“Turning and turning in the widening gyre
The falcon cannot hear the falconer;
Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold;”
W.B Yeats
#RIPChinuaAchebe
“Turning and tu…
Letter from Twitter Jail
Dear Kellie,
After a tirade of unprintables on my Twitter Timeline the other night, the missus/mother of my babies/tormentor in chief picking up a leaf from Uduak no doubt, made me promise to stop swearing or using curse words on Twitter. Said it’s setting a bad example for the kids. Except ‘the kids’ can’t read. But you know how it’s with women.
Way it works is I’m done tweeting for the day anytime I say a curse word. Three strikes and no twitter for a week, 5, for a month, 10 and I’m off Twitter for good.
Before you say anything, I do realize I am all kinds of whipped. But seeing as she will be cooking my food, you can see I have good reason to worry.
The results are in: UK 4G spectrum auction has five winners, raising $3.62B
The UK's 4G spectrum auction has raised £2.34 billion ($3.62 billion), with BT(s bt) and the country's four main mobile carriers winning new spectrum that will allow them to roll out LTE services.
The auction took in 250MHz of spectrum in the 2.6GHz band, which is high-bandwidth and good for urban deployments, and the 800MHz band, which is lower-bandwidth but longer-distance and better for rural deployments.
Whoa! 4G's pricey!
Fantastic Mr. Fox (2009)
I first saw Fantastic Mr. Fox when it was released in 2009. I have watched it four or five times since. It was my first adventure into the world of Wes Anderson and it remains one of my favorite animated films of all-time. And what a beautiful film it is! Not only is the stop-motion animation excellent, but its makers seem to take pride in their meticulous attention to detail.
Top 20 tracks that are required listening for fans of Kenyan Hip Hop
Top twenty tracks that are required listening for Kenyan Hip Hop lovers
- Khalilgraph and Riddiq – Deportee
Khalilgraph is one of the freshest things to hit the Kenyan hip hop scene in recent years.
I mean the boy is good, and just about the cleverest Kenyan lyricists I know.
To wit “I am a rapper’s worst nightmare/ Freddy and Jason up in here”
On this one Khalilgraph and this dope Riddiq guy recount the experiences and bittersweet experiences of a Kenyan deportee, viewed as failure by many, but mostly just happy to be home.
- 2. Kikosi Cha Mizinga versus Ukoo Fulani Mau Mau – Punchline Kibao
Absolute must listen. Some of Africa’s best MCs on a track with more punch lines than a mother! Here you are reminded by Kama why he is so highly rated as an MC. Tanzania’s Ibra Da Hustla represents Bongo hip hop to the fullest.
Required listening for any fan of African Hip Hop, and a powerful example of how Hip Hop crosses borders and bridges people of different nationalities and religions.
“Kumark territory so doggy za mitaa zingine hazi kojoi hapa”
Sample this
“Watasmile sana/ kama ule msee wa advert ya chai jaba”
- 3. Jahmani – Kiswahili
A protégé of the great Kantai, this rapper from Nairobi’s Westside is perhaps Kenya’s most under rated MC.
Here he takes a line from one of Kenyan pop artist Jua Cali’s tracks and turns it into a Kenyan rap classic.
He’s got wit, pith and humour all in equal measures and a n appreciation of the craft that’s sadly rare in the Kenyan Hip Hop scene
- 4. Muthoni Drummer – Mikono Juu Ya Hewa.
One of those extremely clever and witty rappers that I love. Undoubtedly the Queen of the Kenyan Hip-hop scene at the moment, Muthoni the Drummer Queen achieves one of those rare things in Kenyan Hip Hop, telling a story in rhyme, in an entertaining humorous fashion and with a moral.
- 5. Camp Mulla – Party Don’t Stop
Rap critics are going to politic about this one no doubt, but these quartet that’s fast becoming Kenya’s black eyed peas showed off their rap chops on this track, with a catchy ,party feel, clever rhymes, and punch lines that actually make sense.
Taio Tripper‘s abilities as a lyricist especially stand out as he totally eclipses the self declared King of Kenyan Rap Collo on this track.
Great production quality also did little to hurt the group’s chances of appearing on this list. Camp Mulla was also recently nominated in the Int’l category at the 2012 BET Awards.
If you are going to be commercial about this here Kenyan Rap, at least you better be this good.
- 6. Taio Tripper, Smooth Poet & Muthaland – 82/92
The future of the Kenyan Hip Hop scene can be heard on this track, and the future is great, witty, bubbly, bright, both hood and uptown
Nuff said.
