I always ask myself if I was an artist, what would I do to reinvent myself, how would I reinvent myself and remain relevant in this ever changing times. Sometimes I think when you look at yourself as a brand you have to stop and start critically analyzing how your moves today will impact your music in like 5 years. Its an interesting paradigm but I think for most part everyone should look at themselves as a BRAND.

Kanja has been reinventing himself slowly if you haven’t noticed, for starters he dropped the “African King” I could be wrong but I think this was a good move. Kill the haughtiness and embrace the new – the music world is about collaboration and strategic partnerships. And this I think Kanja has embraced really well over the last few years. Lastly I think just the sheer fact that he seems to be standing on his own (meaning without Naomi) we are now getting to see who he really is. I think Naomi shadowed a lot of his capabilities and made it difficult for anyone to truly judge his music. It felt like a duo when essentially they were individuals who just collaborated on a few tracks. This new tests are transforming themselves in form of this Banger called Its My Time…

Overall I think the growth I see in him, I wouldn’t be so surprised if he scored a record deal sometime very soon. Right now he is on my number 3 list of the hardest working artists in the Diaspora. Bless my brother, do your thing!

listen and download the track here:

Kanja – Its My Time by getmziki

watch the video here:

A few years ago I used to openly talk shit about Wahu and her talents. It wasnt coz I was mean at the time, I think in being brutally honest you have to confront brutal facts about what you like and what you dont like. My thoughts have been well documented throughout this blog. As recent has her Running Low track that I posted a few years ago, I was still bitching and moaning about her going back to her roots and back to what I think makes her a special artists.

Gladly my opinion doesnt really influence much in Kenya because damn a lot of artists would have been out of the game by now. If you consider Running low, it went to be come a hit record in the country and a slew of other tracks she made. I dont know if I can recant all my sentiments about Wahu today but I can atleast acknowledge that she is not going anywhere, anytime soon with tracks like the one I am posting today. To my defense this is the type of music I often said she should continue to do. Anyway i digress, I love this track, its smooth, its edgy and its a remake of her classic…

listen and download the track here:

watch the video here:

I am sitting here with my boys watching this video and i realize if I don’t share this video with the world i wont sleep well tonight. In all aspects of hiphop I love this video, if this is the Kenyan version of Cypher then I am definitely interested in the next episode of 16 Bars. This is official, Number NANE crew just killed it… Octopizzo killed it but that cat who freestyled before Octopizzo is the truth!!

I wont talk much please take 3 minutes of your time to watch this talents.

UPDATE: Since we are talking about cyphers, here are two more cyphers :Camp Mulla Presents the 254Low Cypher Volume One and two:

VOLUME 1: Featuring YGB’s Octopizzo, Crew Teflon’s Timmy Tim and Camp Mulla’s Yung Kass

VOLUME 2: Featuring Camp Mulla’s Taio Tripper, B.L.C’s Smooth Poet and MuthaLand’s Babu & Uneek

The decision to go international is difficult for any artist, I believe more so for most African artists who have to struggle with the challenge the language barriers. The thing is Westerners are quick to detect accents and as such once they figure that you are not one of their own – they typically zone out and disregard the hits. But somehow I don’t think this is something some of these new diaspora artists have to worry about in the future. On the flip-side some guys will always sound Kenyan – coz listening to this song its every bit Kenyan than any of the Camp Mulla tracks ive been listening to…lol

I’ve been following Vinticqeezy for a while now, the first track we posted was Jiachilie which was back in 2008. I cant explain the amount of growth and maturity I hear on this track and that i have seen with these cats over the years. Jiachilie were hits in their own right blessed by Chava at the time. Fast forward to 2012, Sasabasi drops this hit produced by a Kenyan cat in Houston called Giggz. To me I think this is a sick joint – additional vocals by Abizzy a cat from Sierra Leone and what you have here is a recipe for a good track.

The only thing left here is heavy rotation – and air play. So lets start the blessing from this post.

listen and download the track here:

Vinticqeezy ft Abizzy – Find You by getmziki

Bonus Material:

Download audio file (Vinticqeezy_ft_Abizzy-Find_You-Instrumental.mp3)

Instrumental: Get it

Download audio file (Vinticqeezy_ft_Abizzy-Find_You-acapella.mp3)

Accapella: Get it

There is something dramatic happening in the music industry across the board, some artists are catching a hissy fit because other artists who claim to be rappers are now singing. This phenomenon has been sweeping the world in one form or another and with this track I think Collo is no exception to the rule.

