February's Rap Jumpstart
February, the month of love brings a lot of great moments and music with it however. Rap is a genre that prides itself on addressing a wide range of topics, and romantic love is one of them. Below is a list of some of those songs that engaged fans this past month.
Safi Safi - Kagwe Mungai featuring Nviiri the Storyteller
The "yeah, you dirty dirty dirty but you clean" line is absolutely memorable as a clincher. Safi Safi is an ear worm that Kagwe Mungai with Nviiri the Storyteller perform. Kagwe is a versatile artist, stylistically-with his sound ranging from R&B to afropop to hip hopMelodic rap I feel,has always been his forte and his latest single has not disappointed. Nviiri himself is no stranger to rap having worked with rappers like Khaligraph Jones and others. He also gave fans, Niko Sawa with Sol Generation stable mate Bien Baraza. Kagwe introduces the chorus and goes on to give a 'mumble rap' verse that uses heavy word play and elegant euphemisms. Nviiri takes a more explicit approach, playing up to his bad boy persona that he portrays when he is featured on songs. The song is a club banging tune with a catchy vibe.
Single - Jimwat Edutainment
Kenyan rap legend Jimwat has had it rough for some time. He has struggled with mental health issues leading to drug and substance abuse in his past. He has been open and honest about his journey so far , and has even tackled those themes in his music. He has since also re-invented himself as a rapper with a calling to educate younger audiences , hence the new name. In his latest jam, he tackles the theme of regret, using the Swahili word 'singe' at the end of most lines as a chant,to drive the message home. The kapuka-era crooner touches on issues such as romantic rejection, poor financial decisions and substance abuse in a comical way. He completes the joint with a verse that offers a solution to the conflict that manifests itself in his plot. The rapper is certainly getting his stride on, despite the new boots,and fans of Kenyan hip hop are loving it.
Kigali- Bushali featuring SK
Rwandan drill is hot and the rappers in the scene are doing the most. Bushali, a young rapper with lots of street credibility, dropped a single this month. Instead of exploring the concept of romantic love between humans,like most artists this season,he chose to put his city out there. Drill music defenders have always pointed out that the sub-culture allows for localization,and encourages a spirit of pride for one's hometown, Bushali delivers hard hitting bars in the local dialect, while SK diversifies the flow, putting in a melodic line or two to contrast the first cadence. The visuals are shot in the very streets of Rwanda's capital and feature young residents showcasing talents such as breaking, dancing and popping wheelies- an indication of a vibrant hip hop culture in the city. Watch Here
Bomb Ni Bomb- Julixn Drizzle
The entrance of Spotify into the East African market has had immense benefits,and to say that, still feels like a modest statement. One of the Kenyan rappers that have benefitted from playlisting on the platform is Julixn Drizzle. In thIs month of love,he released a short project with amazing music. Bomb Ni Bombstands out for most listeners, because of the way it sets the tone of the whole album. (I Wish U the Best). It tells the story of a jilted lover, recounting the episodes he shared with an ex, but still finding the audacity,ego even,to claim that he did his best. Julixn uses a mellow drill instrumental to accompany his deep lyrics.The gist of the song, like most of the ones on the album, stems from the fact that the rapper addresses love and vulnerability over drill beats, a sub genre associated with toughness and crime.
Walahi - Kanambo Dede
The young femcee has wowed many with her fiery demeanor and knack for on the spot freestyles. She has amassed a following online over time , leading to her being signed rapper King Kaka's ,Kaka Empire. Walahi is the first original single,she has released under the label. In the song,she gets real and talks about the experience she went through as a teenage mother. She narrates how her stubbornness led her to choose lustrous passion over finishing basic high school education. She shows remorse for disappointing her mother,and only realizes the error in her ways , when the father of the child,whom she thought loved her, absconded responsibility.Kanambo further opens up in her single that she finds redemption in choosing to love her son, born out of the relationship, and committing herself to her music dreams. Fans are absolutely going wild over the content in the song, and are appreciating the breath of fresh air that the newest female rapper in town is bringing. It is most exciting awaiting her next song,and the creative direction she will employ.
Chipsi - Motra the Future featuring GNAKO
Motra the Future uses an old school type beat to deliver clever bars that are exciting, memorable and quotable.The hook is delivered by Tanzanian afro-dancehall sensation ,GNAKO. Motra's compatriot is also involved in the production of the song,a contribution heartily enjoyed by both bases.Tanzanian rap is mostly traditional in the sense that most MC's tend to rap in a certain way that borrows from the 90's era. What separates rappers like Motra the Future from the rest of the pack,is the wit in his lyrics,and exciting analogies. He comes across , in this song, as one who understands East African hip hop and its roots. He pays homage to Kenyan rapper, Juakali, differentiating himself as a knowledgeable musician,and a champion for regional collaboration in hip hop.
OKAY - KayCyy & Gesaffelstein
Kenyan-American rapper KayCyy has been making headlines and creating a buzz lately in circumstances that elicit emotions of joy and pride for his country's people. Just fresh off participating in the production and writing of some songs in Kanye West's recent album,DONDA, he partners with Ethiopia--French DJ,-slash-producer, Gesaffelstein on his latest.The collaboration is on paper is quite unusual as the artistes perform different genres that rarely intersect. However, the creatives deliver a beautiful piece. KayCyy's fondness for experimenting and making alternative music shines on this project,as he cleverly maneuvers the various beat switches and employs numerous melodic flows that are unique to him. The alternative hip hop number,is a feel good tune that celebrates life and encourages happiness.
Tanzanite - Joh Makini featuring Jay Rox
Tanzanian hip hop veteran, Joh Makini dropped something after being quiet for a while.The celebrated lyricist uses Tanzanite, a mineral commonly found in his country to refer to a lover.The song title is given to the gem, showing that the writer values the lover being addressed. The song could also be looked at from another angle; that of patriotism. The mineral includes the name of Mr. Makini's country, prompting the listener to think about Tanzania as a valuable nation,or as a lover fit to be showered with adulation. The normally, hard spitting rapper chooses to go smooth.on this one, incorporating melodic cadences for his verses. Jay Rox starts off his part by spitting a couple of bars, before transitioning into his more familiar dominion of singing. He adds a certain je ne se quoi to the song that makesit better overall.
Don't Rush- Salmin Swaggz featuring Naomisia
Salmin Swaggz does an exciting blend of Swahili and English in his music, unlike most artists from his native Tanzania. He belongs to a class of new school Tanzanian rappers, who are appealing to a larger East African and African audience. His decision to feature compatriot-Naomisia, who is herself gaining popularity in the Kenyan scene, shows his ambition to expand his fanbase beyond borders.In the song, the two artistestake on personas with conflicting points of view,a trope known as ngonjera in classical Swahili poetry.Flowery language is used to mask the otherwise explicit meaning of the song- but it is the month of love and romance,and fans seemed to like it.
Vile Nabounce - Asum Garvey featuring Groovy Jo
Asum Garvey has started the new year with an EP dubbed CITRINE, and his fans know that this is a signal that more music is in the pipeline. The hard working rapper has built a name for himself by constantly dropping mixtapes with catchy songs. Vile Nabounce is a hype song , featuring Groovy Jo,a frequent collaborator. The UnKut Hiphop Awards, nominees flaunt their writing skills on this number employing word play for their punchlines. Guest artist Groovy Jo does the first verse where she recounts the recent moves she has made, while Asum talks about his commitment to achieving his goals and dreams. The hook is quite energetic and catchy, a signature of the trap artist.
