April Rap Jumpstart
The April Rap Jumpstart is here, ladies and gentlemen. We take a look at some of the hottest tracks that dropped this month. Rwandan rap, particularly continues to impress as we discover new, unique voices with unconventional approaches to making hiphop. Nairobi, that recently hosted a True Misic Studios Boiler Room drill event, has more and more rappers using the genre to express themselves,giving a peak into popular culture. Mombasa rapper, Razor Man relaxes us with his chill beats, while feminist icons Maandy and Wangechi step up to give feminine perspectives in the otherwise masculine world of hip hop. Press play, enjoy.
BTW - Maandy featuring Exray & Trio Mio
Maandy dropped an album late last year and naturally went quiet for sometime. BTW( By The Way)was welcome by fans who have been craving for new stuff. The hook of the song is catchy and braggadocious and is used by the femcee to proclaim herself as a cool person with vibes and a loyal fanbase. Maandy's verse goes first. She gives a bawdy one , taking the persona of a wife who cheats for lack of sexual satisfaction. Most of this verse is performed by her in a Swahili free dress (Dera) , common amongst East African women. She alongside other women are doing laundry by hand and twerking. This is a strong subliminal message expressing that everyday women cantake charge of their sexualities, own their bodies and desires. Exray comes in next with a mumble style verse. Trio Mio comes last,performing a verse that encourages people a to turn up. He has zingers and memorable lines that showcase his lyrical prowess.
Postman Pat - Jodye Faneto featuring Sadboy & Snooka
Jodye Faneto is a rapper that stands out from the multitude of drill artistes coming out of Buru Buru and the greater Eastlands area of Nairobi; from his cadence to his subject matter. The most consequential, is that he barely mentions guns and knives- a staple of drill culture. He openly calls out drillers who mention using weapons and performing violence while they are not. To be clear though,Jodye Faneto is not some goody-two-shoes or corny rapper,quite the opposite. Postman Pat for instance tells of how being respected affords him the latitude to move through all the neighborhood streets. A postman is 'on road' doing his work- a comparison each of the rappers are quick to make on their verses. The hook is done by Sadboy in pure English and in a british accent, something not readily associated with Jodye. However it shows a quality to him not realized before; the rapper has the potential to cross over to other drill markets out of Kenyawhile still keeping his authenticity. The joint is produced by his close friend and frequent collaborator, Skiny Gean and is part of a series of singles he is dropping weekly to help push his album Roadman Chronicles.
Black Puffy - Manzi Fleur featuring Sema Sole
Rwandan MC Manzi and his compatriot link well on this one. He starts the song with the catchy hook, setting up the vibe and feel of the fast moving song. The rapper uses the beat effectively, as the song lacks a dull moment. His cadence is catchy and his flows are switched up from time to time showcasing his versatility. Sema Sole joins in after the second hook, and goes on to do what he does best. His verse is delivered in his native language, but is well executed that it speaks universally. The rappers brag about charting their own paths, rewriting the rules and still winning. Hiphop loves a celebration of independent individuals, does it not?
Pree - Buruklyn Boyz
Buruklyn Boyz make it look so easy. They are churning out hits back to back to back Their latest, Pree, is a street anthem, radio favorite and playlist necessity for young Kenyan hiphop heads. Their mid paced tempo and recognizable cadence that gets fans crazy is adapted into this hype beat. Ajay delivers the hook an introduction to the song and the story it tells. The duo talk about an imaginary girl who is in love with each of them. They then question what this attraction means. Is it down to fame, or their new found gold? Or is it down to skills needed behind closed doors? As usual they give fans exciting, memorable lines that are chanted in unison at clubs and performances with gusto. They premiered the song at an event organized by Boiler Room and sponsored by the brand Ballantines to celebrate the rise of drill music in Kenya. Buruklyn Boyz certainly are the face of that movement and the recognition and involvement of the group was only right.
Gatebe Gatoki - Kanaka featuring Sema Sole
This joint is a pleasant rendition of a Rwandan childhood playground phrase. 'Gatebe Gatoki' means somersault in Kinyarwanda. From the rapper's own admission, the song was made to 'flip the mind'. Over an alternative,lo-fi beat, Kanaka delivers hard hitting bars in a mellow manner, and the composure is beautiful. His cadence is energetic and readily enhanced by how he switches between English and Kinyarwanda. Sema Sole does what Sema Sole does on tracks- capitulating them. It's interesting to hear his vocals and flow on an alternative beat. To a fan it's almost like watching an avatar in a game that finishes a level and gets promoted to a more challenging one.
Just Witnss - Blocka Beats & Mvroe featuring Xenia Mannaseh
It's been a minute since Blocka Beats released his last project. The rapper/producer is gearing himself for another release,this time in collaboration with Mvroe. The duo have released two songs already with exciting visuals to match the hype. Just Witnss is performed on a minimalist alternative rap beat with conspicuous drums. Xenia's soprano is used to compliment Blocka's deep voice on the hook and bring melody to the song. The two MC's then take turns rapping in a conversational manner,a style they also used on RnB Challenge (the other song they have dropped together). They are all about rapping fast and delivering bars that compliment each other. In the song they speak about their art,pride in it and the moves and achievements they are making. The title is addressed to haters and naysayers who are doubting them,and they show that they are proving them wrong. Xenia does more than sing in this venture. She is the main dancer that brings to life the plot of the song in the visuals. It's quite refreshing seeing a celebrity dance beautifully like that for the whole video,and not just as a cameo. Fans will definitely be waiting for the whole Roe N Blocka joint project to drop,it promises to be exciting.
