It’s been a polarised year for Kenya’s hip-hop folks. And with the Unkut awards (first ever guild red carpet awarding show dedicated to rap) going down last evening in Nairobi, ALFAYO ONYANGO looks at the genre’s highs and lows of the year

ROOKIES OF THE YEAR

Dez 

The new age dark horse in 254’s underground hip-hop scene keeps churning out hit after hit to minimal reception. But his subtle, timely and necessary entrance into the party took every hip-hop by storm.

Dez injected a breath of fresh air confidently to back his sentiments intimating the genre had become a ‘venting’ one, hence he is the go-to for the good vibes value addition proposition. 

Bey T

The show-stopping 20-year-old has been on top of the music podium from the moment she walked into 2019.

The state of the culture was so benign it took a young rookie to give it some attitude, and so she did.

Arguably a fusion artiste, the rap element she doctors in her music makes her a standout contributor in the genre this year.

Her diversity is one that could safeguard her longevity, but there is no debate she has got everyone’s attention this year and she will be burdened to carry the industry on her back more than ever after effortlessly doing so in 2019.

Japesa

The trilingual rapper is undisputedly one of the best additions on the hip-hop roster currently.

The native language realm was growing oblivious before his sudden appearance, but his passion and peak confidence package him so well to the point we do not care if his jewellery is real or not.

Japesa—who flavours his rap game with Dholuo—has been dishing out record after record, with the stand out being Too Much Ice, shedding light on how much we neglect talent outside Nairobi. 

SilverStone

Nakuru has exclusive bragging rights after a new queen surfaced from the shadows to save face with her bad a** demeanor.

Known as the punchline queen, the sleeve-tattooed femcee virtuoso has been showcased multiple times so much so the leading hip-hop artiste in Kenya Khaligraph Jones felt it would be a great injustice to not tap her this year for the third offering off his hip-hop anthem Khali Cartel. 

ANTHEMS OF THE YEAR

Dear Stranger (King Kaka ft Xenia Manasseh)

 Away from the Wajinga Nyinyi shenanigans, King Kaka’s Dear Stranger with Xenia is pure instant gratification. The beauty is how a personal thing can be made universal, and vice versa.

Nothing surpasses the joy of listening to quality piano sounds, the entertainment of watching a well thought-out video and the words that pierce through your soul like a bullet.

Kaka never minces words with his poetic intelligence. Xenia’s vocals are divine. This was a special song and wins the hearts of many if not a trophy.

Khali Cartel 3 (Khaligraph Jones)

One word, legendary. Khali featured Bey T, Silva Stone, Breeder LW, Reckless and Chiwawa in one song and this doesn’t happen so often, which makes it special.

Artistes at the summit of their powers killed ego and came together, an iconic and surprise appearance from one of Kenya’s best rappers Chiwawa; this was a golden moment in hip-hop music for Kenya.

The courtroom concept on the video brought out the best of all the ‘offenders’, pushing the artistic envelope of Kenya’s hip-hop pedigree.

Definitely one for the books, in-spite of the ranging debate of whose verse carried the day. Reckless killed it though!

Less Stress (Barak Jacuzzi)

The king of good vibes and party music, Barak Jacuzzi always has a trick under his sleeve, and knows how to turn up with the goodies, especially when you are about to count him out.

The Less Stress party jam is a collection of a proper rap music and video, fun, quality and great performance execution. 

Spicy SZN (Vallerie Muthoni ft Taio and Le Ru)

If this is not the soundtrack of the year, then let’s agree to nothing else holding that title because surprise is how it did not make a movie cut or something.

Vallerie aka Brown Shuga delivered a hip-swinging calypso that is sure to remind people what a sonic year it has been.

A year that didn’t offer much in terms of quality in the mainstream, this song had all those ingredients of excellence; musical instruments, the collaborators’ chemistry and a video to put the cherry on top. 

BEST LYRICAL PERFORMANCES 

Scar (Kovu)

Scar is so good and natural at rapping. On Kovu, the enigmatic MC spit feverishly, painted the Eastlands street culture portrait so vividly for strangers and embodied gangster making it look cool.

He used genius slang that made you rewind and the savage-like conduct of someone who had something to prove was not left behind all in one song.

His effort was completely successful hence the #KovuChallenge blew up the Internet, amplifying the jams statement-making greatness. 

Steph Kapela (Exposure)

‘Money talks, don’t be talking about Exposure…’ so he raps. Every line on the song is a standout quote in its own right and Steph is a crude example of a local artiste that you want to see thrown in the jungle of greatest ever banter.

