THIS FRIDAY'S MODEL - JULLIET SAMBA

Julliet Samba crowns the week for us with her lovely and beautiful photos. The following are photos taken by JohfBaks Photography;

KNOW YOUR MUSICIANS

Prezda Bandason, King of Luo Rhumba

Shaddyyoko Msanii (Singer of Pesa)

M.I.E.N Kevin, Hip hop

Prince Kadabra, Musician

Abedi Dotkom, Artist/Producer

Mishka, Artist/Senior Producer-Twins studio

Becky Sangolo, Artist

Salez Kalahari, Hip hop artist

Madjid Mussellem, Artist

Nadir, Artist

He is back with a bang!

Abedi Dotkom - Artist

Abedi Dotkom is one of the artists who brought the Kenyan music to the fore after his tantalizing hit song ''Dotcom Lady'' also known by many as "Wayanza Mang'ondo". Many have been asking where he disappeared to with some even calling his act a one hit song wonder. One thing they are not aware of is that he did another song called Vindu vya Tinya that also did well on airplay. He says piracy dealt him a big blow and even demoralized him because of those who harvested where they hadn't sown.

Abedi Dotkom with one of his Dancers, Kevo during the 
video shoot of Shake your body

Recently, he did videos for Dotcom Lady remix, Wasema sema, Mama Pima and Cheza that can be found on youtube. He has a new track called Shake your body that is poised to do well in Kenya and beyond. He has just finished doing a video for the latter. Listening to the new song you will start by feeling Western Kenya due to the Sukuti beat and when the other instruments settle in you get the feeling of West Africa. I mean ''Davido'' kind of feel. In the song he has featured a very promising artist Prince Kadabra who is also working on his video of the song Tunasonga mbele produced by Producer Mishka at Twins Studio.

Abedi Dotkom, Madjid Musellem and Prince Kadabra

Abedi who also doubles as a Producer says he still has a bigger vision and mission to accomplish hence not yet anywhere near quitting music because it is a passion. "If I was only looking for money in music I would have quit long ago due to the challenges I faced some years back", he says. He is therefore appealing to his fans to stay put and enjoy the new stuff he has for them. He will soon launch and tour various parts of the country to popularize his songs. You can download some of his songs that are already selling via Onfon downloads.

From left to Right Abedi Dotkom, Kevo, Spartan, Prince Kadabra and Kate

Shaddyyoko Msanii

 One of Shaddyyoko's video that has been frequent on TV. Meet him at Carnivore as he does his gig.

Shaddyyoko Msanii

Shaddyyoko, Artist

Meet Shaddyyoko an artist with drive and determination. He is one of the artists performing during Mulembe Nite at Carnivore Restaurant on 31st October 2014. He developed his music passion while still in primary school. Music was one of his favourite subjects and he even excelled in it well. Shaddyyoko has recorded an Album called Wanifuata that has been doing well on TV especially KTN. Other songs in the album include Wanifuata, Mama, Omwoyo, Ingokho, Rita, A.F.C, Lugendo, Ninasaka, Ingwe and Pesa. Listening to these songs you will notice that they are powerful songs and done in various genres.

Shaddyyoko is therefore inviting his fans to turn up for the event and get a chance to enjoy his presentation.

Shaddyyoko in action

 Have a date with him at Carnivore next Friday.

Do you remember John Karani the Hot Radio presenter with a romantic voice?

John Karani

The life we enjoyed in the late 90s towards the end of the last decade couldn't have been so without the soothing voice of DJ John Karani. He commanded the airwaves via KBC English Service hence kept listeners hooked to the station. Having worked as a team with presenters like the Late Johnstone Omurunga in programmes like ''Saturday Night Show'' he became a celebrity with a huge listener-ship. In the program he would interview artists and also give the listeners the lyrics of their favourite songs. You would get most of the youths and even adults with pen and paper ready to write the lyrics that were read to them by John and Charity Karemi. His programme called Beat Time can not escape my mind at all. This was a program that was so popular and was synonymous with John and Charity.

