Category: Tanzania
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Heaven is Now: New Album by Tanzania’s Simalike
Tanzanian recording artist, and one of the most respected up and coming lyricists, Simalike “SIMA” Musika (aka S.I da Genius) dropped his highly anticipated 12-track album Heaven is Now on September 26th. The album is filled with many note-worthy features from his peers such as Fresh Like Uhhh, H.I.M, Naomisia,…
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Tell them Tifa Flowz’s
With the history of hip-hop, women have had to fight incredibly to make a name for themselves in the industry as well as receive the respect they deserve. Women began recording a decade later than men which made the industry more male dominated. The delay is understandable especially in the…
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Braggadocio ft. Rosa Ree
Rosa Ree, coined from Rosary Robert, is a Tanzanian native and one of the fastest rising female hip-hop artists in Africa’s hip-hop scene. Her music break came circa 2015 when she got signed to the record label The Industry Studios– label led by Tanzanian rapper and producer Nahreel. I was…
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Inachukua wawili
Still on the topic of the legendary Tanzanian hip-hop artists that have ensured that the religion of hip-hop did not get mixed up with the diverse content that bongo flava serves. This post will be focusing on Joseph Mbilinyi, popularly known as Mr. II (aka Sugu, 2-proud). He is recognized…
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His Excellency Mr. II
A founder, director, rapper AND a Parliament member Mr. II aka Sugu aka 2Proud does it all. His real name being Joseph Mbilinyi, Mr II was born on May 1st, 1972 in Songeo, Tanzania. He is best known for being a hip-hop musician and a politician. He is the member…
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Excuse me Prof, Je, unaweza kunifundisha jinsi ya kurap kwa Kiswahili?
I have not ventured far into the history of hip-hop in African countries; but I am disappointed in myself for not understanding the dichotomy that existed between Bongo flava and Tanzanian hip-hop. Contrary to previous beliefs, hip-hop in Tanzania is very particular about distinguishing their art from the pop-infused bongo…
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The heroes of Bongo Flava, vol I
“Bongo Flava” is the phrase used to refer to hip-hop in Tanzania and in East Africa in general. It was derived from the Swahili word for brains “ubongo”. Bongo also refers to the city Dar es Salaam- the birthplace of hip-hop in Tanzania in the eighties. Over the years, this…
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um Ma’am you got some more of that GNazo?
Though continuously evolving, Tanzanian hip-hop has never been consistent be it by the breaks artists take during their careers or the switch up from genre to genre. A great example is my favorite GNako. Full name George Sixtus Mdemu , he was born in Arusha in May 1983. G-Nako, has…