5 Artistes to watch from East Africa

Hey fam??

The end of last year saw Kenyan music spiral in terms of delivering music and general rise in the quality content delivered to a music fanatic.Albums like Do Not Consume If Seal Is Broken(DCISIB) by Wangechi,SAFARI by Victoria Kimani,BiograPHY by Phy,We Cut Keys While You Wait by Blinky Bill,Refugenious by Octopizzo signalled the start of a new era in music in Nairobi and the East of Africa in general.

Fast forward to 2017 we are expecting more of the same from this artistes and more from Tanzania and Uganda to.Pop wise Diamond Platnumz,Vannessa Mdee & Sauti Sol are some of the names that cross our minds when East Africa is mentioned.Here are 5 acts that I expect will dominate East African Airwaves with a more HipHop approached feeling to this.

KHALIGRAPH JONES

Kenyan rave of the moment Khaligraph Jones alias Papa Jones is the pinaccle of Kenyan rap scene at the moment.With a fast rap line delivery with almost an American accent to it being his forte King Khali is known to deliver club bangers each time he drops a track.Mi Casa Su Casa was one of Kenya’s most played jam of the year bearing in mind it was released a month or two before the year ended.Whether he is battling the competition like in Mazishi or being all lovey dovey in Naked Khaligraph is undoubtedly one of the best rappers in Africa.

Check:TOP 10 AFRO-HIPHOP ACTS OF 2016

NYASHINSKI

Growing up and having dreams of becoming a rapper in Kenya you most probably viewed Shinski as a role model-that guy you wanted to be.Coming up as a third of the pioneering group of Kenyan hip hop Kleptomaniacs Shinski ruled the airwaves  during early 2000’s bur to a break from all of it when he went to study in the US but last year so the king return with a more inspirational & conscious approach to his music.Now you know his come back track ruled airplay round the East and the follow up Mungu Pekee(Only God) still is a club banger around Nairobi.His 2016 Coke Studio appearance will most probably open Africa to him and I fell it’s time for Shinski once again.

PHY

Phy is one of the most diverse Kenyan acts out there.I refer to her us the Female Drake of African music.She can probably Rap and turn it pop or vice versa.Winner of a singing competition under the mentorship of King Kaka Phy is at the peak of her career and I guess slowing it down this year won’t be an option.Her album BiograPHY is a must have in your playlist.

Check more:The Esir Lane African Freshman List 2017

WANGECHI

Wangechi’s beauty might have you thinking “Can she really rap though…??” but just a listen to any of her tracks and guaranteed you’ll be hooked;Ask me who’s the best female rapper I might as well stake my money on Wangechi.With tracks lined up for release this year Wangechi might easily be one of the best African acts in 2017.Her last album DCISIB is a perfected project with comparison to To Pimp A Butterfly by Kendrick.

Check:Album Review:Do Not Consume If Seal Is Broken(DCISIB)-Wangechi

ROSA REE

Signed to The Industry Tanzania have their own Nicki Minaj like her line in her explicit One Time track still disturbing the air waves “In this rap game I’m the wife you the side b**ch”.New to the game Rosa Ree is still on the come up and if One Time is anything to go by this lady is superb.With One Time taking a 90’s hiphop vibe and Rosa going in straight hardcore spitting in both Swahili and English Rosa is a risk taker and that is what this rapo game needs.

Let’s Ride!!