Groove Time  was also very popular. In this program the listeners would call and vote for their favorite song on the chat of the day. This way the best song would have more calls requesting for it's play. It was a true way of identifying a popular song than the current way of favouritism where people are forced to listen to the presenter's choice. 

Wow! those old good days!

John Karani in Dar es salaam

Karani went ahead to do his trade in Tanzania where he worked with Kiss FM (TZ) and Tone FM where he excelled in the profession. Many people still miss John Karani in the Kenyan airwaves. When the Late Nzau Kalulu also a former KBC presenter died last year (2013) Karani was asked to team up with the Sundowner host to run a show in tribute of the fallen presenter. It was evident from the call-ins that he is still very popular. Many callers earnestly pleaded with him to be back in the airwaves.

 The Kenyan music industry is where it is because of the immense contributions that Karani among other presenters made to promote local artists. Kudos!

Nadir Binlassili's new release - Young Lover.

Nadir Binlassili, an artist from Goma, Congo has done a new Hip hop song called ''Young Lover'' that is set to be launched soon. Many people associate Congolese musicians with Rhumba and Seben music. However, there is a crop of young Congolese like Nadir who are changing the trend. He is our African version of Lil Wayne. He has featured in the song ''Studio'' and ''This is how we do''.

Nadir Binlassili

From left to Right Madjid, Monica & Nadir Binlassili

 

If you get to listen to this new song that he is set to launch soon, you will agree with me that it is comes with a new flavor in the Kenyan music industry. 

Kudos Nadir!  

Meet Madjid Musellem a guy of three hats.

Madjid Musellem

Madjid musellem is a man of three hats. He is a professional dancer, a rapper and a model in one body. He hails from Goma, Congo where he horned some of the skills in two of professions. He is good in both contemplary, traditional dances and adopts to any creative dance superbly. Due to his passion in hip hop he developed the urge to start doing rap music hence joined other artists like Nadir Binlassili, Mishka Kar to do some songs. They did a song called ''Studio'' and then later ''This is how we do''.

Recently, he acted in the video of the song ''Ghetto'' by Sticky, Mien and Mishka. In the video you'll agree with me that the guy is multi-talented and is headed for big things in the near future. he is one of the dancers in the song ''Cheza'' by Abedi Dotkom.

Cheza by Abedi Dotkom feat. Mishka & Prince [Official HD]

Cheza is now a darling song to DJs. There are more new songs from Twins studio by Price Kadabra, Abedi Dotkom, Shaddyyoko, Stiky and Mishka. the videos will be available on this blog soon.

Where are these artists who once rocked the scene?

The late 90s and early years of this century witnessed a generational change in the music industry. There is a crop of musicians who decided to change the trend of things by improving on creativity in recording and performance.

During those days it was not easy for a local artist to organize a crowd pulling show. The word ''LOCAL'' meant mediocre hence most fans would only be excited on hearing names like Kanda Bongoman, Olomide, Shawn Paul, Makoma and the likes. What Kenyans didn't bear in mind is that even the same foreign artists they were adoring were local artists back in their countries of origin. I remember the days when we tried to organize shows with the now renown Gospel artist Rufton Machakos, Kakamega and Naivasha. We would go and position posters on our own because the organizers and venue owners couldn't believe in a local artist doing stuff that is worth paying for. Many other artists went through this hardship to see the industry become a reality. Then came the emergency of more production houses and more artists came up with nice songs. Our music started competing with the foreign music and becoming popular. For those that were there, you remember names like Five Alive, Pete Odera, Kalamashaka, Rufton, Mandugu Digital, T.T Solomon, E-sir, K-rupt, Googs and vin Banton, Maji maji, Gidigidi, Wikmosh, Darling P, Nameles, Nonin, Jua Cali, my self (Abedi Dotkom) among many others. When I see the way the industry is now big I always remember the hardships we faced as upcoming artists. I couldn't believe it when my song was one of the first local music to be pirated yet Kenyan music had not been taken that serious in the past. It wasn't easy.

I realize some of the artists named above have since disappeared from the music scene. Aren't they Mashuja?

