The Game in Kenya // Exclusive Videos
For those who didnt know, the GAME actually was in Kenya courtesy of MTV Base and the Kiss FM team – I hear he shut it down on many levels. Good thing the GAME crew had a camera on site and some of the footage has been sambazwad online… I had to share, enjoy..
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.
Xtreem Music Video – Coming to a Browser Near You
The Beauty of having worked with Blackstar Entertainment in Kenya, is that I worked with some of the most talented DJs ever in East Africa. By Far the one person I keep telling everybody I meet – that he is indeed the ONE! is a guy called Steve Kintu (Dj Mista Prime). Prime also goes by the name DJ Slikk (for all those who remember Roys SWAT TEAM – which mainly was Slikk and Kunt – Mista Prime and Mista Cee // Chris Mugambi and Steve Kintu). I know many people in the US who still listen to SWAT team mixtapes its hilarous as if SWAT team exists today.
Although real talk I would buy that BRAND name from ROY anyday if he was serious and build it back up again… (Roy nipigie simu).
Meanwhile while in Kenya Prime and I worked on a TV show for Citizen TV called Xmix which later developed to this hit show Xtreem Music video. Between the real TV show and the Street version (the one I have attached here) there is a lot of uncut crazy, fun and obviously cool content. We have been working on a web savvy show for guys to enjoy – but for now I will just add a link somewhere on this site to feed the nation. The clip above is some unseen, uncut, edited for the web obviously Reggae Dancehall mix that DJ Prime mixed one fine morning.
Before we bought the DVJ’s we used to do these mixes raw – when I say raw I mean raw. Meaning Prime Mixed that audio set and then synced it with the video. The true measure of a good DJ can clearly be attested when you start trying to look at the details on this product.
Enjoy the promo mix – Xmix Reggae Session
In Memory of Complex – B (Town)
[image courtesy of Bongo Celebrity]
Am still trying to play catch up in representing my Tanzania brothers on GetMziki, the truth is that I stopped growing with the Tanzanian producers since 2006. My personal opinion is that Tanzanian Bongo Flava changed dramatically from that moment onwards. The classic Bongo (Zouk) style songs will still rise up above everything else, so you will always dance to the likes of 2Berry, Ali Kiba and other like singers. But I haven’t been moved by any hiphop track coming from Tanzania for a long time now.
My favorite Producers still remain P-Funk Majani (a good friend) and Masta Jay… but to date I haven’t heard anything that has made me fall off the chair. That said, while I was in Tanzania working with U&I Entertainment – some cat called Complex worked at one of our studios. This dude was humble as hell, and although I didn’t really interact much with him, he left a lasting impression regardless. Complex passed away in 2005 from a car accident – it was a devastating time for many of us and the industry at large. I promised to commemorate his departure one day and I think this is probably the best way – by highlighting some of his work that never really got out there.
I’ve shared two tracks the first called Nyamaza (produced by Complex) which was performed by a group they were putting together called B-Town, and the second called Taifa la Bongo by the same group (features people like Noorah, Dataz and some other cats I cant remember – although I know there was a french or dutch guy who spoke swahili) (seven weka sawa hapa kwasabu nimesha sahau!!!)
listen to the Nyamaza track here:
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download the track here:
listen to Taifa La Bongo here:
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download the track here:
Pam – Nimechoka
For the first time I am going to post a video to a song that I don’t have on audio format. I actually have been waiting for the song but its taking too darn long, so I am going to solicit help from you guys. I need this song bad, I want it, I like it too too much. This is probably one of Pams best work ever, initially after SEMA broke up I was worried about her future in the game. Then she released Dhahabu which was just a killer R&B song… by the time I got this video (ps. I have the video on DVD format) I was dying. I went frantically looking for the audio file but wapi!!
Nimechoka is a Lodwa production track, the video was produced and directed by Adam Juma of Visual Lab/ Next Lab.ke which is probably the best Music video production company in East Africa right now. There used to be a company called African Pictures in the past – some south African/English cat based in Uganda who was sick… this guy was just bad ass, he had a mag called Zenji that was probably the future of Vibe in Africa and then they killed it I dont know what happend to these dudes. Anyway Visual Lab really has been doing a lot of interesting stuff. Juma used to live in San Diego a while back but he went back home, worked under EATV and now is running his own outfit.
NEWS JUST IN – Thanks Top Donn :
listen to the song here:
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download the song here:
If anyone has word or has an audio file of this song, please post it here, it will be the last song on my Afrosoul Mixtape.
