Buruklyn Boyz Vs Toxic Lyrikali

In a previous article, we shared how beef is good for the music business. You can check out that article here. With the current beef between Buruklyn Boyz and Toxic Lyrikali being the most exciting thing in Kenyan Hip Hop right now, we felt that it was important to highlight and remind others just why beef is good for the music business.

Prior to their beef with Toxic, many people had begun to forget about Buruklyn Boyz, with the duo’s last hit being several years ago. Their beef with Toxic Lyrikali, however, has reignited the group’s relevance, as evidenced by their two diss tracks, each of which has garnered over 100,000 views on YouTube. Before Buruklyn Boyz, several other rappers had taken shots at Toxic, but none have garnered as much attention as Buruklyn Boyz has.

There is no denying that both AJAY and Mr. Right are talented, both individually and as a group. But there is also no denying that their shine has been fading, or as Kenyans like to say, Nyota imesha. But through their beef with Toxic Lyrikali, Buruklyn Boyz are now a part of current events and the conversation. The mistake that Toxic Lyrikali made, which is one that Drake also made, was responding to Burukyln Boyz. By responding to Burukulyn boyz, Toxic basically not only allowed them to attack but made it known that they were on his level. People don’t beef with people beneath, only those at their level or above.

In this beef, the kudos go to Buruklyn Boyz, not for their diss tracks but for converting the beef into something tangible. For Buruklyn Boyz, the beef has given them relevance and reignited their careers. Before Drake and Kendrick Lamar were beefing, Kendrick was silent, but after Not Like Us dropped. Kendrick Lamar’s career skyrocketed. Though Toxic Lyrikali responded to both Buruklyn Boyz diss tracks in a timely manner. Buruklyn Boyz converted the beef by recording music videos, releasing the songs on streaming platfroms and using the beef as an opportunity to market themselves and get people to start noticing them again.

 In Hip Hop, people beef with people so that they can get noticed or challenge someone they think they are better than. The real winner of any beef is not who gets the most street credibility but who ends up being more successful at the end of the day. Toxic is the best rapper in Kenya right now, but in the beef between Burukyln Boyz and Toxic Lyrikali, Burukyln Boyz milked the cow and got the most cheese out of it. If nothing else, they got people to remember them, got hip hop fans excited, and now have the perfect opportunity to relaunch their career.