I’ve worked in the Entertainment industry for a while both in the US and in Africa. I worked for a record label in the US for close to 3 years and then moved back to Kenya worked for Entertainment companies for a year, started my own and then eventually ended up on Radio. I guess I am what you can call well rounded – or gone full circle when it comes to being able to dabble my hands in the Music industry.

While in Kenya I had the opportunity of working with some of the most talented individuals, DJs, promoters and business owners. But by far my greatest experiences were spent working with the local DJs because i got to play a part in feeling the music, feeling the crowd and it reminded me of my tenure at the record label in the US. Its with this same passion that I started this site with my partners and continue to carry the same voice throughout most of my online journeys.

That said every year my partners in Kenya send me music sets of work we had done back in 2005/2006 (thats a long time ago) but whats phenomenal is that the material still sounds so good and so fresh today. So whenever this time of the year arrives we celebrate our existence, our success and failures and most importantly our friendship by sharing this work amongst ourselves.

In 2006 I built a radio show called Prime Time Radio which was to be hosted by DJ Prime and DJ Cee. The show was to be syndicated in Tanzania and Uganda – the first time these two were ever going to be on radio, the fruits of which are attached below. (They will kill me for sharing this sets but I think its worth knowing these two personalities the way I knew them).

Prime Time Radio – Band 1 (hour 1)

Download audio file (PTR_Band_01.mp3)

download set here:

Prime Time Radio – Band 2 (hour 1)

Download audio file (PTR_Band_02.mp3)

download set here:

I also grabbed some images a blast from the past you can scheme through – Most of these were taken during the Chart awards and some during some of our events in Tanzania and in Kenya. But these are all some of my fond memories with my Entertainment posse – Blackstar Ent. Enjoy. And although many of these people are doing different things today including myself – its always nice to reminisce and think about how we changed the game in East Africa at one point… Special shouts to Prime (Kintu), Cee (Chris), D-Block (Danny), Smallz (Brian), French (Brian), Edu-G (Edward), Nyota (Nyota), Amazing (Alex), Makumbi (Marcus), Zoom (Moses), Dru (Andrew)… Thanks for the years – Am coming home soon ha ha ha..

[flickr album=72157600395147287 num=21 size=Square]

One Day – ULOPA Ngoma created the worst NIGHTMARE EVER for REDSAN and any other artist like Redsan. This nightmare came through the form of Shavie and Slice. Strangely the first time I heard this song I was like damn them Jamaicans just wont stop with their Dancehall. But the ULOPA ngoma signature drop before all tracks was too strategic I almost felt that some DJ was playing tricks with the track. Granted that this track is kinda old to a few DJs in the US – to me and a few other people its fairly new. I also have a pet peeve for Kenyan artists who try to rap and sing in patois (or pigeon english)… but why lie this song is on FIRE… Truthfully if you can do it and hack it then sawa go ahead I dont think I can complain, my only challenge to this duo is consistency, lets see if they can churn our hits after hits with the same feel tempo and charismatic patois enabled songs.

There isn’t much to say about these guys because they are still on the come up, so forget about myspace or getting an image from them or of them. But I hope some of my connections will get us some info.. Ama ULOPA – Do the needful and sambaza some more information about this track (KILLER TRACK) and the artists.

Enjoy.. this is feel good music.. Ohhh Redsan uta du whaarr (nipigie simu kwanza mbuyu)…

listen to Gal here:

Download audio file (shavie_slice-Gal.mp3)

download the track here:

Here is another random song on what I will call New Music Friday (please note that new is relative word at this point because these songs had been released last year but they are getting to us this week).

I want to say many things about Chiwawa but I will reserve my comments. For what its worth this is an interesting song, its got a little bit of everything, from a far I can hear some Kwaito, some Genge, some Zouk and some Kapuka or Genge – Its an interesting production and a good attempt at trying something different.

I will let you guys decide for yourselves what you think about the song.

listen to hey baby here:

Download audio file (Chiwawa-Hey_Baby.mp3)

download the track here:

This song here by MC Blaze in my opinion is a BIN IT track – but from the few songs I have published that I don’t like lately it seems there is every song for every user.. that said here is Nicheki by MC Blaze. Its such a bla bla track – no originality, lyrics are wanting and missing, and probably the only thing going on with this track is the beat… but that’s just my opinion.

