Tag: Kendi News

KRG vs Kendi: Award show beef

Posted on by Ozymandias

KRG The Don has fired back at fellow singer Kendi after she questioned his recent win as Dancehall Artist of the Year at the Kenya C Awards.

KRG responded through his Instagram Story shortly after Kendi’s remarks began circulating online. His message blended humour with pointed criticism, dismissing her opinion and suggesting she focus on her own affairs rather than commenting on his achievements.

Screenshots of his post quickly spread across Instagram, Facebook and other social media platforms, intensifying the back-and-forth and drawing mixed reactions from fans.

How the Dispute Began

The tension started when Kendi publicly questioned the legitimacy of KRG’s award win. According to widely shared social media posts, she implied that another veteran dancehall act was more deserving of the recognition.

However, her remarks were primarily circulated online, with no detailed statement published in mainstream media. As of the time of reporting, she has not issued any clarification or extended response.

The Award Win

KRG The Don was officially crowned Dancehall Artist of the Year at the 2026 Kenya C Awards, cementing his continued relevance in Kenya’s urban music scene.

Over the years, he has cultivated a strong following through club performances, high-energy stage shows and tracks that blend dancehall with Afro-urban influences. Some of his popular songs include Mambo Imechemka and Whine and Drop. He has also collaborated with several local and regional artists, maintaining a visible presence in the industry.

Industry-Wide Debate

Award season disagreements are nothing new in Kenya’s competitive music landscape, especially within genres like dancehall. Social media has amplified this latest clash, with fans debating:

  • Whether KRG’s body of work justifies the award

  • The transparency and criteria used by award organisers

  • The current state and direction of Kenyan dancehall music

At the time of publication, the Kenya C Awards organisers have not released an official statement addressing the controversy. Meanwhile, Kendi has yet to respond further to KRG’s Instagram remarks.

As discussions continue online, the episode highlights the passionate — and often polarising — nature of recognition within Kenya’s evolving music industry.

Kenyans don’t appreciate Redsan at all

Posted on by David Kingsley

I honestly feel like Kenyans don’t really appreciate Swabri Mohammed, alias Redsan. We can debate about this until the cows come home but it’s a fact.

In my opinion, Redsan is one most hardworking artists not only in Kenya but in the East African region as well. His work really stands out.

Somehow, people don’t appreciate his craft yet his music approach is unique. If you asked anyone about any reggae or dance hall artist from East Africa, they’ll probably mention Redsan first.

Unlike many Kenyan artists, Redsan actually goes an extra mile and does not use controversy to market his music or acquire a fan base.

Until last year when he beat up his producer for delaying his album, there was no controversial story about Redsan. I digress.

If you look at his latest releases including Rio, Back it Up, Pon Di Corner – where Kendi featured him, you’ll realize that he puts so much work into his music.

Take for example Rio. I honestly feel that it’s Redsan’s best work yet. He really went out of his way in that jam. The song was shot by Sesan – who is one of the best video directors in the continent.

That aside, Rio such a beautiful composition. Redsan is actually spitting bars in Portuguese or is Mexican? Anyway, that song is dope.

Funny enough, the song only garnered 130,000 views on YouTube, which is a dismal performance by any standards since the song was released more than two months ago.

His other releases including Pon Di Corner barely garnered 50,000 views  and why is this  the case? Do we as Kenyans feel that Redsan is not doing enough?

I honestly feel that it’s about time we started appreciating Redsan, because why not? Is he putting effort? Hell yes!

Watch his latest single Back It Up below.

So let me whine “Pon Di Corner” Kendi featuring Redsan

Posted on by Catherine Nderitu

So let me whine “Pon Di Corner” Kendi featuring Redsan. Best Collabo Ever.  This is part of her first album  which is planned for release in October 2019.  This banger just shows how Kendi is talented in singing and composing of songs. This is her third release in 2019. This collaboration is just amazing. The duo has just shown that they can work together for better things. Although the song is so good, it can only be played in a club. It is a jam worth listening too. Redsan is just so great in what he does.

Kendi the face behind pon di corner

Production of Pon Di Corner

Pon Di Corner was composed and written by Redsan. The audio was produced by Scotch Fingazz Mixed and mastered by Lucas. Also the video was directed and shot by a super director Jordan Hoechlin,  Co-produced and released by Belazzo Entertainment and Don Palazzo.Looking   at the video, it was given the required attention. The set was well designed and costume is in line with the target of the song which seems to be that of a club. Redsan and Kendi just gave the song all the energy required more so with their voices which fit in very well. The beats to the song are so attractive, am sure when you listen to the song you will want to keep dancing. The background identifies with the song. It was shot in a club and the choice of vixens does not dissappoint.

Lyrical Presentation

The jam, Pon Di Corner has good artwork. The lyrics are so good and all you wanna do is keep replying the jam. “So let me whine “Pon Di Corner”.  Just look at how the booty goes down, you will love it. This verse being the chorus is done so well  and Kendi brings it out so well. I like the part where Redsan sings in Swahili and English; “Mi napenda unavyo whine on my body girl, mwili wako so natural, wacha nikushow how special you are.” This guy got talent.

Redsan should go on and do more collabos, they seem to be working for him. I give the song a rating of 8/10. This jam is so great from the beats to the voices.

Click on the link below to watch the video.

 

 

Kenyan musicians who’ve been struggling to make a comeback and what they need to do

Posted on by David Kingsley

Kenyan musicians who were household names 10 years (or so) ago have been struggling to make a comeback in the last few years. However, their efforts are neither here nor there. It’s almost as if they are wasting their time.

DNA

Truth is, time flies. Maybe you treated Kenyans to a big hit in your heydays. For one reason or the other, you decided to slow down or take a break as you bask in your success. Maybe you just got lazy, who knows?

Somewhere along the way, perhaps after 5 (or so) years, the musician decides to go back to studio to record songs. More often than not, what motivates them is the fact that their bank account are not as fat as they used to be.

They hurry to release the songs. However, the songs don’t do well. They can’t even get 10,000 views on YouTube. This comes as a shock to many artists who were big back in the day. They find it hard to believe that their fans have moved on.

You see, 5 years is such a long time. Hundreds, maybe thousands of new musicians have cropped up since the old guns took a break. Naturally, some of them won the hearts of music fans.

As such, when the old guns make a comeback after so many years, they find it hard to penetrate the industry. Perhaps they sound the same way and this makes it even harder.

Instead of releasing many songs that no one bothers to listen to, these old guns should come face-to-face with the fact that they are no longer the household acts that they were a decade ago.

In so doing, they will come to the realization that they need to work with new-age musicians to regain relevance and break through in the local industry.

Accepting that you are no longer at the top takes a lot of humility. Actually, it’s a laudable act. The sooner most old guns realize this the better.

Some of the old guns who have been trying to make a comeback include; Mr. Lenny, Kenzo, DNA, Nonini, Kendi, Kenrazy, Big Pin, Julani, just to name a few. I hope one day they will get an eye-opener.

Watch DNA’s latest single dubbed Lokko below.