5 Things Kenyan Artistes Can Learn From Jose Chameleone

Jose Chameleone has been ruling the airwaves ever since I was a young kid pulling my mother’s skirt and crying whenever she served me tea without bread. There’s nothing fans respect more than a disciplined and consistent artist

e. We all hate one-hit-wonders and one-year wonders. We hate artistes who try so hard to cling to past glory because they can no longer produce good stuff. Artistes that hit the industry had then stall on the grid or run out of gas are annoying. Chameloene is not one of those. Unfortunately, many Kenyan musicians are.

There are things all Kenyan artistes can learn from Jose Chameleone:

In Africa, It’s not about the albums, it’s about the hits

From time to time, you hear Kenyan artistes talking of upcoming albums yet we haven’t heard a hit from them ever since Napoleon ruled France. We are not in the United States or The UK. Africa has a different kind of market. It’s not the albums that matter, it’s the hits. You can release a hundred albums but no one will care. No one will buy. A Kenyan would rather buy 10 rolls of mutura than buy your album. But if you release 5 good singles, you are a star. It’s that simple.

Discipline equates consistency

Despite his unrivalled star status, Chamelone is never seen around groupies. Neither is he involved in endless brawls like his brothers. No he doesn’t want to be the grand puba of petulance. He wants to remain the king and for that to happen, ne needs discipline. Chameleone is focused on two thing s alone –music and money. In times when celebrities engage in cyber fights and generally make careless statements, Chameleone stays largely quiet. This is not to say he never makes statements, however the trick is knowing when to stay quiet and when to reply scathing comments.

Kenyan artistes should understand that there are only two kinds of life to live: the controversial ‘love and hip hop’ kind of life where your career will be littered with drama and the best you’ll do is be a B-lister or C-lister. Or the disciplined lifestyle where only your music does the talking. Your choice.

Don’t force the creative process – or any process for that matter

Chameleone doesn’t put time constraint on his music. As artists, you really can’t force it. The process of creation has to be organic. Don’t go by that time stuff because you have to live and procrastinate and hurt and dream and laugh and stuff, to write good stuff.’ As for writer’s block, don’t believe in that. Don’t make up some whack shit just to appease the fans. The people deserve so much more than that. They will see through your nonsense.  Don’t just pour out shitty track after shitty for the purposes of quantity. Take your time and come up with something worthwhile. Take your time to come up with something that people can’t ignore.

See Also: 5 Things Kenyan Artistes Can Learn From Diamond Platnumz

Be the master of the stage

Between his absurd outfits and performances, Chameleone manages to hold the attention of the audience whenever he’s on stage. His shows are ever packed. Now any good entertainer worth their salt knows that this is no mean feat, it’s also a sure-fire way to build a fan base. Being a good performer takes practice.

Personality is everything

There’s an old saying that clearly outlines the importance of being adored – ‘It’s fun to be hated but it’s more important to be loved. You need personality to sell the music. With his gangster smile and charming disposition, Chameleone has been able to warm his way into the hearts of fans across Africa. My point – divalicious, catty attitude has no place in the industry. It’ll only be a clog in your wheel of progress.

May all Kenyan artistes take with them bags full of positive inspiration from this.