Quick Weekly Hits
I wanted to over compensate for the week by uploading some quick hits from back in the day that may not have been featured on the site for the past few months. These are sure shot club bangers – they are slightly older about 2 to 3 years old but still sound good today. Besides I wanted to cover up for that messed up Jimwat song I uploaded recently. There is a lot more new music to be debuted next week, but if you have ever wanted to have a good copy of any of these songs – here goes…
Prezzo – Prezzo (Kenya)
listen to the song here:
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download Prezzo song here:
K.G – Homesick (Kenya)
listen to the song here:
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download the homesick here:
Peter Miles – One time (Uganda)
listen to the song here:
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download onetime here:
The CodeRed Time Machine!
So every year during our annual conference calls with my team in Kenya (Blackstar Entertainment) we often talk about where we are headed, where we are going and how far we have come. Our annual call is coming up soon, so it will soon be time to evaluate and reminisce. However over the years I have gotten into the habit of sending visuals to talk about these changes and to better demonstrate my story lines. My presentations are normally very amusing but for most part they allow the audiences to think back and look at what they have accomplished to date.
It’s interesting when you think about DJ Units in Kenya, all DJ’s have tried to work together at one point or another in their short lived careers, they often end up working alone once they become name brand. But as such most successful Kenyan DJ’s worked at Homeboyz in their infancy stages, most branched out to form unique outfits and then eventually broke up and built their own brands or ventured out individually.
I was part of one of these types of outfits at one point in my life, and as such today or this month marks an interesting time in my life and some of the lives of the members who were in this group at its peak. A lot of times people have asked me to document and talk about my experiences working with DJs in Kenya and radio, but I don’t think I have been ready to talk about an industry thats still struggling to develop and form itself. So for what its worth I respect all the people I worked with, who inspired me and who taught me different things. I want to share these images to amuse some of these folks, in a more endearing manner but simple to demonstrate that they truly came a long way.
CodeRed continues to be a important company in shaping up the entertainment industry in Kenya. Their activities, business practices/events and other updates can be found on their website at – CodeRed Entertainment.co.ke
Although we all don’t keep much contact with each other, I am sure everyone is handling their business as they should. Below are some images taken about 4 to 5 years ago when CodeRed had just started working at Capital. Memories are made of this… I have also shared some audio sets that I have had over the years (they may be a little out dated but still the DJying skills are impressive). Most of the guys in these images are not with the company anymore but I am sure they are all in good terms and in good faith with each other… (watu wame zeeka, some have kids, some moved out of country and some are just making more money now)
From left to right, Thrill, Prime, Stylez, French, Zoom
From left to right, Thrill, French, Stylez, Prime, Zoom
Mista French
DJ Stylez
Mista Thrill
Mista Zoom
Mista Dru – Soul Flava
The DJ Dru USA tour is being dubbed the MAIN EVENT, in the advent of his sophomore trip to the USA. I’ve often said the state of the music and entertainment industry in the US needs to change. I am hoping that DRU will be the first DJ to bring something refreshing to the table in terms of performance (at least play for more than 4hours show us your versatility) diversity (play a good combination of songs and make it seem effortless) Much like this SOUL Mix he has sent me to show me that the local music is just the beginning but really and truly DJ DRU is a SOUL Machine.
Dru just sent me this Soul (Old School) Mix, which I think is a must have. Dru told me he will feed the streets for weeks continuously until his arrival in October… and what better way to show you his versatility and divertisy than to feed you this SOUL Mix (As much as GetMziki features local content – its always refreshing to go against the grain sometimes)
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You can download the Mix here: DJ Mista Dru Soul Flava
{right click and save target ass if you are using Mozilla or any intelligent browser that will play on the browser as opposed to click to download}
The DJ DRU – THE MAIN EVENT – Coming soon to a city near you!
Jua Cali – Ngeli ya Genge Video is out
The song has been out for a while now, and is available for download here. But I just got my hands onto the video, which isnt even out in Kenya as of yet (fully). (ps. Kenya has a lot of Video release Bullshit which is almost similar to network ridiculousness in the US, where for instance one popular TV show will get Music videos a week or two before a competing show – and at times they will even deny access to some networks – RANDOM RIDICULOUSNESS) But anyway, thanks to youtube, we don’t have that kind of BS in the US or UK. Videos are on demand.
The Video cracked me up, I cant lie, it looks like a LUCHE production (Luche is actually Clemo’s bro, he does all the Calif Records videos.) If someone gave Luche a serious camera one of these fine days and a strong team, I think his ideas and execution are interesting, but Camera and editing is lacking a little. Either way this video is probably one of the best story lines I have seen in a while.
JuaCali is definitely here to stay.