Taio Tripper’s credentials as a lyricist are again affirmed on this track, while Octopizzo firmly affirms his claiom to the crown of Kenyan Hip Hop.
Plus a killer track makes things all that much better.
Like it’s title this song shows just how far Kenyan rap has come, from MCs born in the 1980s to MCs born in the 1990s
A master piece of that distinctly Kenyan hip hop sound born in recent years they call the 254flow.
To wit “She likes the way my dick lies like Pinocchio”
“To the fans that ain’t girls pay attention cuz a real man is about to speak”
- 7. Kalamashaka ft. Mashifta – Mangirima
Mashifta are no doubt the kings of the Kenyan underground rap scene. K-Swiss got punch lines, rhymes and metaphors for days. On this track the two most known rap groups of the Ukoo Fulani Mau Mau rap collective, Kenya’s answer to the Wutang Clan, stay true to their hood roots and deliver yet another rough , ragged and raw Kenyan Hip Hop classic with finesse and ease.
Nazizi the first lady of Kenyan Hip Hop makes a cameo on the track, helping along on its journey to a deserved spot as truly classic Kenyan Hip Hop track.
- 8. Kalamashaka – Tafsiri
When “Tafsiri Hii” hit the airwaves circa 1998 the message was loud and clear, Kenyan Hip Hop had arrived. K-Shaka packed an unique, rugged street sound laced with deadly rhymes. Two versions exist of the song, both produced by pioneer Kenyan contemporary music producer Tedd Josiah.
This trio from Dandora in Easyde Nairobi heralded a new age in Kenyan contemporary music
“Tafsiri Hii” cemented K-Shaka’s status as the pioneers of not only the Kenyan Hip –Hop scene but also- the local contemporary music scene as a whole.
Absolute must listen.
- 9. Juliani, Johnny Boy, K-Swiss, Agano – Fanya Tena.
Four of Kenya’s finest MCs on the same track, this track is for lack of a better description totally off the hook.
On this track, we are introduced to Juliani’s abilities as a lyricist, master-metaphorist and a man true to his Christian convictions.
K-Swiss delivers hard hitting, pithy and at times funny lyrics that will make you understand why he is always mentioned in the same breath as other Kenyan Hip Hop greats, and along with Johnny Boy and Agano reassert the UKOO Fulani Mau Mau rap collectives’ status as kings of Kenyan Hip Hop.
On the song’s hook, these MCs let you know that playtime’s over and they are about the business.
- 10. Kalamashaka – Fanya Mambo
You might have gathered by now that I might be like K-Shaka’s biggest groupie (no homo) on the Internet.
Seriously though whenever Johnny, Kama and Oteraw get on track you know something special is going to happen. On this track cats killed it.
Conscious as ever, K-Shaka drop mad lyrics detailing stories of their Dandora hood Nairobi’s rough east side , deliver a track that’s danceable and a video shot in Scandinavia that’s that much easier on the eyes
Arguably Kenya’s best MCs, Kalamashaka bring that undoubtedly street feel to this track, with incredible lyrical finesse, and a beat that will get your head bumping in no time.
- 11. Walanguzi – Vaseline
Officially the mad men of Kenyan rap, this group of crazy (like literally) talented Nairobi MCs belt a spoof of Rick Ross’s Hustlin’ , that leaves you in stitches and with little doubt about their abilities as masterful; lyricists- and prime candidates for the loony bin.
P.S This track is about masturbation (talk about versatility) and is therefore obviously not PG.
“Got more spunk more than the Pacific got water” Loose translation
- 12. Bamboo – One Blood
Or how a hip hop mix tape track is supposed to sound. Bamboo, a colossus of the Kenyan Hip Hop scene an one half of the rap group K-South, takes Kenyan rap international and makes the template for Kenyan mix tape tracks.
The flow is tight, lyrics off the chain and the message clear – Bamboo, and Kenyan Hip Hop scene, is ready to take the global Hip Hop scene by storm.
- 13. Juliani – Exponential Potential
Very rarely does a gospel, as in religious artiste, receive acceptance as a genuine hip hop great as much as Juliani.
On this track we meet Juliani all grown up, living the good life, eating the fruits of his hard work, out to inspire and preach the good word as well.
An awesome feel good track full of the vivid imagery and metaphors that only Juliani can deliver so well.