Here is the thing, I think personally most people who dont like rappers who sing, are probably more upset at the fact that they actually sound good. Its not that rappers never sang in the past, its just that it took one damn good rapper to make the singing stand out on his own tracks. DRAKE is a perfect example of this phenomenon.

When I listen to this track, Collo is singing throughout the whole track, essentially this is territory that folks like Nameless, Mr. Lenny used to occupy – its new territory for him but to be honest its FRESH. The track is solid. Production wise Alex Mugenda aka BIG SOUL did enough justice to the track. Additional vocals were blessed by a soulful sexy chile called Ammelina Mwenesi if y’all recall she was one of the TPF (Tusker Project Fame) contestants a while back.

Anyway am happy with artists who want to challenge the NORM.. But Collo lets put this album together its long over due…

listen and download the track here:

Collo – Hodi Hodi by getmziki

W’ve receieved a couple of remixes the last few weeks featuring Navio from Uganda.
The first one is the “Skamaress” remix with Madtraxx on the Chorus, which while the second remix is the new Uganda 256 “Windheck” remix by Cabo Snoop, Navio, Airport Taxi and Peter Miles.

Enjoy!!!

Listen to the tracks below:

Windheck Remix – Cabo Snoop, Airport Taxi, Navio, Peter Miles

Download audio file (Windeck_remix_Cabo_Snoop_Airport_Taxi_Navio_Peter-Miles.mp3)

Click HERE to Download the track (RIGHT CLICK AND SAVE AS)

Navio Feat Madtraxx- Skamaress Remix

Download audio file (Skamaress_Navio_Remix.mp3)

Click HERE to Download the track (RIGHT CLICK AND SAVE AS)

I am loving the relationship we have inked with Waithaka Ent and Festus. I think the future of our work is going to overwhelm the world and preferably not underwhelm. Ideally we have selected a few artists in our bucket of talent and decided to make these crazy remixes that will be available for your guys real soon.

This particular track is not part of that compilation album but I am so tempted to plug it into that album coz I am overwhelmed. I mean if you compare this with the Original track which we posted here: You will realize that Waithaka has not underwhelmed by any means.

So instead of trying to big up your work as I already know how good you can be. Let me just share this with the music enthusiasts and the DJs to go hard on it.

listen and download the mix here:

Habida feat Cannibal – My Reason (Waithaka Ent Remix) by getmziki

In the current music industry, collabos are key to penetrating some markets and different fan bases. However some collabos seemed forced and it’s not too many collabos that breathe freshness. One of the collabos that I’ve been riding to that breathe’s freshness is “Gentleman” by P-unit Feat Sauti Sol. I can honestly say the pairing on this track works perfectly. P-Unit exhibits an impressively smooth and lyrical flow and delivery, which perfectly merges with the beat. Production on the track was done by producer extradionare Robert Kimanzi aka R Kay who has produced tons of hits for East African Artists.

The first time I heard the track, I knew that “Nipate baby kwenye bar, uliza shorty what u drinking” will be a common line that most guys will soon be using. With this track, P-Unit proves that they can shift gears from working solo to collabos but still maintain a feeling of ownership throughout any project.

Enjoy!!!

Listen to the track below:

Download audio file (P-Unit_feat-SautiSol_GENTLEMAN.mp3)

Click HERE to Download the track (RIGHT CLICK AND SAVE AS)

UPDATED: For everyone asking for the 3 piece, here you go!!!

Click HERE to Download the Instrumental (RIGHT CLICK AND SAVE AS)

Click HERE to Download the Vocals (RIGHT CLICK AND SAVE AS)

watch the video here:

We’ve had this track for a while, but now just getting to post it. I got an email from a Dj asking for the track and realised we hadn’t really posted “4Sho, 4Shizzy”.

I really do not have a personal opinion of the track. I’ve listened to it and I don’t really love or hate it. If you’re looking for Prezoo to hit you up with some crazy punchlines, then you’ll still be waiting. However if you wanna bump to some music while heading to the clubs, then “4Sho, 4Shizzy” can easily find itself on your play list.

All said and done, Prezzo is an entertainer that has the strength to take a break from the music industry, come back and still make people intrested in his music. You have to respect that!!!

Listen to the track below:

Download audio file (Prezzo_ft_Ulopa_4_sho_4_shizzle.mp3)

Click HERE to Download the track (RIGHT CLICK AND SAVE AS)

See the video below

We have featured Syd on getmziki with clande and Uta do. Here is how Syd descried the track when he sent it to us

“My latest single after the song Clande (Mandugu Digital) ….It is a song that is dedicated to all the Single mothers that struggle and sacrifice to give their children the best that they can.From the Ogopa Djs studios, the song features Wyre the Lovechild”

listen and download track here:

Syd Ft Wyre – Guardian Angel by getmziki

Watch the Video below:

I have had this song for a while but to be honest I never got past the first 30 seconds coz it started kinda slow for me. Eventually I got around to listening to the entire beat and surprisingly its not bad at all. Now what tripped me out is that I thought this was a female on the track, turns out this is none other than Anthony Mwangi a.k.a Anto Neousoul whose been humbly making his ground for a few years now.

