How Motif The Don Is Setting a Blueprint for Kenyan Producers Beyond Music Production

Most people know Motif the Don as a Kenyan music producer, famous for his producer tag: “Yo Motif Turn Me Up on the Headphones!” popularized by Khaligraph Jones. However, Motif represents more than production—he is building a business model that shows how producers can expand into entrepreneurship.

On June 7th, 2023, Motif posted on his Instagram page that he would create structures to make the music industry profitable, and in 2025, he is doing what he said. Motif is the founder of the empowering platform, ELEV8 AFRICA, that has partnered with NCBA Bank to help empower and elevate Kenyan talent.

While the platform that Motif has founded is much needed in the Kenyan music industry, something else that Motif is doing that will forever change lives is setting an example for other Kenyan music producers to follow. While music production is what introduced the world to Motif, who is responsible for producing hits for Khaligraph, Otile Brown, Nadia Mukami, Masauti, and other Kenyan artists. It is the music business that will make Motif a billionaire. Dr. Dre did not become a billionaire because he was a talented producer; he became a billionaire because he partnered with Jim Lovine to found Beats by Dre, which was later acquired by Apple and became the global headphone brand Beats.

By venturing out of production, Motif the Don is creating a blueprint for other Kenyan music producers to follow, which means they do not have to rely on music production alone as a source of income but can also venture into business. Many do not recall, but two years ago, Motif the Don was behind the push for Kenyan artists to come together and brand themselves as Arbantone artists to avoid the genre being pushed away, the same Gengetone did. The idea was to have unity among artists and brand themselves.

Motif the Don is also the only producer who produced a song for the current president, William Ruto. Motif is very talented, but he is not just a music producer, and that is the lesson to be learnt. Motif is as good in the boardroom when selling his ideas to corporates as he is behind the keyboard making hits. He can do both, and that is the lesson Kenyan music producers need to learn. They need to make hits, but they also need to be involved in the music business. Being talented alone is not enough.

This is a sharp contrast to what is the norm, but something very important not just for producers to learn, but for Kenyan creatives in general. It is important to package yourself correctly and turn your talent into a business. Motif the Don is one of the few Kenyan producers with an active and working website (https://www.motifdidon.com) where you can learn about him, see the services he offers, and even contact him. This simple but easy thing is just one of the small ways that Motif differentiates and separates himself from the pack. What do you think the first thing a corporate is going to do when you request a meeting or meet them, they are going to Google you. What will they find when they Google you?

For anyone reading this, please study Motif the Don and treat him like a case study of what Kenyan music producers should do. Motif has worked with brands such as EABL, KCB, KRA, Safaricom, Magical Kenya, and most recently, NCBA. We are certain that Motif is not stopping or slowing down anytime soon, and more brand deals and partnerships will follow. As far as recognition goes, Motif the don was awarded the Order of the Grand Warrior (OGW), which is a presidential award for outstanding public service, for his contribution to the Kenyan music industry. If we were to list his musical achievements and hits produced here, we would never finish, but please, if you are reading this. Please study the story and journey of Motif. It is a blueprint of what to do as a producer/creative.