Sabi Wu & Korb$’ recent joint project TRAPSTATION is an undeniably fun album. For some,it is a story of a youthful life in which the personas telling it have been pre-judged as troublesome. For others, it is a classic example of the 'spirit vs flesh' scenario. But the explosive content isn't a good place to start the discussion.
This is an alluring body of work that is guaranteed to be an enjoyable experience for any mood, at any time of the day, and on any day of the week.
Singer/Songwriter Naomisia released her debut EP 'What Doesn’t Kill You’ this week and it is R&B gold! Her penmanship, the production and her oh so sultry voice evokes such amorous feelings as we slowly drift away from the East African summer.
Not a single measure is wasted on Chiefgeng’s recently released 3-song EP, Account
Anayefaa is a song about the harsh reality of the present and the blissful moments from the past meeting. It's a story about love and the loss of it.
The title Victims of Madness, invites the audience to look at crime and criminals in a different way. What if we put ourselves in their shoes and saw their state of victimhood? Wakadinali in this album delve into the devilish details; what motivates crime? What are the effects of crime? How is society affected? How do police relate with the streets and how do gangs relate with each other? The album challenges the audience to look at crime in a more critical way.
Kato Change, Winyo & SURAJ are no strangers to the Kenyan music scene, with each of them forefronting their own unique sounds while representing East Africa to a global audience. They have come together to create an inspiring body of work called “Sazile EP” inspired and worked on in Kenya.
All in all, this is a cleverly written and well produced album from an artist who just less than two months ago, had four, yes four of his songs listed for consideration for the annual 63rd Grammy Academy Awards. His unique style and deliberate cultivation of the East African sound is highly rated and incredibly artistic. As I said before I am feverishly obsessed by this project.
This 14 track album is as versatile as its artists. Producer Waithaka experiments with different sounds depending on which artist he works with.
All in all, this is not your average hiphop project. It is an alternative sound that requires an open and attentive ear. The rapper may be reminiscent of a young version of J.Cole - not that I'm making a comparison. And I won't get ahead of myself here - but the way in which he is deliberately differentiating his sound and placing an emphasis on lyricism, one could not help but be reminded.
Even if you don’t understand all the words, you can feel the sheer sexiness oozing out of Ayrosh’s alluring voice and Mura’s smooth production on the folk fusion artists surprise EP, Fire.
In the course of 11 songs, producers Throneboy and Kwikwiri host a cast of mostly Swahili rappers from across Tanzania and Kenya, offering a glimpse into the life of an aspirant 20-something- year old hustler maneuvering within unjust and often illogical national cultures.
Bakhita’s ‘CHAMO MILLE: PYE’ as an ode to finally breaking free from the shackles of life's continuous constraints.
With a timely release on the 31st of August, Waves is a sonic trip through sunny Sundays, warm nights out, encounters with the starry-eyed, and adventures with old and new friends alike.
Edu The Rapper’s Rap Lyf EP serves as a narrative testament to his dedication to his craft: “This is the life God purposed for me and the life I love and I will do anything for this Rap Lyf.”
The 7 track EP is an alternative, soulful listen that oozes feel-good and oft-hypnotic vibes.
EA Wave Reimagines Ami Faku is the cross-continental colab you never knew you wanted but desperately needed. This project sees Kenya’s EA Wave, a music/art collective pushing creative boundaries and redifining East Africa’s sonic landscape, re-work some of South African Afro-soul singer Amu Faku’s most loved songs.
Over the weekend, Arusha based production duo Put 2 Sleep released a new single titled Take A Picture featuring Dar Es Salaam songstress Naomisia and Nairobian Vallerie Muthoni. Recorded remotely during quarantine, Take A Picture is a sparse, laid-back love song anchored by staccato strings and decorated with a wedding reception saxophone.
