Elisha Elai: Breakthrough Artist 2020 UnKut Hiphop Awards
Elisha Elai is surely one of the deserving breakout stars of 2020. He has dazzled many Hiphop heads in the country within the last year. Whether it's spitting fast on tracks like Python or Usiku Mzima which features Katapilla, or his clever and witty bars on Nairobi Hii, the fans are loving him. The MC who was born and raised in Dandora is not only a fan favourite but popular with artistes as well. He has managed a collabo with Asum Garvey, a spot on the Unkut Hiphop Cypher, and a guest verse on Wakadinali's high ranking album - Victims of Madness.
He blew up the internet with a refix of Khaligraph Jones' Yes Bana, and the stars started aligning for him. He is a fast spitting, hard core type of rapper that has earned him many fans with a nostalgia for classical Hip hop and the Boombap sounds that were common at the start of the 2000's. His effortless rhyming of many words together in a short time interval has turned heads,and the burgeoning rapper is getting better and better recognition within the Kenyan music space. We caught up with him,over mail, for a few questions.
What inspired your stage name. Tell us about Elisha Elai, who are you, where are from?
Elisha Elai is a Hip-hop artist born and raised in Dandora, I started doing music when I was in primary school after being inspired by Ukoo Flani Mau Mau who were the biggest Hip-hop act at that time and they were from my hometown Dandora. My stage name "Elai" is a short form of the name Elisha which I was given by my friends at the school way back when I started rapping then it became popular at the hood so I decided to brand my stage name as Elisha Elai.
How would you personally describe your style of music? And when did you know, music was it for you?
My style of music I can describe as African Hip-hop because of the issues I tackle in my songs is mostly what is happening in many of the African countries e.g corruption, unemployment, poor governance e.t.c . I knew music was my thing at the age of nine back in primary school when I started performing for my school mates at the break and people would gather to hear what I was saying then I became popular at the school and that's how my musical journey
Who are some of your musical influences, both locally and internationally?
My musical influences are Kalamashaka, Ukoo Flani Mau Mau, Kendrick Lamar, Xbit and Mashifta.
What next for the artist that worked hardest in the past year? Collabos Projects,what should fans expect next?
This year i'm planning to release my first Mixtape/album of which I have been working for it for the past two years, also I have surprises for my fans currently working on a project with a Swedish producer Ken Ring of which we have team up to take my career on to the next level. This year a lot is on store fans should watch out for that.
What's the best song or project, a personal favourite of yours that you've worked on in 2020?
All the projects that I have been releasing are my favourite because of the uniqueness in them, the theme, flow and atmosphere that I put in each song that I have been giving out to my fans makes me consider each of them as my favourite.
Keep up with Elisha here.