Anto has been in the studio working with the legendary Chris Adwar, on his debut album. From what I understand his upcoming work will be mainly a fusion of Afro, Reggae and Neo Soul fantasized over some poetry, mission driven music. Frankly I think this version of the Chips Funga remixes or refixes sounds the most appealing now that i think about it.

listen and download the song here:

AntoNeoSoul – Chips Funga by getmziki

watch the promo video here:

Jeraw – mark that name, because i think this guy got it, he seems to have figured out the perfect balance of flow,language and the beats to match he’s style. What do you all think ?

Jeraw – Tujinice by getmziki

I’m in that music zone where I’m really into tracks that showcase lyrical ability and clever wordplay. For one reason or another, I’m not really felling most of the new music coming out. Everyone once in a while for one reason or another, I get into this zone of just bumpin to straight lyrical artists and none of that club music.

In January this year we posted the track “Kibera World Cup” from Octopizzo and named him as one of the artists to watch in 2011. The Getmziki crew is always out there looking for artists on the rise and grinding to perfect their craft. It just reminds me of one of the artists mixtapes I’ve been listening to lately where he says in todays music world you have to be on a “griming” mode. This is where your grinding and timing are consistent. We’ve also been toiling with the idea of doing a “top 10 artist to watch feature” but with all that we have going on, the feature has been pending.

This track is not for everyone out there. If you are into club tracks with the same 100-120BPM dance tracks, then skip the post. However if you are into lyrical artists with great wordplay and punchlines, feast on this one. The first 16′s just did it for me.

“Politicians wanadhani wakibuy Subaru, watawacha Legacy,
Nawengine wako juu ya madawa nikama wamekalia pharmacy,
Wakati mnakunywa chang’aa hao wanakunywa Hennessey”

Listen to the track below:

Download audio file (Octopizzo_OnTop.mp3)

Click HERE to Download the track (RIGHT CLICK AND SAVE AS)

Some quick hits, Kanja has a new track with Kunzo from Nigeria. I have no real opininon on the track right now – since I am barely getting to listen to it, but maybe in a few days I will add on to the post what I think. Initial thoughts are that there is no real verse, too many hooks, too many piga makofis and bounce bounce bounce – not sure how to jam to this. And its okay I guess lol. I mean we cant be serious all the time, maybe sometimes we just need happy music.

I think I am also getting tired of Auto Tune in a sense… Sure T-Pain can do it and get away with it and so can Akon but for most part a lot of these cats have other songs without voice correction. After while folks will just need to hear your voice. I think maybe that’s why I liked that “Shorty say ahh”… Or Maybe I liked that Song coz of Naomi (Man naomi is CAKE waaaa lol).

Anyway listen to the track let us know what you think..

listen and download the track here:

Kanja & Kunzo – Bounce, Bounce, Bounce by getmziki

watch the video here:

I’ve got some quick hits I need to post before the end of the week as we have been really slow in posting hits lately. Bamzzz dropped an interesting track this week which we will start with before we get to the other music. This is just an interesting track – Bamzi seems to be like the kind of artists who is willing to try something different, I like the new musical adventure that he and Wawesh seem to be embarking on.

Bless this track below.

listen to the track here:

Download audio file (Bamzigi-Sitaki.mp3)

download the track here:

I must admit out of all the various pictures I have of Calvo, this by far is one of the few I like lol. Mostly coz Kintu (Mista Prime) is in the picture. I can’t deny I miss that cat a lot. There a few people I miss in Kenya, Kintu just happens to be one of the few that I miss hanging out and basically seeing him DJ. But this post is not about Kintu its about Calvo Mistari of Lyricall Assassins.