Enjoy the track here..

listen to Mcheki here:

Download audio file (mc_blaze-mcheki.mp3)

download the track here:

There has been an burgeoning hiphop movement in East Africa for many years, to document the history here wouldn’t do justice to the work that many East African creative minds have tried to do over time. However one person always comes to mind when it comes to connecting East Africa (or more importantly Kenyan hiphop) with the Western world. Michael Wanguhu has been on a quest to advocate for all Kenyan artists, all Kenyan producers and all Kenyan entertainers in ways they will never come to appreciate until a few decades from today.

It saddens me further when I look at the tourism efforts that the Kenyan Government exerts on these hocus pocus conferences and meaningless newspaper Ads and page inserts on US/UK magazines to reach out to the Western communities. While all along you have soldiers and advocates for your country, busy trying to preach Kenya to the masses in ways you would never imagine. How much would it cost to support Kenyan producers, artists, directors, ambassadors for change – people who wake up and sleep about Kenya. The Michael Wanguhu’s the Wanuri Kahius, the Kimathis (Jamhuri Wear), the Wangeci’s (Kipepeo), the Uhuru Clothings (Tom). All these people are silent merchants of a country that’s wanting to tell people about its story its beauty, its journey, its changes, its growth.

So when I see people like Mike doing more work around the East African community, I am always compelled to pay attention. Because people like Mike tell tales of Africa that don’t have to do with poverty and struggling. They talk about the Africa I know, which has nothing to do with Maasai’s or AIDS (as much as these are realities) they don’t affect me directly. I grew up in an estate with water, with tarmac, with food, with decent friends and different set of dynamics. To me the artists who paint this picture are the kinds of artists I am normally drawn to, and I think thats why the whole urban scene has taken off in Africa. You have people P-Square talking about feel good music…

Michael Wanguhu has one documentary under his belt – hiphop colony for those who slept on it. He is currently working on Ni Wakati Movement – which by FAR – from my perspective is going to be one of his best work for years to come. Without giving too much away – please check out the website and listen to the track that he has sambazad for the public. This the official sound track of the new documentary.

http://www.wakatimovement.com/

listen to Red Black & Green here:

Download audio file (Red_Black_&_Green.mp3)

download the track here:

Many times we often comment on the artists delivery, the lyrical composition of the songs and probably the skill set and charisma of the artist. We rarely comment about the producers or the production houses. As much as majority of the users on this site are producers and DJ’s its interesting that no particular post has focused on any single producer in terms of delivery, consistency and skillz.

Therefore allow me to indulge this producer on this post, just this one time.

As much as I want to talk about this song – which is on my 2009 ipod favorites playlist (its actually a 2008 hit). I am compelled to talk about Eric Musyoka as a producer who has done many wonderful things. Musyoka has single handedly changed the face of Kenyan hiphop since his inception as a producer. Of course not too many people know that Musyoka was a rapper in his previous life – but i will save his street credibility before some of his material starts surfacing . I am just glad he gave up the Mic for the sound board.

I’ve worked with Musyoka on a few projects and I noticed a few production habits a long the way. His signature teeth grinding and keyboard chunking when he is compiling production tools in the fridge (Sound studio at Homeboyz) keeps you on the edge of your seat through out the entire session. All artists respect this dude, I am yet to meet someone who wasn’t happy with the work he did or the way he treated them. Musyoks came to the US a few months ago to further his skill at NYU (NYC – My mistake I meant to say Musyoka came to NYC) and after he graduated he went back home to manage P-UNIT. I have nothing but a lot of love and respect for the man – but more respect for the music he constantly creates.

My favorite tracks from Musyokas kitchen – are stuck somewhere in that failed SEMA album… Sakalataka being one of them and a few other joints that were slept on were ridiculously sick (there is also some Mr Googz material I heard before dude went secular thats sick). However for now please listen to this East African collaboration from Professor Jay from Tanzania and Klepto (Kenya) – pay attention to the harps and keyboard if you can – then you will understand why Musyoka will always be DR. DRE wa KENYA.

ps. Not that anyone cares but if I was ever to put East African producers into a bucket of people I would like to work on my artists album – this is how that list would look like.

