidoscopic creativity is now ready to be unleashed in full force through the release of his debut album in summer 2013. With everything from French house to hip-hop planned for the album, Zo’s genre-wrecking visions are set to be realised in the most explosive manner imaginable.”

Watch more of his youtube videos at the misnistry of sound MOSTV channel.

Everyone knows the track “Thrift Shop” by Macklemore and Ryan Lewis aye? But what do you notice when you listen to the track and to another Macklemore tracks? Let me allow you to listen to the track before you respond

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I trust that the trumpet is what you noticed about the track aye? It’s prominent not just in this track but in almost all his songs. And that is the link Macklemore has to Kenya. The trumpeter. His name is Owuor Arunga. And this is him:

A lad named Innocent Wasike set me on the scent of Owuor and I found him. Here he is with Macklemore as they get down to some jazz:

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And here he is on his own:

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Juliani is back, with a song that is as catchy as catchy can be. His lyrical prowess is undeniable as usual.

The beat is the first thing that captures you, Dillie I repeat is one awesome producer! He by the way, is the guy who produced Khadija the remix by Wyre and Juacali. Well this video sadly is too short Juliani, what’s up with that? Dillie also produced So Alive by Sage featuring Octopizzo.

I love that Juliani is singing more and more in this latest mixtape of his. The song starts by him asking “Na hii Nai ya nani ya who?…” Then he goes to say that we are in this mpango wa ka dough, meaning we all in the rat-race looking for money. My best line of course is “Superman not aware of his own strength, ako content kuwa Clark kent.” Still waters run deep so goes that adage, and this man that depth that you only delve into when you listen to his music intently. 

And yes this video was shot using an I-phone. Agan Juliani, Y U No make this song longer? For more Juliani news about his latest project, read here.

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Check out these photos of what went down behind the scenes and makeup brush of Wyre’s remix video shoot for the track “Khadijah”.

To be honest, i fully understand that people have to have makeup for video shoots but oh my! It’s kinda funny seeing these men getting their makeup done.

<some lip gloss>

Read more about the project they are collaborating on here.

Wyre is an industry mainstay that has managed to stay afloat, ever since the days of Necessary Noize. 

He recently released the song Khadija, a love song predicated upon an infectious ragga beat. I must admit the song grew on me! From his lyics, you can tell this artiste is very fastidious in the way he approaches his art. My favorite songs by him however are still Chuki and Uprising.

Today, he released the video to the remix he did with another industry heavyweight Juacali. The song has that vintage look, with the ladies clad like they are starring in something out of a wedding shoot. Awesome video this one. The song was produced by Dillie who also produced Sage’s So Alive. Watch it below.

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Last week I wrote to you about the scandal that ensued when two former employees of a renowned recordiong stable were accused of luring artists to their new musical outfit.

Well Philo of Mainswitch sought to clear the air, if you missed that, here is the story. Something that caught my eye in that story, was that Jaguar is one of the artists that he’s working with currently. True to form, that was confirmed today in Mzazi Willy Tuva’s show, when Philo was being interviewed. He said that Jaguar was launching a new song called Kipepeo, and that kigeugeu would pale in comparison to that song! Slated for release in a week’s time, it is said that Jaguar ad his team have enlisted the help of a director from the states in a bid to ensure that they shoot a video worthy of critical acclaim! Speaking of Tuva, gues who from our team was recently interviewed by him. Read here.

Once the song is out, I shall definitely share it with you. There was a bit of controversy concerning the ownership of that song. Philo however explained that although Jaguar was to do that song with Mustapha, contractual ties would not permit them to. Kipepeo means butterfly in Swahili, and this song is set to fly sky high. Philo said that he is currently working with several artistes, and has recently produced a major collaboration between frasha -(punit) and Wyre. Other artistes currently working with him, include Gospel artiste Ringtone, Canibal, and Syd.