Coast Raha - Razor Man featuring Ouma Wa Mafegi
Razor Man's approach to music has been unconventional and fascinating. Coast Raha is the third song off his recently released album- Lust & Love. Oscillating between rap and R&B genres, Razor Man has been able to give a sonic anomaly that speaks to the soul regardless. Coast Raha is easily one of the most chill songs on a project that tells the experiences of a soul tortured by unreciprocated love. It promises a get away for a lover to help take away all the stress and pressure. Razor Man uses deep vocals to start off the song. He creates a mood for relaxation, making the song a great emotion conveyer. Ouma Wa Mafegi's verse comes off effortlesslyon the latin-inspired trap beat. He captivates with his signature voice and flow and drops a few memorable lines.
Smoke Talk - Mvfasta
On a chill trap beat with alternative elements Mvfasta raps with a purpose and conviction that is felt by listeners. Smoke Talk uses the act of smoking as parable for self awareness,a theme this rapper is heavily invested in. He describes smoking as an intimate moment, where the mind relaxes devoid of any other pressures. He gives a detailed narration of what it feels like to be in that moment,why he likes that moment,and what gets him to the moment. There is a mention of a lover, perhaps to liken this intimate moment as being with a lover,or to signal that the moment is shared with a lover.
The album is a hybrid concept that the multidisciplinary artist wants to bring to life, by tapping into his skills in photography, film and digital art making.The Rwandan artiste has already released the audio version of the UBWONKO album on major streaming platforms. The visual side will be rolled out slowly over the course of time, and Smoke Talk is only the first one.He uses intimate clips and shots melancholic colors to drive home his message.Fans will be excited to see more from this young genius.
Acha Kunipara - Depo Dice featuring Tulia & King Kidd
Acha Kunipara literally means 'do not take me as a joke'. The sheng (slang) phrase can be adopted to take many meanings along the lines of the original and that is what Depo Dice has done with this number. He asserts that he is worth being listened to, being valued and being taken seriously. In the purest form of expression, he embodies an underdog that is demanding his seat at the table. The song is part of his recent album Medi LP ,his most proactive yet, considering the number of features. Acha Kunipara features his friends King Kidd (stable mate at Budhouse) and Tulia. The video is also done by Kedi Visuals, another person in his circle. The execution of the video is phenomenal, with the director using color blocking and contrast to create visual stimulation and playfulness.
Tulia and King Kidd go hard on their verses matching the energy of the main artist.
Veteran - Esxrom featuring ELHUNTER & Brvinchild
More and more upcoming rappers in Nairobi are picking up drill beats to express themselves. Esxrom uses this slow tempo , almost sentimental beat for a braggadocious joint. Veterans is about being tough and being able to go through life with a 'can-do' attitude. The rappers majorly use Swahili and Sheng to deliver clever bars,make allusions and speak out their dreams. This song is an unfiltered look at the popular culture among young Kenyan men, with casual mentions of drug use and minor altercations with the police.It's the best performing song off the album ,EXTMBICHWA TAPES, that is only a month old.
Kikulacho - Bussa J
The Nairobi music scene is witnessing a little 'rhumba renaissance. And not just at the top with stars like Bien Baraza of Sauti Sol but with a whole generation of up and coming artistes. Rhumbacane is a whole movement born from fusing the genre with R&B and trap. Gengetone had not joined the fray until now, with Bussa J's newest release. Using an out and out rhumba melody, he creates a masterpiece. The song for all intents and purposes is a party song. The title however is derived from the Swahili proverb , "Kikulacho Ki Nguoni Mwako" - translating to " your enemy is closer to you than you think". The use of love phrases in the song, reconciles to a level, the paradox just mentioned. The rapper fronts the idea that love is something yearned for, yet your lover will at some point turn into your enemy and betray you. Another way of interpretation is to take the 'Kikulacho' phrase as a not so subtle euphemism for carnal pleasure.
The visuals tell the story of an underground party set in a time period that could be the 80's. The fashion employed is 'vintage minimalist' so that one may not ascertain that the story is set in any particular time period. Bright, popping colors are used however to create a party atmosphere. It is a celebration of life and negritude at the very basic level.
KIKI - Wangechi
Wangechi is back and she's not playing. I remember tweeting when I heard the song for the first time.The song when heard without knowing the context is a straight up bar for bar joint that gets you nodding your head. For fans of Kenyan hiphop, however, Wangechi's story is a rollercoaster that has seen her go through many ups and downs and seeing her come back in this way is phenomenal and inspiring. She opens up a lot; about her accident, how the people around her treated her differently and how few friends stood by her. She also talks about her family situation- being close with her mother but being estranged with her brother. She mentions that fanbases are fickle, easily forgetting dope rappers. To this point she lauds upcoming femcee Kanambo Dede, and says that although the fans love her now, they might forget her. She name drops other celebrities, like Chimano of Sauti Sol whom she is friends with.
The instrumental is a remastered version of a Scar Mkadinali style beat. At one point in the song she mimicks a flow from ScarMkadinali's ,Kovu in homage. She finally promises that an album release is in the works and that fans should be excited for it.