1. Musyoka (Kenya)
2. P-Funk (Tanzania)
3. Ambrose Mandugu Digital (Kenya)
4. Steve Jean (Uganda) (The old Steve Jean..)
5. Masta J (Tanzania)
6. Hiram (Kenya)

listen to Njoo here:

Download audio file (Kleptomaniacs_prof_jay-Njoo.mp3)

download the track here:

Here is a not so new song but as far as this website is concerned it might as well be new. Bongo la Biashara has been an evasive song in our database, each time we got a copy it wasn’t up to our standards and also more importantly it wasn’t complete. Finally we managed to get our hands on something more meaningful (full version).

This is a classic JuaCali track, to have Mejja on this track is a blessing because the two artists are probably the most sought after Genge artists in Kenya currently (or at the time of recording this song). The beat sounds so futuristic like something off a West Coast producer, with the pianos the plug in accordions and the harps. I like the track – but without further due – enjoy the track

listen to Bongo la Biashara here:

Download audio file (Bongo_La_Biashara-Juacali_Mejja.mp3)

download the track here:

Ousmane’s other names are Wanjohi Waregwa for those who didn’t know and he has like six other siblings (they are 7 kids in their family in total). Here is where it gets interesting, he was born in Mombasa and then moved and went to school in Nakuru town (St Colombus High School). Many people who grew up in Kenya know how Kenyans tend to associate social classes based on which high school an individual went to.

I put this here so that I can draw relationships between his music style and his lyrical content value. Ousmane to date has tried to maintain the Kenyan reggae scene (if at all there is anything like that). I have to say the reason I admire this cat is because he doesn’t try to do what Jamaicans do, he doesn’t try to speak in patois (patwa). He just does his music in the same rhythm, adds a little of that Genge/Kapuka we like and then says things as any Kenyan would. That’s what I like. I have a tendency to block out any local artist who tries to rap/sing in patois. The Redsans, the Nazizi and Wyre to name a few I really just don’t fancy that whole style… Wyre is a very good friend of mine and he has constantly explained to me that, that’s what he does, that’s him – personally I beg to differ.

Needless to say this is one of Ousmane’s classic hits, I decided to post it before the end of the year.

listen to little star:

Download audio file (Ousmane-Little_Little_star.mp3)

download track here:

When Danny dropped this track on my laps today, I wanted to sit on it and wait for a little while, but jama!!! the more I listen to this song am amazed at the different talents in Kenya. This track definitely sounds JOMINO-ish (actually very Banjuka reloaded ish). You cant mistake the production style, but needless to say the hook, the flow, the collaboration and the delivery is off the chains.

I am definitely hooked on to DNA’s voice, that cat should have been a radio presenter – deep voiced MC in Kanye “East” Shades, his image has been up to par and he seems to maintain his artist credibility at all times. To me if you are an artists you need to be in character at all times in order to maintain your image – and those white shades were at some point synonymous with DNA (Mr. Banjuka). KenRazy for me still has a lot to do to prove himself as an artists, I drew close similarities between him and JuaCali after Tichi – but consistency has been an issue… Kaya is an artist I am not familiar with but I am hoping with time I will get fairly acquainted with his music.

We have a lot more music ready for December since we want to push all 2008 material out the door before the end of the year. We also will do a countdown for the hottest songs and artists of 2008. But for now enjoy this song – its on FIRE… Play it a few more times..

Usikatsie NGOMAAAAA!!

listen to Mziki here:

Download audio file (Ken_Razy_DNA_Kaya-Mziki.mp3)

download the track here:

Am posting this song only because Prezzo just got married and I couldnt think of any other song that would commemorate his stepping into the new age other than this song (its not a new song). This is one of the few tracks I’ve had in the GM archives but never thought I would actually publish it because it focuses on a specific moment and time in Jackson’s life. Its much to personal for him especially because of the Collaborations involved in this track.

