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:

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

“I PAY MY DUES WITHOUT M-PESA”

Shit the chile has flows for days, if Wesh is not involved with her writing all I can say is she will be official in a few years. I know some of y’all thought or think I was giving her undue props. But you have to be able to see the future when you listen to some artists. Some people have it, some just dont have it. This artists just has it. Music runs in the family here its inevitable.

The production is solid, the instrumentation in the track I like – this is the second release from the YOme camp and am loving it. African Hiphop really is blurring the lines between Africa and US. Personally I am glad its happening, its about time we started giving the US a run for their money. Now we only need one artists whose not an AKON or a KNAN. We need one artist who comes from the ground up from Africa and becomes a super star in the US and UK .. Like DRAKE did from Canada into the US. I don’t think folks like DBANJ and 2FACE will deliver on that promise. I think they are good artists but they don’t get hiphop – they get Africa. But when you have artist like YOme, KFORCE, CAMP Mulla and the likes then the border lines a slightly distorted and it creates opportunities for these cats to become really big.

YOme – AFRICA is watching you… big ups and GOOD LUCK.

listen and download the track here:

YOme – Late Hours by YOme

Its obvious we have been busy for a few weeks now with the long holidays shit is bound to get out of hand for a few. But I am glad to be back on the grind and back with a BANGER like this one. KNEL sent me this track originally to watch the video and witness the quickness of these brothers. But Kforce whom I have been following for a while, tears up the Mic on this track.

This new Kenya I am loving, coz the new Kenya makes no normal lines between American hiphop, Kenyan hiphop or anything hiphop. Its such a blend of qualities and languages that honestly the average American would have a hard time trying to figure out if the artist is from here or from there. The sheng is legit, the English is legit – to top it off you give a guy a sick beat and what you have is just CLASSIC material. I love this track by all means. The video is hot, the gear and the attitude on the video is hot. The fact that they shot it in downtown Nairobi is also tight (I am tired of boody shaking videos with young 16yr olds hanging out in the background – that’s not hot). But this here… this here my friends is KENYAN hiphop and a good indication of where hiphop in East Africa is headed.

NOT KAPUKA, NOT GENGE – BUT K-HIPHOP! or what I will call K-POP

listen..

listen and download the track here:

Kayvo Kforce feat Bizill – Dying Breed (produced by Chambers) by getmziki

watch the video here:

UPDATED:

KNEL decided the track was too “deadly” and jumped on it to drop the remix. See updates below:

Watch the teaser video:

get the exclusive remix here:

Kforce, Bizill & KNEL – Dying Breed (Remix) by getmziki

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

This is a selfish post – obviously I listen to a lot of African/Kenyan Soul music. I think I can actually say I pioneered the word AFROSOUL LOL… am just kidding but truthfully I have supported a lot of young singing artists who wanted to cross over to R&B with an African twist. So its not unusual that I listen to Stan or Didge over and over again.

Today I woke up listening to Stans Debut album – it dropped a while back, Wawesh was behind the entire project and shit was real good back then. I dont know where STAN is today or if he has any new music. But for today, and just for today lets appreciate this cat for what he brought to us back in 2008. Some of these tracks we have posted them here before.

- Rollacoast – Track
- Gachugwa – Track

Otherwise I added a bonus track called She is…

listen to Rolla Costa here:

Download audio file (Stan-Rollercoaster.mp3)

listen to She is here:

Download audio file (Stan-Rollercoaster.mp3)

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:

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

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:

When Murfy’s fLaw sent me this track I honestly didnt know where to classify this type of music coming out from Kenya. So I shelved it as I think about the fate of that track. Truthfully am not a fan of DARK music, and not that this is DARK music but its borderline PUNK ROCK, or what they called Alternative ROCK. As an African I didnt know where to put that music in my head so you have to forgive for being too cliche or too grainy.

However a few weeks later after talking to a few pals and seeking some advice, I realize that there is a whole movement in Kenya thats following punk rock or alternative rock (which I totally get are two different things). But when I left Kenya I used to attend 6AM parties – and that for me was like BLAZING ROCK, DANCE, TRANCE – very different than the music you guys are doing. But my sources in Kenya tell me I would be shocked. So I am shocked. Anyone in Kenya reading this please shed some light.

For more information on Murfy’s flaw please check them out here: http://www.facebook.com/flawbymurfy

Listen and download the track here:

Murphys Flaw – In Silence 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

So first and foremost I want to apologize to K-Nel (also known as Nelson), I slept on this song when it was truly more important to have released it rather than today. However to my defense the fundamentals contained in the message in this song can be applied across any time period so I feel like keeping in spirit of what you were going through when you wrote this. Its important to continue the conversations to ensure the tragedy happening in Northern Kenya doesnt happen again.

Let me first say that I am a critical consumer/mwananchi. I tend to criticize a lot of initiatives that are built on disaster response as opposed to strategic prevention. To me the Govt should have always been working on sustainable economic growth programs that can project such situations. Now I am not saying the Somali situation was foreseeable (am not that visionary), however I am just saying when people embark to collect funds and make songs and put up drives – they need to know that HUNGER in NORTHERN KENYA has been a growing problem way before the “Horn Of Africa Crisis” started. Anyway I digress.