Immediately I heard this track the first time, I knew I wanted one of our team members to make a remix of this track. So I asked for the 3 set (track, instrumental, vocals). I then sent this to our GetMziki production team – Waithaka & Festus not because anything was missing but because I felt the hook was just too good. The relationship we have enjoyed with Waithaka over the months has allowed us to get a better understanding of what type of work we want to deliver to the market today and as such any beat he gets from us he usually murders it. This one was no exception. (Stay tuned for an upcoming project/a remix of the mixtapes)

The crazy thing here is that the original track which is attached below as track 1 is also a banger, so a few days later after initiating this excersise am conflicted as to which version sounds better and delivers on the kick and snare promise. To make matters worse Festus also jumped on the challenge and put together a crazy remix to the same track…. this post is a festival for DJs so without further due please dig in below:

listen and download the versions here:

Calvo Mistari feat HB & JahMani – Too Fine by getmziki

I really try not to get excited about new songs unless there is something extremely interesting about them. Most of my posts on Indiginaz I have to say have been subpar only because I have always felt he can do different music that appeals to a different crowd. Lets talk about this for a while if you guys can indulge me for a few sentences. *Disclamer: these are just my opinions, like many of my thoughts on this blog.

So in my opinion, most artists have to learn to evolve or mature or grow out of the music that first got them to market. I think very few artists can sit comfortably in their zone for a long time while still delivering the same music, same experience and honestly the same lyrical content. African Artists for long have enjoyed the ability to stay standardized in the same category for years without really losing market share. People like Koffi Olomide or other congolese artists tend to attract the same crowd over and over again. In fact people grow into these categories and few maybe grow out of them. But Urban music is different – I think if you look at the likes of 50Cent or any of the current rappers and see how they failed to grow with their audience musically then you start to realize how music has such a short window for success. I mean its like sports – cant live off it forever.

Anyway I digress – my argument with Indiginaz has always been his music has to evolve, grow and mature. His music has to speak to the people he grew up with. I mean Nameless is great, Hardstone was cool, Bamboo was hot, Zig Zag – shieet no one even remembers who Zig Zag was. But Indiginaz is finally keeping up with my ideals of relevancy and spirited flows when you listen to this song. Truthfully I think, this has to be his best work yet. The beat is heavy, the lyrical composition just precise and enough to deliver the right message to the right target audience. I also like the fact that he is not shy to big up his current hood (California). The diaspora market has to be recognized as a small force in itself…

Indiginaz I commend this effort and I love this track – this track will be HEAVY and BIG. I hope the video you guys are working on will complement the track. Meanwhile – that ANISA chic on the hook!!!! as much as there was some voice modification, she’s brings in a powerful hook… I just love the ngoma why lie..

listen and download the track here:

Indiginas – Saa zingine by getmziki

Bigpin is up to his old tricks again, here collaborating with Frasha from P-Unit. This song is a classic, however what I think is more classic is this burgeoning initiative that Bernsoft seems to be honing with many artists in Kenya. I am still trying to get the details of the relationship but from what I understand Bernsoft (which historically has been a software development company) has been developing and producing music for a few key artists for the last two years from studio production to post production videos and so forth.

This track and video are no exception to what Bernsoft Entertainment’s slew of talents has been churning out. It’s a rare groove with a simple catchy hook. I like the little harmonies. I actually like the track a lot, and I think Flo blessing the hook brought the different elements together perfectly. The video wasn’t really all that, I think they coulda done better on the video considering you have such a heavy beat… but for what its worth its getting heavy rotation on my ipod.

listen and download the track here:

BigPin feat Frasha – Boss Yangu by getmziki

watch the video here:

I have had this track for a while from Cartel (Dona loves Cartel so he always sends Cartels tracks). That said I want to post it today because its a fun track which I think the Luo’s will enjoy fully courtesy of Katenga productions. additional vocals on this track by Alfayo the miguel. I cant wait for the video… LOL

listen and download the track here:

Cartel – Another Mad Jaluo by getmziki

I’ve never done this before, where I receive a track and post in like ten seconds. I often try to be considerate and give the marketing teams due diligence to promote and push the track their own way through media before it hits the diaspora (for most big tracks). However this Wyre TRACK IS FIYAAAH and I am making no apologies for being the first to drop it this week. Basically all these cats were in Kenya last week for some EABL inspired concert that I am getting had some financial drama more than the US economy. I also gather one cool cat is Shaggy – apparently it was raining so much that folks were not sure if the gig was going on…

So Shaggy took a can of water poured in himself so that he can be as wet as the folks in the crowd – I mean how cool or worldly is that. To me that’s a free spirited artist right there.

Now not to take away anything from this banger but I put Gramps and Peets pics up coz Wyre Killed this TRACK (MEANING HE OVER DELIVERED). Clearly homeboy is on something or the other coz I feel like i should take back every negative word I have ever said about Wyre. The delivery, the production and just the energy is off the chains. Wyre bigs up man this is a collabo and a track that will give you some legs you’ll never imagine.

Kama nime sambaza Dancehall DJs wote wa Oakland – Bless

listen and download the track here:

Wyre feat Peetah & Gramps Morgan – Guarantee by getmziki