If you pay close attention to this song you will hear beats and essence of the whole dirty south style. Kenya went through this phase a few years ago where many hiphop artists dabbled their hands into the whole south style. Tshazi is probably one of the few producers who ran with this production style and got a few artists recognized here and there. Either way here is Cheki Ninavyo Roll by Prezz featuring Tah Blaze one of the former CMB posse.

Also R.I.P Feroze you are always missed Mshkaji wangu, always missed…

listen to cheki navyo roll here:

Download audio file (Prezzo_feat_Tahblaze-cheki_navyoroll.mp3)

download the track here:

First and foremost I have to say I am glad to be working with Bamboo on some upcoming projects. I think once guys listen to some of the new music coming from Bamboo and they get to sample the Nairobery II project then they will know we are armored and ready for 2009. It’s taken Bamboo a while to get back to the basics, but I have to say finally i feel as though this project is going to take the direction I’ve always been needing it to be on.

I told Bamboo one day the only other MC I would be scared of, if I were him, is a guy called Chris Kantai – both these two MC’s can flow in English, flip it to Swa and Sheng – Both these two artists can freestyle so effortlessly in both languages, a future collabo is wanting. But for now I still think Bamboo is one of Kenyans number one MC’s (ps. Bamboo Kenya Tour is coming soon, details drop soon).

As an artists Bamboo has done a lot, much like Hardstone, they both have gone soul searching, looking for what they think will be their future sound. Being in the US can skew your ideas of success and entertainment. Ultimately once an artist settles and realizes that he/she is KING doing what they originally started doing and what made them KING, they end up on top of their game. Bamboo is now working on his NAIROBERY vol II album which in my opinion is SICK. I have leaked two songs now – because the tracks are just that good.

BAMBOO IS BACK – // This track was produced by an Atlanta based producer called Wallstreet. Its amazing how you can take a western producer lace up a Kenyan rapper and still have a tight Genge track ready to battle on the Kenyan charts. //

listen to Tubambiane here:

Download audio file (Bamboo-Tubambiane.mp3)

download the track here:

Amani hasn’t released any new material officially yet, but we’ve had some of her classic songs in our database just sitting there – with no love. This is one of my favorites the beat, the guitar strings, the harmony and her delivery just all came together with style and class.

Sometimes am surprised how Wahu yanked that MTV base award – truthfully I have nothing against Wahu, but not with that song she sang, I honestly cant believe Africa voted for that song – I wasnt comfortable with that song being the marking scheme for Kenyan R&B or Kenyan vocal talent… I refuse, with all the love I have for her. Kwani what happened to the other songstresses in Kenya, people like PAM, Sanaa, Mercy Myra, Amani ,June Gachuhi – Then you have people Suzanne Owiyo, and Achieng Abura (who I think is the illest singer Kenya has – I saw her perform at Carnivore for like 2 hours straight mad respect). Anyway let me stop bitching…

Either way here is one of Amani’s classic joints – enjoy

Listen to Missing my baby here:

Download audio file (Amani-Missing_My_Baby.mp3)

Download the track here:

This video clip is from the Cypher Sounds – these were intermission sets that acted like fillers for the BET hiphop awards a few months ago. But I think its just big for K Naan to be amongst some of this big heavy weights. And to deliver that freestyle (“My Nigerian thugs will call you suuzeeeee”)… it was sick…

Somali Stand UP!!! This is your KING!

Today is just a day to THANKSGIVING FESTIVITIES – And I have been bombarded with so much info and so much content that I am officially overwhelmed. I will continuously say ASANTE to my resources and sources in Kenya, in Uganda and Tanzania (even though i haven’t started posting Tanzanian songs yet – am still looking for an editor or contributor to fit that post). That said, I will post 3 songs today that are FIRE!!!! The first exclusive joint being this DEP – King wa RAP (Collo) and Nameless track that is just SICK and off the charts.

These two went into a studio soon after the victory and came out with this undoubtedly Nameless jingle driven OBAAAAAMA OOOOO commemorative song. What makes this song officially hot is the fact that it brings the total number of HITS from the ULOPA Ngoma studios on this site to NUMBER 5. We continue to salute you, salute your work and your dedication to churn out hit after hit. Ulopa has developed a niche for himself in Kenya and I am just glad that its taking form and shape much like Mandugu did a while back with the BOOUNCE.