Overall a great track by the Kenyan Hip Hop maestro that is Juliani
- 14. Abbas – Mo Fire
“”Mzeiya, niko na ingine kama spare ndani ya boot”
Another track in praise of the almighty Cannabis Sativa brought to you by Mr. Kenyan Rap himself Abbas. Formerly known as Doobiez, and the other half of Kenyan hip hop legends K-South. The red eyed MC has seen it all, done it all and needs little introduction in Kenyan Hip Hop circles. A great flow masterfully delivered, a trademark of this great MC is on show, for all who would care to listen
- 15. K-South – Tabia Mbaya
The level of lyrical wizardry on show in this Hip-hop classic is cleverly masqueraded by its mellow laid back track.
Here two of the greatest Kenyan MCs Abbas and Bamboo get together to piece together an extremely entertaining social commentary only these two rap geniuses could.
And while you are at it grab their two classic albums, Nairobbery and Nairobism.
- 16. Xstatic Samz –
She is sassy, packs a twang’, a big ass and a hundred pounds of rap oomph. And she is here to stake her claim to the throne of Kenyan rap.
Xstatic is fresh, her flow relaxed, and very much in her element on this track.
One of my favourite female MCs of at the moment, both local and international, Xstatic is primed to take the local Hip Hop scene by storm.
- 17. Chiwawa – Mnafeel Aje
“Labda inawezekana, possibly I think maybe/Tunaeza hook up hii Monday nikuonyeshe kile ulimiss weekendi.”
The King of Kenyan Crunk wasn’t always that, but he always was one of the realest MCs I know, and boy, could he spit.
One of the better products of his experiments with crunk on his Hii Mkwanja album circa 2006, Mnafeel Aje, has Chiwawa spitting like a cross between a sub machine gun and a canon. You get the picture.
Get party track with skilful lyricism on show all round with a great track by Babz. Chiwawa claims to rhyme even the punctuation marks on this mother.
- 18. Nanoma – Kawaida
Nanoma’s Kawaida is a throwback to the days when one Muthoni Bwika was the Queen, Empress, Dominatrix and everything in between of the local hip hop radio. Everyone would tune in to her afternoon hip hop show most on a local FM station circa 2002. (It’s where I first heard Nas’ “Ether”.) Muthoni Bwika’s show is where I first listened to Nanoma’s highly charged flow, the work of expert wordsmiths, well versed in Nairobi’s sheng patois.
Nanoma were some of the better MCs of those Cambrian days of the local hip hop scene, and that’s quite saying something. Back then everyone that could rhyme, AB with CD called themselves an MC, but Nanoma stood head and shoulders above the rest.
The track, yet another ode to Cannabis (I know, right?), is a master showcase of everything that was right, with a strong hint of funny, with these MCs.
- 19. Kantai – Issues
Heartfelt.
That would be the word that best describes this, and most tracks by one of the better MCs of recent years, Kantai. Kantai had a way of putting his heart into every track he did.
In many ways the pioneer of uptown contemporary local music, think cats from upmarket Nairobi, with a twang and a foreign sounding accent, Kantai’s music was heavily influenced by his time living in America. Kantai quickly became the link between uptown rap, from Nairobi’s more affluent Westside and it’s tough Eastlands hip hop scene, gaining recognition and wide acceptance in Nairobi’s hip hop circles.
On Issues, Kantai packs emotion, lyrical punch and delivers a great vocal presentation, to instantly connect with his audience..Not sure what happened to black, he seems to be on a hiatus has released little in the past three or so years.
- 20. STL ft. Kantai – Happy
“If you’re having a bad day that’s gotta be your own damn problem.”
A feel good track has never felt so hip-hop. Norwegian raised Kenyan artist STL is an extremely accomplished female MC, turned pop artist, an Eurovision finalist and one of only a handful of Kenyans that have ever been signed to a major label. She delivers “Happy”’s upbeat hook, plus a nice first verse
Kantai’s finesse adds a great track that’s bound to leave a smile on your face, most days anyway.
“These CD salesmen be telling me lies/what they saying ( I’ma be broke) till the day that I die”
Fedora 18 is out!
So, Fedora 18 finally came out yesterday.
Can’t wait to play!
I am a Rebelmouse!
I signed up for Rebelmouse, a content curation startup, the other day. My Rebelmouse site/page would be a great place to check out what I share online, in addition to this blog of course.
You can find it at http://rebelmouse.com/nj3ma
Moshe
Kenyan High Commissioner to the Internet
