Top 5 Most Successful Young Artistes
So here’s a list of the top five most successful young (below 21 years) artistes in the Kenyan music scene.
#1 Camp Mulla
Consisting of Taio Tripper, Shappa Man, Miss Karun, K’Cous and Mykie Tuchi; this teen hip hop group has reached greater more than some of the veteran musicians have ever dreamt of. This year, the group became the first ever Kenyan act to be nominated for a BET award in the “Best International Act – Africa”. Even though the group did not win the accolade, it only goes to show how a great force Camp Mulla has become. Camp Mulla has also earn nominations in other international awards such as the Headies, Channel O Music Video Awards (CHOMVA), MOBO Awards (UK’s equivalent of BET) and MTV Europe Music Awards (EMAs) this year alone!!! The group has also won multiple awards at CHAT (Chaguo la Teeniez) and most recently at the Kisima Awards. Apart from the accolades, Camp Mulla has also performed at events of international magnitude. Last year, the group was the opening act for Nigerian duo, P-Square, and Naeto C at the Carnivore during Naija 9te. Camp Mulla also performed during the first eviction show at this year’s Big Brother Africa (BBA7). In a nutshell, Camp Mulla’s track record speaks for itself.
#2 Willy Paul
Willy Paul burst into the Gospel music scene with his with his song, Rabuka, which took the industry by storm, before long he featured Gloria Muliro to make one of the biggest songs in the country, Sitolia. It’s this song that won the 19 year old New Artist of the Year Award during this year’s Groove Awards. After Sitolia, Willy Paul released another hit, Mpenzi, which is currently enjoying substantial airtime on local media. He is also attributed for bringing in the industry the Bongo style of Gospel music. Though rocked with controversy not so long ago, Willy Paul is rearing to go, promising to drop another huge tune in coming days as he prepares to shoot a new video in two weeks at the KICC.
#3 Mr Seed
For Mr Seed, real name, Moses Tarus Omondi, every day is a thanksgiving day to God. The 19 year old Gospel artiste has achieved so much at his age. Having shot into the scene last year with his jam, You Called Me, it blessed a lot of people then quickly followed it with Papa God Ooh featuring MOG. Mr Seed quickly kept up the tempo with another track, Wello Wello featuring Dunco & Ngashville. He did not stop there as he went ahead to do another hit, Follow Follow. And now that he just completed High School last week, he already has to tracks (Wangu & Uskonde) which he’s about to release. Mr Seed is the only artiste to receive double accolades at Mwafaka Awards. He also won the Best Collabo of the Year Award alongside MOG during the 2011 Kisima Awards. Mr Seed is also a Groove Awards nominee. This youngster is the real definition of persistence and hardwork having been displaced during the 2007 PEV. He’s attributed for introducing the “Naija effect” in Kenyan Gospel music.
#4 Xtatic
For 21 year old Gloria Mecheo has had the most successful year in her music career. In a span of just 5 months, she has seen her career head skyward; from putting up an unfinished track on YouTube in March 2012 to signing a record deal with Sony Music Entertainment Africa, a management deal with Rockstar 4000 and recording her first ever album produced by The Fahrenheitz. And she’s not stopping there; earlier this month she revealed her ambitions of getting into the movie business, from acting, producing, directing movies, down to music videos.
#5 Jay A
At only 19 years and starting his music career, Juma Ali AKA Jay A has already rubbed shoulders with some of the top musicians in the country. Jay A was featured in “Bila Mic remix” alongside Collo, Octopizzo and Rabbit (Kaka Sungura). He was also in STL’s “Stella Stella Stella remix” where he rapped along with Sinzu (Nigeria), Kanja The Afrikan King (US-Kenya), Big Trill (Uganda) and Mwana FA (Tanzania). Besides that he has two dope videos; in the first one he features HBR’s hot presenter, Amina, known as “On Me” while he does it alone in the second video, “Clap Yo Hands”. Both videos were produced by Boomba.
