insert_link 2 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, […] todayJune 2, 2025 19 2
insert_link 2 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 […] todayJune 2, 2025 49 2
insert_link 2 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 […] todayMay 28, 2025 25 2
insert_link 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 […] todayMay 16, 2025 164
insert_link 2 1 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 […] todayMay 12, 2025 29 1 2
insert_link 2 Article Exploring the Matata Hipster Aesthetic Recently, Matata re-released their single Mpishi featuring Bien, a track that had initially been flagged down due to copyright claims. Since its re-upload, Mpishi has soared past 1.3 million views on YouTube in just eight days—an impressive feat that underscores both the group's magnetic appeal and the public’s anticipation of their audiovisual artistry. With this renewed momentum, Matata is once again affirming their place as one of Kenya’s most visually […] todayMay 7, 2025 62 2
insert_link 1 Article Sabi Wu vs. Lilmaina and the Question of Artistic Originality by Otieno Arudo In Nairobi’s buzzing hip-hop and arbantone ecosystem, a storm is quietly escalating beneath the surface of viral TikToks and high-streaming singles. A recent online spat has brought the usually blurred line between inspiration and imitation into sharp focus, as Kilimani-based rapper and producer Sabi Wu accuses the more prominent Lilmaina of biting his style. The saga began with Instagram close-friend stories — videos initially visible to a select audience — […] todayApril 29, 2025 61 1
insert_link 2 Article Who Belongs on the Mount Rushmore of Kenyan Hip-Hop? Recently, An21 KE (@antweeeezy), a US-based Kenyan producer and hip-hop media previously a Coke Studio Africa protégé, with stints at Radio 254 and NRG Radio, sparked a vibrant discussion on X by posing the question: “Who is in the Kenyan Hip Hop Mt Rushmore?” This inquiry ignited a reflective conversation among Kenyan hip-hop enthusiasts, contemplating the genre's most iconic figures. The concept of a "Mount Rushmore" in pop culture symbolizes […] todayApril 22, 2025 65 2
insert_link Article New Music on the Radar – APR 21 2025 Clark Keeng ft. Zawadi Mukami & Chris Barr – “Table” Some songs feel like memories in sonic form. Table, a melancholic yet hopeful R&B ballad by Clark Keeng featuring Zawadi Mukami and Chris Barr, conjures the intimacy of love lost but not entirely let go. The title object — a table — is the emotional anchor around which the song revolves, not just physically, but metaphorically as the place where […] todayApril 21, 2025 33