In a song blasting hip-hop promoters for their shadiness of underpayments etcetera, he spoke the hearts and minds of many victims, voicing the mediocrity of the industry and unfair treatment Kenyan hip-hop artistes have to persevere to make profits, even after making a name. 

DEEJAYS OF THE YEAR

The disc jockeys are always going to be part of hip-hop no matter the fast-evolving technology. You could make your own playlists for your personal devices, but when it comes to selecting the best music for entertainment at the clubs and occasions, you need surety of someone that will pull off the same second naturedly.

DJ Kace

Also known as African Mzungu, Kace has been on the turntables in almost every massive gig that involves hip-hop.

No party with him on the line-up has been dull in 2019, as he is an experienced crowd-pleaser that knows what works and where instead of imposing cynical or sinister vibes to everyone.

The Boombox event organiser has a great ear for music that finds acceptance in the domains of large crowds elevating him to executive levels even bringing international acts to the country such as Nasty C at his own curated event.

DJ Poison Ivy

The Dallas-based Kenyan deejay is making major moves in the States. She recently got listed in the Forbes 30 under 30 Africa for her contributions in music. Talk about influence. Not only that, she is the resident deejay of NBA team Dallas Mavericks, playing music during all their games for the players and fans. 

MOMENTS OF THE YEAR

Chris Kantai’s demise

On February 27, the music and hip-hop collective was dealt a blow when news broke that the revolutionary and visionary Kantai had passed on.

The Huu Ni Nani G hit rapper’s personal life tethered around battling alcoholism and bankruptcy was a sad reality as he tried to keep off the media. 

Khaligraph Jones Afrima win 

The Superman rapper eclipsed bongo’s finest line-up Rayvanny, Diamond Platnumz, Ali Kiba and Juma Jux, among others, to be crowned the Best Male Artiste 2019 in the East African region in the All Africa Music Awards (Afrima). Toast to the triumph and for Kenya for producing such elites.

ARTISTE OF THE YEAR 

Boutross

Hit songs, visibility, artivism, feature and live show performances and all round ability to be noticed, this has been the year for Boutross Munene from AD Family.

His songs such as Wrong, Wasoro, Omoka and Bank, among others, have been on mainstream and underground rotation adequately successfully, crossing over to the commercial side of the playing field.

He has an unreleased song with another African giant, South Africa’s Sho Madjozi, just to add a feather to his cap.

He has also done one of the most daring hip-hop projects dubbed 6views 8K that features veterans and up-and-coming artistes in the genre. He promotes a rap sub-genre called Shrap. 

Bas teases own music festival in Africa

Grammy-nominated Sudanese-American rap star Abbas Ahmed aka Bas is teasing a music festival venture in Africa.

The Dreamville rapper, who is currently in Kenya as a host for the Everyday PPL Day Party, was so thrilled by the reception and hospitality in Nairobi.

“I have a dream of starting a mini fest on the African continent. Bridging cultures, I’m convincing my peers and friends to take this trek and put on for the youth here.

The love here is unreal Legit would be the most gratifying thing I’ve done in my career. Manifesting this for 2020. Send in your energy (sic),” he wrote on his social media platforms.

Music label plans raids in TZ, Uganda

After signing K Rhymes Classic recently, Usanii Music Africa is looking to sign three sound engineers to help work with top stars from the region.

Rhymes told Spice yesterday the studio is working to sign top artistes from not just the 254, but also Tanzania and Uganda.

“The management is working hard to have the studio structures in place. Currently our legal department is working on the paperwork to sign a number of producers and artistes.

There are plans to work with a couple of guys from Wasafi and if all goes well, we will be flying the Kenyan flag even higher,” he said.

Bey T goes ham on Kenya Nights

Musician Bey T has accused event organising firm Kenya Nights of favouritism. The company was hosting their 10th anniversary last weekend with a concert by the Jamaican-American electronic dance music group Major Lazer, Themba, deejays Suraj and Blinky Bill and Bey T herself.

But there was a huge online backlash by the fans after Bey T failed to perform at the event. She said: “This is not a rant, but a wake up call.

Gossip blogs can circulate this in whichever way, but the important thing is that local artists should not be treated as I was, and should be respected as international artists or things will never change.

Just because I was late does not mean I should be sidelined the way I was when we made an effort to be at the gig and actually prepared for that event accordingly.”