Attached is the GetMziki world premier of the long awaited Single “Nina Njaa” meaning “I am Hungry” ft the Kenyan singstress Kawira which was produced by Waithaka Entertainment and mixed by Provoke! K-Nel wrote the track and dedicated it to the Hunger Victims in Kenya and Somalia. After travelling to Kenya and seeing the situation first hand, he had no words to describe what he experienced, so he penned it in a track. He echoed to me that his message would simply be “Don’t cure the problem, cure the cause”. Join my “Horn Of Africa” project and support. A few weeks ago he had a series of events in Cologne to raise funds and awareness. For more info visit … http://www.anglohili.com. And of-course you can download the track here …

Meanwhile has anyone seen K-Nel’s hit webisode/TV series – SURPRISING EUROPE? Dude is a hustler ha ha ha http://surprisingeurope.com/

listen and download the track here:

Nina Njaa by K-Nel ft Kawira (Prod by Waithaka Ent) by Waithaka Ent

So Musyoka sent me this track a few days ago and didn’t really offer much explanation. What I like about Musyoka is he knows the type of music I like, so as I assume there are certain tracks he doesn’t even bother bringing my way and there are some he knows – its like a gut feeling that tells him, this track will make Leo go nuts. So lets get the Leo speak out of the way real quick – Monique is a such a chips! I mean right after Coca Cola popstars I was still locked on to her, she has boody and her cat eyes are …. well lets just say Monique is fine. She could sell her appeal a lot more than she has been. But that in itself is just a bad assessment of an artist that’s well deserving vocally than she is physically.

Now lets get the more important details figured out. So if you recall, Monique was one of the finalist of the East African version of Coca Cola popstarts back in the day. After which point she was managed solely by homeboyz entertainment and I think at the time did a couple of tracks in the Fridge and also at R-Kays studios. So to me she is a seasoned musical veteran, in that she’s been through a system and a process that you learn from as an artist in Kenya. She also reminds me of me, coz her background is Ugandan yet she’s spent a lot of her time in Kenya – the mixture of cultures allows her to borrow elements from the different countries in East Africa to make her a unique selling brand.

This track Musyoka has provided is testament of this new sound that I have always liked since I left Kenya. I have been unable to bucket or to classify this sound since there is no general legacy instrumentation to rely on. The Carol Atemi’s, the Wendy Kimani, the Didge and so forth seem to borrow from this theme or genre of music, personally I call it Afrosoul (Afropean soul)/Kenyan Urban Soul. I see a great beginning with her new style and current record label management. Her new album titled Color:Black drops October 7th 2011. If you are in Kenya I urge you to find time and make effort to go for this release party coz I think this is one artist who will change the game.

Now Musyoka ni sambaze namba yake

listen and download the track here:

Monique feat Emmanuel Jal – Goodbye by getmziki

Collo’s upcoming album will be classic album – so far am on track 4 and I cant seem to find a track that’s whack. He sent me this collabo a few weeks ago which was blessed with Didge (WHERE the hell is Didge man). Anyway for the moment it feels as though Collo could do no wrong. He’s been blessed with a baby girl this year as well so feels like blessings are upon him. This track has a feel good tune to it and for some reason ive been playing it for the last few days over and over again.

Roll it! Masupa kibao!

listen and download the track here:

Collo feat Didge – Masupa by getmziki

I talk to Kanja every once often when I get a chance and truthfully its hard for me sometimes to watch artists go through a transformation of sorts as they come to the grip and realities of their careers. Kanja is a cool cat no doubt about it, but if you had been talking to him over the last 2yrs of his booming career from BET to live performances to getting to develop his brand. One thing you will notice is a sense of maturity in the approach to his music, his creative mind and overall just telling nature of the state of the industry today.

His music sense is growing and his tastes are expanding, I think he is accommodating his culture and accepting the fact that he has this large audience of diaspora folks who like him and he also has this opportunity to talk to this burgeoning African market that he probably didn’t know existed. When you listen to this track you can hear the hunger to reach out to different cultures which is something I probably couldnt tell about him about two years ago.

As much as this track dropped a few months ago, we are dropping it today because its more relevant today. We will be watching Kanja’s next moves keenly, his collaborations, his producers and more importantly his writing (message). The future still looks bright for The African King – bless this track if you can please.

listen and download the track here:

Kanja – Cry For You by getmziki

watch the video here:

I don’t have much information on Eklektiks but the reason I am posting this song is because for some reason I cant help but feel these cats remind me of JP/ Indiginaz. A few weeks ago I was sampling the upcoming Indiginaz album, all-through this listening session I kept telling Indiginaz that he is going to be the King of Kapuka and he should run with it.

Last week when I started listening to these cats, there was an alarming resemblance of rapping styles to how Indiginaz flows. Seriously listen to JP’s music and listen to this track. The only thing these guys dont have is the beat to facilitate their laid back lyrical delivery.

From what I understand EKLEKTIKS is mainly comprised of Petero & Davito, the track was Produced by Kevin Provoke Music of A.M.G ( Awesome Music Group). Enjoy the goodness.

listen and download the track here:

Eklektiks – Yangu Yote by getmziki