RAPPER SALEZ-KALAHARI

Salez Kalahari-Rapper

Meet Rapper Salez Kalahari a versatile Rapper with promising skills in the music industry. He has done songs like Mtotow that is now doing well. Other songs under his belt are; Jungle lion Salez Kalahari, Past present na future, and Ghetto youth. His rhymes have good message as well as rib cracking humour that endears him with his fans. ''Ukileta beef unapelekewa mpaka Burma ndani'' is one of those interesting lines in the song Ghetto youth.

 

For those who want to listen to listen to his music search for it on Reverbnation.com and for sure you will be entertained.

Salez Kalahari performing in one of his gigs

 We wish him more strides of success as he continues recording his album.

Nifurahi day CHEZA!!!Cheza by Abedi Dotkom feat. Mishka & Prince [Official HD]

Some artists have been asking for the requirements for one to become member of MCSK

REQUIREMENTS FOR A COMPOSER

• Three(3) copies of commercially published audio CD’s of each album/Single;

• Three (3) passport size photographs and a copy of identity card/passport  /birth certificate;

• Copy of National identity card/passport/birth certificate for next of Kin.

• Copies of agreements if there is joint copyright ownership.

• Names of group members and a representative if it is a group/band or choir.

• Three thousand shillings, application fee. (Non refundable).

• Letters of administration from the courts of law if applying on behalf of a deceased person.

• Kcb Bankika Account number of the applicant/s.

N/B: Regitration is only done at the nearest regional office.

You may also visit the MCSK website http://www.mcsk.or.ke/index.php/membership/2013-10-11-10-47-03/composers

Do our gospel artists preach water but drink wine?

Some years back in Kenya, gospel music was mostly done in a choral way. In some churches the elders would not allow guitars and any other modern instruments apart from drums and Kayamba to be used in praise places. We used to have choirs like Jericho AIC choir, Machakos town choir, Mwanza town choir from Tanzania to mention but a few. Then came gospel artists like Ev.(now Pastor) Munish from Tanzania, Mary Wamboi, Mary Atieno Ominde and the likes who came up with solo acts.

In the late 90s came a crop of youthful artists like Rufftone, Pete Odera, Harry G, Henrie Mutuku, Esther Wahome etc. It took time for the churches to accept them as gospel artists but due to their consistence and popularity among the youth they took over the industry. Since then more have come on board and have even been winning awards with songs of different genres. Artists like Daddy Owen and Jimmy Gate have come up with their own styles e.g Kapungala and Fulli fulli dance and the trend continues.

However, the Gospel music industry has been dogged with some questionable scandalous behaviors that paint it the bad way. There are secular artists who decided to do Gospel in pursuit of the money from good sales that are realized in the industry. There hearts are not in the Gospel world at all. Some artists have been found in clubs raving and high on alcohol. Recently we had of one popular artist that was rumoured to have raped a teen girl. This leaves us wondering whether or not they mean what they preach in their songs. I know of popular artists that are very cruel and arrogant to people but pretend to be so good when on the screen during interviews. Some even smoke marijuana before going on stage to perform.

Gospel artists! Be role models and not mockers of the WORD. Thanks to those who are committed to the WORD.

HAKUNA MWINGINE KAMA WEWE

Becky doing her stuff.

Volcaneex - Make Me Feel - UpTown Gyal Riddim ( Nuchie Records / Rebel ...

Wanifuata by shaddyyoko official video

From Twins Studio here is an artist by the name Shaddyyoko. He did the song in a bongo flavor style. ''Wanifuata'' has been receiving airplay on KTN and is poised to be big soon.



What's your take as a music consumer?

Cheza by Abedi Dotkom feat. Mishka & Prince [Official HD]

Believe me now by Stoniey

Another fresh one.

Ghetto by Sti-Key, M.i.e.n & Mishka (Official Video)

One of the fresh Hits ''Ghetto'' by Sti-key, M.i.e.n & Mishka. Audio
was done by Producer mishka at Twins studio, Umo. The video is well
scripted and directed by Sti-key Evans. It is full of action movie kind
of acting.

Keep up guys!