So for all y’all coming to Atlanta this weekend – see you there, for the rest . hang tight I have an OGOPA ANTHEM am going to upload from Colonel Mustafa – that’s bound to put a close to a rather exciting week.

download the song here:

we posted this song a few days ago but I know many of you slept on it, a few people downloaded it the day we posted it (Actually 48 downloads on day one). THIS IS A BIG TUNE. I felt there is no way we can let this track just slide like that.

9ice is one of the BIGGEST NIGERIAN artists, as Africa sees a new wake in Nigerian Urban hiphop artists – it seems like no one can stop this country of close to 300 million people stop. They have pioneered the movie industry, the telcom industry and now they seem to be taking over the music industry in ways we never thought possible. When P-Square came out we knew they were great and they were shaping up the new era of urban African music… but When I heard of 9ice – I knew that we have a new era in the making in African music.

While in the US rap is DYING – I think HIPHOP is very much alive in AFRICA… and its songs like these that help reinstate the fact that hiphop is not dying, its just changing hands – the torch is being handed over to the African Urban artists to infuse a little of their culture, their dialects and some essence of their classic old african tunes and instruments… What you get is something blended well called – GONGO ASO!!!!!

LONG live NIGERIAN HIPHOP – its the TAKE OVER

listen to Gongo Aso here:

Download audio file (gongoaso.mp3)

download the track here:

That said in 2006 one of my Blackstar soldiers Edu Gee (he does most of the video and production work for Blackstar – Blackstar Films) produced this track which was a remix of Daudu Kabakas Bachelor Boy and a blend of a hook that chiwawa made. I personally never liked Chiwawa, he rubbed me the wrong way one day – toka siku hiyo hatuja wahi patana, laini Chiwawa is a real Chiwawa… he he he it doesn’t matter what I think about him personally, the boy can spit rhymes every once in a while.

They did this clip one day in the studio, I thought it would be fun to share it – I still cant believe Daudi had a track called Bachelor Boy..

ps. Edu Gee is not a producer so dont critic this based on sound/music production, I think he did this more for fun than publicity. I hope he doesn’t spark coz I shared it.

listen to bachelor boy here:

Download audio file (bachelorboy.mp3)

download the track here:

ps. I hear GAME cleared like two bottles of Vodo on stage and still managed to go on with the show (owe plus some Kenyan Boza).

pss. THE GAME bringing Kenyan artists on stage was probably one of the BIGGEST things ive seen an international star do in Kenya. Am not saying its never been done before, but I think for a rapper of his caliber to show respect to Jua Cali, Wahu amongst others really changed the mindset for many of us.

Thanks to the GAME crew – and thanks to my peeps at Worldstar hihop for sharing the video

Episode I

GAME IN SOUTH AFRICA

Now normally I wouldnt even trip about concerts in South Africa coz it goes without saying every US artists has been to SA at one point or the other. But GAME continues to overwhelm me with this clip, you can forward until about 6min mark where he lets this kid get on stage and sing his song… THE KID MURDERED .. MURDERED.. Games ends up giving him his chain… SICK.. Africa Stand Up.. this is our time.

Some brand new heat from P-Unit and their lead super producer Musyoka (Dr. Dre wa Kenya). Am conflicted about the whole style at approach, considering am an avid Musyoka fan and P-Unit fan, I feel like this song has missed the plot for me. Musyoka is a super producer – that’s not the issue, but I think this beat was not meant for P-Unit that’s just my opinion.

Ever since Kenya decided to adopt the Southern style, there have been some hit and misses, some of the more notable ones are akina Madtraxx Boda Boda, and akina Tshazi and Abbas tracks amongst others. I am not sure about this as a budding genre for Kenyan urban music either way I strongly believe that the life cycle of these tracks is very short lived and eventually either all these artists will fall off or they will have to re-define themselves.

This song deserves to be with some US artist, the beat is too western and I don’t think it will make it as a club banger.. but I’ve been wrong before so you never know.

