Category: Kenya
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My Beautiful Twisted Reality
Although I originally intended for this mixtape to have a positive and uplifting general tone and theme, the current climate of the world along with my past and current states of mind haven’t allowed me to compile a mixtape of African Hip-Hop based purely on good feelings and unity across the diaspora. Instead, I have
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African Hip-hop and Politics: Mixtape Project
Just like other countries around the globe, many African countries continue to suffer at the hands of “politics”. There are many social and political issues that confront a typical African country. Issues including corruption, wars, human rights abuse, mismanagement of federal funds, poor education systems, illiteracy, and so on. These issues are closely similar from
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HHAP EPISODE 55: HIP HOP PALAVER, V.2 (Video)
This is a special episode of the Hip Hop African Podcast. It is a collaboration between the HHA Podcast and the Global Hip Hop Exchange (GHHE), which is an online network/community of hip hop creatives who are primarily from, or based in, Africa. Featuring: Hustlajay Mau Mau, Fete Jen, Mikko of Planet Earth Planet Rap, & Msia
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HHAP EPISODE 55: HIP HOP PALAVER, V.2
This is a special episode of the Hip Hop African Podcast. It is a collaboration between the HHA Podcast and the Global Hip Hop Exchange (GHHE), which is an online network/community of hip hop creatives who are primarily from, or based in, Africa. This is our second hip-hop palaver, with hip-hop creatives from around the continent. This time we continued the reflection on the COVID19 from the perspective of parenting. We also discussed hip-hop collaborations. Some that we had been a part of, and some that we are currently working on. The discussion included members of the Global Hip Hop Exchange, all of whom have been involved in hip hop culture in their respective countries for several years: 2. Hustlajay Mau Mau/@Jay_maumau| Hustlajay MauMau is a socially conscious MC from Mombasa, Kenya. He raps mostly in Swahili, and has made a name for himself by not only rapping about social issues, but also getting involved in social and political issues in Kenya. He is currently based in Austria. The opening and closing song, Sign of Hope, is one of his new releases. | YouTube Channel 2. Fete Jen/@Fete_Jen | hip hop organizer & founder of The Lounge (open mic event) and producer of the upcoming mixtape | from the U.S., previously based in Tanzania, currently based in Pretoria. 3. Mikko of Planet Earth Planet Rap/@PEPRRadio | Mikko is one of the founders of Planet Earth Planet Rap, which is a segment on Chuck D’s #AndYouDontStop radio show. They play, talk about and celebrate international Hip-Hop from all continents. | PEPR can be accessed 24/7 at https://rapstation.com 4. Msia/@Kibona | HHA host & hip hop professor, photographer, & author | from Tanzania, based in the Washington, DC area | Website: https://msiakibonaclark.com
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Stella Mwangi fuses African and Western hip-hop to Represent her Experiences
Stella Nyambura Mwangi who goes by the stage name STL, is a 33 year old songwriter, rapper and singer. Stella was born in Nairobi, Kenya, but she and her family moved to Norway, when she was only five years old. Regardless of her relocation, her parents were sure to bring her up in a way
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Wangechi Waweru speaks about abusive relationships in her song “Comeback”.
Although female African emcees emerged years later than their male counterparts, some of these female rappers have been able to create a niche for themselves. Immersed in a predominantly male culture, these rappers have been able to voice the opinion of women who share similar experiences. By representing women’s issues, they have been able to
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MDQ “Time Bomb”
Muthoni Drummer Queen also known as MDQ was born and raised in Nairobi Kenya in a middle class family. Her style of music is genre -bending, afro-diaspora sound which is a fusion between African drums, hip hop/reggae/dancehall and neo soul/blues. She pours forth the bold, the reverting, the immersive. She is the storm you will
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Ulimi: A weapon for social change in Kenya.
This song Ulimi, by Flamez and Sue timon is a song that I perceive to be a song that advocates for social change in Kenya. It is by a rapper called Flamez featuring a female MC, Sue Timon. Their hope for this song was not to incite any violent feelings, especially since the country has
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King Kaka’s Whistleblowing Song: Wajinga Nyinyi
Who is King Kaka? King Kaka, the popular Kenyan hip hop artist who is also known as “The Rabbit” struck many chords with the release of his recent song Wajinga Nyinyi in December of last year. The 32-year-old hip hop artist who was born in Nairobi Kenya as Kennedy Tarriq Ombima is known for addressing
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Octopizzo: Changing the narrative of young refugees from the Kibera slums
Born in one of the largest slums of the world in Kibera, Nairobi, Henry Ohanga also known as “Octopizzo”, is set to change the narrative of residents of such areas. After completing his secondary school education, Octopizzo took computing courses, worked as an electrician and an actor, before diving into hip hop music and youth