Review

New Music on the Radar – JUN 13(Njerae,Asum Garvey, Fadhilee Itulya,Malosh)

This week’s picks are for the real lovers—four songs that stretch genre lines while staying rooted in local narratives. From soul-stirring Afro-Indie reflections and raw Swahili rap confessions to playful coastal ballads and high-energy dancefloor anthems, the JUN 13 edition of New Music on the Radar celebrates both musical experimentation and emotional honesty. Whether it’s Njerae reaching across continents, Asum Garvey switching cadence, Fadhilee Itulya revisiting ancestral grooves, or Malosh […]

June 13, 2025 6

Article

U.S. Kenya Creative Economy Forum 2025: A Game-Changer for Kenyan Music

Last Thursday, Nairobi buzzed with creativity as the U.S.-Kenya Creative Economy Forum 2025 kicked off at the plush Emara Ole-Sereni hotel. Organized by the U.S. Embassy in Kenya and the American Chamber of Commerce Kenya (AmCham), this landmark event brought together over 300 industry heavyweights, policymakers, and artists to unlock the potential of Kenya’s creative sector. For Kenyan music lovers, the forum’s ripple effects could reshape the industry, with stars […]

June 11, 2025 20

Article

New Music on the Radar JUN 6 ( Matata, TheLuchi, Willy Paul, An21 KE)

Welcome dear readers to the first weekly music round up of June 2025.We feature a punchy raw rap single from An21 KE and Karis from the Recipe EP that debuted earlier this week on radio 254 exclusively. Two Alternative or (Odi Pop if you love genre names so much) have released songs with almost similar titles, Tiki Tako by Matata and Tikitaka by TheLuchi, what are the odds of that? […]

June 6, 2025 34

Article

Recapping Bien’s U.S. Tour: A Month of Sold-Out Shows, Viral Roosters, and Bold Conversations

When Bien, the charismatic, bald-headed superstar from East Africa, announced his worldwide tour at the end of April, anticipation shot through the roof. Fans across continents waited eagerly to see how the Kenyan artist, fresh off the success of his album Alusa Why Are You Topless?, would take his infectious charisma and genre-bending music global. The first leg — a whirlwind across eight American cities in May 2025 — delivered […]

June 3, 2025 18

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Article

Vibes of Love and Sensuality by Moran

Kenya’s music scene is buzzing with diversity. We’ve got everything from the laid-back vibes of Afrosoul to the high-energy beats of Gengeton. But there’s one thing that often makes people sit up and take notice, the lyrics. Two artists Benzema and Bensoul have become popular for talking about love, sensuality, and relationships, yet the way their music is received couldn’t be more different. Benzema known for his bold, in-your-face style, […]

June 2, 2025 13 2

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Article

June 25th: Octopizzo Recalls History Through Sound

On May 30, 2025, Kenyan rap heavyweight Octopizzo released June 25th, a searing protest anthem that turns raw memory into art, recounting the youth-led anti-finance bill protests of 2024 and the brutal government crackdown that followed. Known for his evolution from braggadocious street rapper to a master of layered, socially conscious production, Octopizzo uses this latest release to craft a sonic historical record. This article offers an in-depth exploration of […]

June 2, 2025 21 2

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Featured

New Music on the Radar MAY 23(Breeder LW, Femi One, Dezel Kong, Vic West)

You would be forgiven for thinking we are in February after going through the songs we have highlighted today. The meme has been about recession indicators recently, but quickly ask your preferred chat bot if the release of love songs is any way related to recession. The brash no nonsense Femi One of all people is surprisingly in her lover girl era and recruits the reigning queen of love […]

May 28, 2025 11 2

Article

New Music on the Radar MAY 16 (We are Nubia, Nviiri, Clark Keeng, Dufla & Femi One)

Dear reader, welcome to this week’s edition of New Music on the Radar, MAY 16. This week, we highlight the turn to vernacular lyricism: a complete one by dancehall star Dufla Diligon in Adok Ebei and a partial one by Nviiri the storyteller in Mwana wa Mubi. The Jinja born artist has spent much of his adult life in Kenya and shaped its urban culture so much that few fans […]

May 16, 2025 45

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Article

New Music on the Radar May 12th 2025

Dear reader, welcome to this week’s edition of New Music on the Radar dated MAY 9. Explore the joys of coming out of a dark season in life with Jason Sibi-Okumu’s introspective This is My Life and Modest Chabari’s rather lighthearted No Balance. Sabi Wu and 4MR Frank White keep it gritty in their hustle anthem Dim My Shine, a theme V-BE also explore in their new number, For […]

May 12, 2025 17 1 2