So I retract my comments – this song eventually ended up being one of the biggest songs in 2008 // the theme title track became a national slogan… As Musyoka Noted somewhere on the comments below.. GAME yao iko Juu, iko Juu tu Sana!!

listen to juu tu sana here:

Download audio file (P_Unit-Juu_Tuu_Sana.mp3)

download the track here:

Dj Dona starting the Mix with AY for me is killer asante – www.djdona.com – Enjoy!!

sample the entire mixtape online here:

Download audio file (70492f37863883b8.mp3)

or download the mixtape by right clicking and saving the target of this URL:

ISHIKE RADIO PART 10 – CLICK HERE //

Tracklisting

1. Intro
2. AY Feat P Square – Freeze
3. STL (Stella Mwangi) – Dreamer
4. Wahu feat Bobby Wine – Little things you do
5. Nonini Feat lady Bee- Kumbuka
6. K-Nel Feat Ben – ISHIKE RADIO Freestyle
7. Ngwair – Nipe Deal
8. Mejja, Mad Traxx, Jimwat – Mezesha
9. Chid Benz- King Kong
10. Big Pin feat Collo – Kadem
11. Bebe Cool Feat Gasuza- Sexy Thing
12. Mwasiti and Chid Benz – Haoo
13. Mad Traxx Feat Wyre- Serious
14. Fid Q Feat AY – Shimo Limetema
15. Kleptomaniax- Magnetic
16. Langa Feat Chidi Benz – Ninaposimama
17. Kaya – Fire Fire
18. Cloud Tissa Feat Nameless – Physically Fit
19. J Sha 4 – Play
20. Afande Sele- Heshima
21. Inspector Harun – Ndoa Haina Doa
22. Shena Feat Z-Anto – Fursa
23. Black Rhyno – Black Chata
24. Bombaa Clan – Does U R Mother Know
25. Blu 3 – Together
26. Kleptomaniacs Feat Ulopa – Psycho
27. Skool Fizz – Huku Majuu
28. Prezzo Feat Taz – Tupendane
29. Matonya feat FID Q – Taxi Babu
30. Ray C Ft Chidi Benz-Nihurumie
31. UB Feat Mr Lenny – Pesa
32. P-Square – Game Over
33. Grace – Anfuukula
34. Noorah – Mapenzi Sinema
35. Hydro – Swing That Back
36. Jua Cali featuring Mejja, Alahola, Rady, Ru, K-Solja and Linda
37. Alfayo – Physical
38. Bella – Faasi
39. G-Flow – Pepeta
40. Outro

//Disclaimer – We apologize for the image uploaded, we tried our best to photoshop an old Big Pin image from Ogopa poster and a new image of Sanaa with Pam and Karma. It doesn’t look half as bad as we thought it would. however one thing we would like to note is that Big Pin is probably one of the few artists you can’t find online anywhere – We are not sure why, maybe he just hasn’t had any new material for a while but basically no images, no audio apart from Terra Moss… It took us ten seconds to find promo pictures from P-Square to use.. but it normally is challenging to find any press releases or images from East African artists as a whole. //

Big Pin is a very humble dude, I cant really describe him any other way, I’ve spent a lot of time with Pin on a personal level that I really never saw him as an artist. I admire the fact that he has always tried to keep it Jaluo on all his tracks – that formula has always worked for the most part.

Sanaa on the other hand was one sexy goddess during the SEMA days… for the longest time there were rumors of her dating DJ John of Homeboyz that never really panned out. Some people claim the group broke up because of some of these differences – personally I think just standing next to Sanaa was Cake enough. She did enough justice of carrying that name from the real Sana (Sanaipei) Debra waaa wololo…

Anyway here is a brand new track of the two talents – its about time these two did a song together, although this song sounds like someone sampled a dancehall song (what a lie, what a lie what a very bad lie am not sure who sang that song or what the name of the song is.. but I know the tune).

You is produced by Homeboyz, I guess homeboyz is back – lets hope we can still get some heat from the fridge considering Musyoka started his own outfit and Ambrose is in Tanzania…

listen to you here:

Download audio file (Big_Pin_feat_Sanaa-You.mp3)

download the track here: