Tag: Octopizzo news

Octopizzo’s immense multi-million shilling investment

Posted on by Ozymandias

Rapper Octopizzo took to Instagram to announce his investment in the real estate business. In a series of three photos, he posed in front of a construction site for a high-rise apartment building in Kileleshwa, Nairobi. The caption of the post read, “Got it outta Mud you can see me dancing in the puddle ????Real Estate Papi Invest with Us#DON ????.”

Octopizzo’s investment is the latest in a trend of Kenyan celebrities and artists investing in real estate. Other notable figures who have made similar investments include musicians Sauti Sol and Khaligraph Jones, as well as actor Nick Mutuma.

The real estate market in Kenya is booming, with demand for both residential and commercial properties outpacing supply. This has made it an attractive investment for many people, including celebrities and artists who are looking to diversify their portfolios.

Octopizzo’s investment is a sign of his growing financial success. He has been one of Kenya’s most popular rappers for over a decade, and his music has been streamed millions of times around the world. In recent years, he has also branched out into acting and business, and his latest investment is a testament to his growing business acumen.

It will be interesting to see how Octopizzo’s investment in real estate pans out. If successful, it could pave the way for other celebrities and artists to invest in the sector.

 

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A post shared by DON PAPICHULO (@octopizzo)

Octopizzo responds to violent protests in Kibra

Posted on by Ozymandias

Octopizzo has been silent for a very long time only popping up to release his most recent album then vanishing back into the privacy of security brings.

Octopizzo is not wrong about Kenyans not supporting our own but…

But the one thing he is known for is doing his best to shine a light on the slum he grew up in, Kibra, and trying to the people still stuck in that slum.

So it’s only natural for people to think of him after they witnessed just how violent and chaotic the mass protests were in Kibra with reports even claiming that things devolved into sectarian violence.

Octopizzo trashing kenyan media is an obvious cry for attention

On Twitter one of his fans said he must be disappointed to see how the residents of the slum watering down their community given how he and previously must himself in trying to better their lot.

Octopizzo took another diplomatic approach choosing to look at it from the positive and announcing his resolve to get back into the thick of things once things have settled down and rebuild again.

For more thought-provoking opinion pieces, click here. And be sure to like our Instagram page.

 

Octopizzo trashing kenyan media is an obvious cry for attention

Posted on by Pauline Syombua

It’s been a minute since we heard about Octopizzo right? Or maybe it’s because fans lost interest in his beef with Khaligrapha Jones who also seems to have gone off the grid; now that Kenyans seem to be focusing on their problems and not what their favorite celebrities are upto.

Octopizzo makes history, becomes the first Kenyan rapper to make it to the Grammy Awards Consideration List

Anyway having also noticed that his fame is slowly fading away Octopizzo has decided to come after the media, accusing them of not supporting local talent and blaming them for them not talking about him.

Uuuh last I checked….the media talks about celebrities – like all the time – but they only do so when there’s something to talk about right? I mean why would they waste time on an inactive celebrity….will that help them money or wait……what are you doing about it as an artist?

TV and Radio play for musicians they like, watu wanapenda, these days if I want to listen to Kenyan music I stream. I don’t watch TV or the radio. That way I hear different sounds and maybe I can collabo with them.

Clout chasing

Although he may have a point about mainstream not playing enough kenyan music, you have to remember that its all about who ‘brings the most interesting content to the table’ because at the end of the day – both parties have to make money right?

And as you can see, Octopizzo put himself out there with his latest interview….and now most blogs are focusing on him and his projects hence making it possible to revive his brand – now that he had gone missing in action for a while.

Octopizzo bashes Kenyans for supporting Diamond Platnumz while ignoring Otile Brown, they respond swiftly

Posted on by David Kingsley

Award-winning Kenyan rapper Henry Ohanga, better known as Octopizzo, sparked a heated debate online after bashing Kenyans for throwing their weight behind Diamond Platnumz while ignoring Otile Brown.

Also read: Octopizzo seems to have run out of ideas

Taking to Twitter, the Kibera-bred musician claimed that there is a lot of mediocrity on online platforms since many Kenyans would rather support an artist from an other country instead of their own.

Diamond Platnumz

“MFs out here Gassing Diamond but will not support Otile Brown. The mediocrity on this platforms,” he wrote.

His remarks were in regard to the love that is being shown to Diamond Platnumz after the release of his collabo with Koffi Olomide dubbed Waaah while Otile Brown who also released a track with Reekado Banks titled Jamila has not gotten much attention.

Octopizzo

As expected, his sentiments did not sit well with many Kenyans who claimed that Kenyan artists do not invest in their songs like their Tanzanian counterparts. As such, they will always lag behind.

Others seemed to agree with him explaining that human beings would rather support a foreigner than one of their own who is also making quality music.

Here are the comments.

Octopizzo makes history, becomes first Kenyan rapper to make it to the Grammy Awards Consideration List

Posted on by Gloria Katunge

Award-winning Kenyan rapper, Octopizzo has proven that his past does not define his future and that his background was not going to be an obstacle for him to get to the top.

The 26-year old Kibera-born rapper has once again proven his worth after bagging International recognition, set to face-off with the crème de la crème of the entertainment industry globally.

Also read: Octopizzo’s heartfelt congratulatory message to Khaligraph Jones on his BET Award nominations

Octopizzo makes history

This is following his recent announcement, informing fans that he is up for the prestigious Grammy Awards consideration list of 2021.

Octopizzo makes it to the Grammy Consideration AwardsHis announcement comes ahead of the high-ranking 63rd Grammy Awards set to go down in January 2021.

On the nomination list are the rapper’s anthems; Che Che Wakiritho under the Best Rap performance category, Another Day under the Record of the Year category and Kamikaze Another Day under the Best Melodic Rap category.

Octopizzo told off those who had doubted his skill set and his worth in the rap industry, informing them that it is “about that time” they acknowledged his standing.

News that has left the Kenyan audience and beyond proud of the rap artist, who becomes the first Kenyan rapper to bag such a position.

He makes history a 2nd time

It is quite no surprise that the kid was going places. This is after making history by receiving an invite to the 60th edition of the prestigious Grammy Awards held on January 28, 2018 in New York.

Octopizzo Knaye singer born and raised in Kibera
Octopizzo bags his place at the 63rd Grammy Awards

And now, he makes it to the Grammy Awards Consideration List. I mean…

His nomination gets him a seat alongside Wasafi’s Diamond Platnumz, Zuchu and Rayvanny.

The Annual Grammy Awards recognize the best recordings, compositions and artists of the year. This time, running from September 1, 2019 to August 31, 202o. Thereafter go through a voting process to arrive at the final 2021 Nominee list.

The nominations will be announced on November 24, 2020.

“Unafanya handshake?” Fans react to Octopizzo’s congratulatory message to Khaligraph Jones

Posted on by Pauline Syombua

Octopizzo joined the many celebrities celebrating Khaligraph Jones after he was named among  the BET Awards nominees for 2020. Through his Twitter handle, the Kamakize hitmaker congratulated his archenemy, Mr Omollo; but mentioned that this did not mean they are friends.

Through his Twitter handle, Octopizzo went on to talk about their ongoing beef while congratulating his friend; but went on to mention that this did not mean they are friends;

Kenya´s illest rapper, Khaligraph Jones

Also read: Wonders will never seize! Octopizzo’s heartfelt congratulatory message to Khaligraph Jones on his BET Award nominations

We’ve always had our differences & that will remain like that. But congratulations Brayo aka KJones on your BET nomination, all my die hard go vote for Jones. Na akishinda hio award namvuitisha vela cha lazima si ati nini. All the best.

Worried Fans

Octopizzo’s gang on the other hand did not seem so impressed with this; probably because it made them bow down to Khali’s fans who have been trolling them for years.

One fan asked went on to ask whether this was the beginning of a new friendship following the online handshake; he wrote;

Unafanya Handshake ndio sisi tuende wapi?

Also read:Beauty and brains! Meet the mother of Khaligraph Jones’ handsome son

To which Octopizzo responded by saying;

Handshake hakuna, lakini enda votia kijana

Indeed this was a new move in the entertainment industry; especially judging from the number of years these two have been beefing!

Octopizzo’s fans

“Usiwahi post picha yangu mbovu,” an angry Octopizzo publicly blasts King Kaka

Posted on by Pauline Syombua

Rapper Octopizzo is really mad at fellow artist King Kaka; for posting an old pixilated photo taken back in the day.

The popular photo showing Khaligraph Jones, King Kaka; and Octopizzo all in the same photo left the ‘king or rap’ throwing shade at his brother for trying to bring the past back to life!

According to Octopizzo, rapper King Kaka should have found a better photo to post instead of using the one making rounds on social media. He wrote;

Khali
Khalighraph and Octopizzo beef

Buda niko na picha nyingi sana safi safi, usiwai post picha yangu mbovu kama hiyo tena.

Also read: Octopizzo threatens life of popular rapper Breeder LW day after mocking him online (Video)

Shade

The rapper who is popularly known for his ‘pride and arrogance’ went on to compare his style to that of Khali and King kaka; and from what he wrote – it’s evident that his mind must be clouded a bit too much.

He went on to add;

Unafanya drip yangu ifanane na yenyu. That drip is expensive my friend.

Also read: Octopizzo’s rant over Conje’s heartbreaking condition should be a wakeup call for the state

Octo’s own lane

Having achieved so much through his music, Octopizzo managed to change his life and looking at how far he has come; it’s clear to see why he doesn’t want to be dragged behind.

However, with such pride and still no new successful projects; I guess it’s time Octo took all that gas to the studio for new relevant music. I mean at least Khali is doing it!

Octopizzo seems to have run out of ideas

Posted on by David Kingsley

I don’t know about you but from where I sit, it seems like Kenyan rapper Henry Ohanga, better known as Octopizzo has run out of ideas, or so it seems.

Also read: Octopizzo should pull up his socks before it’s too late

Gone are the days when the Kibera-bred rapper made music that resonated with the masses, these days he just gets by and it almost seems like he is out of touch with his fans.

Octopizzo

If you asked me to name one of his recent songs, you’ll discover that it was released 3 or so years ago and it’s not really my fault since I no longer listen to his music.

To be honest, I don’t even understand how he’s able to garner more than 1 million views on YouTube, the only explanation is that he could be buying views but that’s a story for another day.

His die-hard fans will probably be vexed by this article but how do you explain that he copy pasted Pop Smoke’s Welcome To The Party for his latest release dubbed Che Che?

Octopizzo

If you compare and contrast the two songs, you’ll realize that everything is pretty much the same. From the concept, the style and the execution is exactly the same. Even the beat and instrumentation.

That’s not something that you would expect a musician of Octopizzo’s stature to do but he did it anyway and that can only mean that he’s running out of ideas and pretty fast.

In early to mid 2010’s, his music was inspired by the things that were happening in Kibera and we loved him for that and then, he decided to adopt a different approach perhaps to woo fans outside Kenya.

I’m not against his growth. All I’m saying is that he needs to change tack before it’s late because time is running out.

Listen to his latest jam titled Another Day below.

Buying YouTube views has slowed down the growth of the Kenyan music industry

Posted on by Branny

There was a time when buying YouTube views was the order of the day. Local musicians would release a song today and if you checked it the next day it had hundreds of thousands of views and almost hitting a million views.

Also read: New-age musicians are giving established artists nightmares!

I’m sure the practice still exists, it’s only that some of those accused decided to take a step back after being exposed. They realised that Kenyans were not as stupid as they thought i.e. we can tell if someone has bought views.

You see, it very easy to tell if someone has bought views on YouTube because all you need to do is check the other interactions that the video has i.e. the likes, dislike and comments. If they don’t go hand in hand then something is definitely amiss.

Khaligraph Jones
Khaligraph Jones

For instance it would be hard to explain how a video has a million views yet it only has 200 comments, 400 likes and 50 dislikes. The interaction doesn’t make sense if you compare it with the views because ideally comments and likes should be in the thousands for such a video.

In the past, both Khaligraph Jones and Octopizzo have been accused of buying YouTube views. This was around the time when they were beefing over who is the King of Kenyan hip hop. I’m convinced that they stopped because we no longer see those crazy numbers.

In a way, you could argue that buying YouTube views is slowing the growth of the local music industry because an artist wants to create this perception that they are hot on the streets so much so that they can garner a million views in a day yet they can’t pull crowds to a gig.

Octopizzo
Octopizzo

Kenyan artists should remain true to themselves, especially now when we have new-age artists who can clock a million real views in 3 or 4 days. Our established artists should not bow to pressure to buy YouTube views.

We’d really like to know if they can really keep us with the new crop of Kenyan artists never mind the fact that they are way younger than them. Perhaps the old dogs can also learn a thing or two from the new kids on the block. Enough said!

Savage! Ethic ranks Octopizzo among top Female hiphop artists in Kenya

Posted on by Pauline Syombua

Ethic and Octopizzo have been making noise on social media and from the look of things; this is yet another beef from a gengetone group aiming to remain relevant in the entertainment industry.

From the posts shared on social media, the beef is said to have been sparked by Ethic who apparently claim Khaligraph Jones is greater than Octopizzo!

This being their opinion, of course there are those who don’t agree with them; and Octopizzo himself also chooses to disagree with the young boys. Responding to their tweet, Octopizzo wrote;

Ahaaaa????????????ni ju nilikataa kurukia project Ama? But si ni life???????????? #Wakiritho TA! TA!


Upcoming project?

Well, Octopizzo claims the boys approached his management hoping to work with him; but due to a few unknown reasons the hiphop guru  opted out – a decision that has seen him get bashed by the Gengetone artists!

However, having been in the industry for long Octopizzo probably saw this was not something he was interested in; and for this reason decided not to respond.

Octo exposes Ethic

However Ethic got offended by his silence which has now left them throwing shade at Octopizzo for not getting on board.

Sailors gang and Boondocks beefing

This also happens to be the second ongoing beef with Gengetone artists. Just a few weeks ago Sailors lead singer Miracle baby and Boondocks Exray were said to be having bad blood following ‘snitching’ accusations.

With this, the two artists publicly washed their dirty linen on social media leaving many shocked. Peter Miracle baby accused Exray of being lazy in bed; to a point of getting help from men in order to satisfy his lady.

Exray on the other hand exposed Miracle baby of being bisexual; a story that yet to be addressed in public. According to Exray, Miracle has a boyfriend and will soon be exposed if Peter decides to abuse him again on social media.

Eric Musyoka, the iconic producer who took Kenyan music to greater heights

Posted on by David Kingsley

It’s hard to talk about Kenyan music without mentioning the name of Decimal Records CEO Eric Musyoka, popularly known as Musyox. He has been very instrumental in shaping the Kenyan sound.

Also read: Stop looking for content from new-age musicians!

In the early to mid 2000s when Calif Records and Ogopa Deejays were beefing, the award-winning producer, who is now 38, was working at Homeboyz Entertianment.

Musyoka

While at the stable which is owned by the Rabar family, Musyoka produced songs for the musicians like; Prezzo, TID, Mr Lenny, Nameless, AY, Wyre, Peter Miles, Nikki, Nonini, just to name a few.

He then took a break and went for further studies at the SAE Institute in the US in 2006. Upon his return, he formed Decimal Records and signed P-Unit.

If you ask me, I will tell you that the group that was made up Frasha, Bon Eye and Gabu is one of Musyoka’s greatest achievements to this day. He literally propelled them to greater heights.

Musyoka and Bon Eye

What most people do not know is that the three started off as Nonini’s dancers and back-up singers and by 2010 they had won several awards including a MTV Africa Music Award (MAMA). Take a moment and let that sink in.

At Decimal, Musyoka has also worked with Just A Band, Juliani, Daddy Owen, Sauti Sol, Elani, Octopizzo and many more. Put simply, there is a high chance that he has produced a jam for your favourite Kenyan artist.

When all is said and done, he will be remembered for nurturing talents and taking Kenyan music to the continental stage because he started  producing music at a time when most artists were just focusing on their local audiences.

Musyoka is one of the producers who changed the game by ensuring our music could transcend our borders and this led to artists getting so many shows outside the country.

He’s a legend in his own right and it saddens me that most people will realize this after he hangs up his boots because as they say, you never miss something until it’s gone.

Watch one of his most popular jams dubbed Furahi Day by Nonini and Nameless below.

 

Ex Ray Vs Miracle Baby, a case of two youngsters confused by fame

Posted on by David Kingsley

I have been trying to follow the drama between Ex Ray (Boondocks Gang) and Miracle Baby (Sailors Gang) and I realized that it’s just a case of two youngins who have let fame get into their tiny heads.

Also read: Gengetone is still alive, kind of

Although I don’t know what caused the fallout that resulted in the name-calling, I believe there are better ways of solving their issues than washing their dirty linen in public.

Miracle Baby

You see, the truth is that once someone starts getting attention from the public, they start feeling that they own the world and no one can tell them anything. This is what others refer to as an ego.

Ex Ray and Miracle Baby have been getting a lot of attention for the last two years or so and as a result, they have both developed massive egos and we can’t really blame them, it comes with the territory.

The fact that they have been in the industry for a short time means that they don’t understand the do’s and dont’s like for instance you can’t just wake up one morning and call another public figure ‘umbwa’.

Ex Ray

They should probably learn from the likes of Khaligraph who have been in the industry for a long time. Although he does not see eye-to-eye with Octopizzo, he can’t just wake up morning and refer to him as a dog.

What he does is to throw low-key shade and in most cases he never mentions his name but if you read between the lines you’ll know that he is talking about Octopizzo. That is how grown ups handle their business.

This is exactly the reason why you need role models. I believe someone like Jimwat would still be relevant today if he had people to guide him and not let fame get into his head.

Ex Ray and Miracle Baby are making the same mistakes in front of our eyes and to be honest there’s little that we can do other than to grab popcorn and follow the drama as it unfolds.

Kenyan musicians are not growing but who is to blame?

Posted on by David Kingsley

Save for the likes of Sauti Sol, Khaligraph, Willy Paul, Octopizzo, Nyashinski, Victoria Kimani and STL, I doubt most Kenyan musicians are known beyond our borders and who is to blame?

Sauti Sol
Sauti Sol

You see, we live in an age where an artist doesn’t have to rely on mainstream media. i.e. TV, radio and newspapers, to grow his or her fan base. As such, we’ll spare the mainstream media in this discourse.

I strongly feel like blame should be apportioned equally on the artists themselves, producers, DJs, fans and video directors. In my opinion, all these people are sleeping on their jobs.

These parties are supposed to play various roles to ensure that Kenyan music transcends our borders but they are slacking.

Also read: Kenyans are to blame for not giving local musicians enough support

For instance, why can’t our producers make beats that can be enjoyed by foreign audiences or people who are outside Kenya?

Why can’t our video directors make good videos that are worthy of being played on international music TV shows? Why must they overcharge artists for good videos?

Why can’t our deejays, especially those who play in popular clubs,  have Kenyan songs back-to-back on their playlists? Why are they biased towards Tanzanian, Nigerian and South African artists?

DJ Creme playing at a gig
DJ Creme playing at a gig

As music fans, why are we not requesting and/or buying Kenyan music? Why are we not showing up for events to show Kenyan artists that  are solidly behind them?

Lastly, when will our artists stop being lazy? Why can’t they be proactive? When will they learnt that the biggest secret to success is consistency?

We’ve had this conversation so many times. It has gotten to a point where it is tiring to even talk about these things. It’s time for change!

What are your thoughts on this? Who is to blame? Please leave a comment below.

Kenyans don’t give their musicians enough support

Posted on by David Kingsley

Local music rarely transcends borders and to be honest, it’s partly our fault as Kenyans. We don’t appreciate our artists enough. Maybe things would be different if we did, who knows?

Stella Mwangi

Artists from Tanzania, Nigeria, Ghana, South Africa and other African countries have been making headways in the international music scene because of the support that they enjoy from their country mates.

This support motivates them to set bigger goals and pursue them. Perhaps this explains why their music industries are way ahead of Kenya and from the look of things it will take us time to catch up.

You could argue that local musicians are not doing enough and that they are not making music which can be played outside Kenya. That notion is wrong and the complete opposite of what is really happening.

If you are keen enough, you’ll notice that the likes of Sauti Sol, Khaligraph, King Kaka, MDQ, Victoria Kimani, Octopizzo, Stella Mwangi, Blinky Bill, have been working hard to show the world that Kenya has so much to offer.

Billy Bill

However, their efforts neither here nor there because we don’t support or encourage them. It’s almost as if they are making music for the sake of it. This should not be the case.

At any given point in time, the biggest song in Kenya is always from Tanzania, Nigeria or some other African country. It’s rarely our own music. We are consuming foreign music at the expense of local music and this is wrong.

If you look at the biggest Kenyan concerts the last few years, you’ll realize that the main performer was either an international act or from Nigeria, Tanzania and the likes. Why is this so?

By giving local artists a chance to be the headline acts of such big concerts, we’ll show them that we have a lot of faith in them. This way, they will be have the confidence to chase even bigger goals.

Another way we could support them is by buying their music and merchandise, showing up for their concerts, sharing their new music releases and encouraging them every chance we get. What would it cost you to send a tweet to your favourite artist telling them to keep pushing? Absolutely nothing!

Watch Khaligraph’s latest single Superman below.

Octopizzo should pull up his socks before it’s too late

Posted on by David Kingsley

If you’ve been following discussions on social media over this past week, I’m sure you noticed that one of the subjects that people could not stop talking about is rapper Henry Ohanga, better known as Octopizzo.

Also read: Has Octopizzo lost relevance?

He released a song titled Che Che featuring Barak Jacuzzi and most people felt that it’s below par and to be honest, it is. To make matters worse, people discovered that he had copy pasted Pop Smoke’s Welcome To The Party.

Barak Jacuzzi at it again in 'Lifestyle'
Barak Jacuzzi

If you compare and contrast the two songs, you’ll realize that everything is pretty much the same. From the concept, the style and the execution is exactly the same. Even the beat and instrumentation were lifted.

But this is not the first time Octopizzo has done this. A jam that he released with Sailors Gang titled Wakiritho some time last year was later discovered to be exactly the same as Tyga’s Loco Contigo. I’m sure there others as well.

You know, when he started off, the Kibera-bred rapper was really good but of late not so much. I’m sure that even if you are his die-hard fan you agree with this assertion to some extent.

Octopizzo

Of late, he is not only not unoriginal (I am trying to restrain myself from using the word fake) but his lyrics are also uninspired. When you listen to some of his recent songs, you are left wondering what the heck?

I get it that an artist won’t be the same as when you first hear his music – with time they will fade out but why can’t he try out a new style instead of copy pasting songs unashamedly?

Remaining relevant in the Kenyan music industry is not as easy as most people think but you would expect someone who has been around for more than a decade like Octopizzo to have known how to maneuver.

I’ve been trying to wrap my head around Octopizzo’s latest approach but I can’t. All I can say that he needs to shape up or ship out. Enough said.

Watch Che Che below and tell us what you think.

Khaligraph Jones confesses that he is ready to work with Octopizzo

Posted on by Pauline Syombua

Baba Amali aka Khaligraph Jones is ready to put all his differences with rapper Octopizzo. Khaligraph revealed this in his latest free style that has left his fans excited.

Khaligraph Jones confesses that he is ready to work with Octopizzo

The father of one shared the video on his Instagram page and judging from the lyrics in his rap – we can indeed confirm that Khaligraph Jones is ready to become besties with Octopizzo.

In the freestyle that is making rounds on social media, Khaligraph is heard saying;

Na mi sina beef na Ohanga. Ohanga hunitaki kwa nini, mbona usifanye track na mimi tu top hizi charts za Mjini, after that I would be happy amini. Sitaki interview za gazeti , maswali za ufala hazileti , mimi huomba kama ndingi wa Nzeki, GOAT kama Ronaldo na Messi, nani mwingine kama mimi (hakuna), mafuta napaka Marini…”

Khaligraph Jones real life story

Judging from story he is narrating through his favorite style, rap; we also understand that he gets too personal because the story is based on his past life.

He is however one proud man and having grown up in the ghetto – made him the man he is today!

Mi ni Ras ni dread tu sina, na nishawahi kuwa mwizi masimba, najua mapedi majina aidha way hamwezi nishinda , ukikuja east mi kamanda, try kunidiss pia ni blander , form ni Mazishiana Matanga.

Kenyan musicians have so much to learn from their Tanzanian counterparts

Posted on by David Kingsley

I’m not a fan of Bongo music. I only listen to Tanzanian songs when I have to, for instance when I am doing a review or when they are randomly played at a club, party or in a matatu.

Also read: Why it’s hard for artists to be consistent

On the flip side, I admire so many Tanzanian artists not for any other reason but because they really work their asses off. I could list them but their names would take up all this space. So, I’ll save you the agony.

WCB arists
WCB artists

Bongo music has always been big deal  not only in Tanzania but across the continent and it’s bout time we – or rather our artists – borrowed a leaf from them.

They should ask themselves questions like,”What can we learn from Tanzanian musicians?”, “What areas should we work on?” and “What are they doing differently?”

One of the Bongo artists that I really admire, just like most of you is Diamond Platnumz. Despite being accomplished and all, he has never been content with his success. He keeps pushing each and every day.

Since the year begun he has released more than 30 songs, perhaps more, including collabos. As a result, he is always at the top of people’s minds.

Khaligraph Jones
Khaligraph Jones

It always seems like he is a pacesetter for the Tanzanian music industry since most people – including his stablemates – like Rayvanny, Lava Lava, Mbosso and Queen Darleen want to keep up with him.

The local music industry lacks a someone who keeps artists on their toes as is the case with Tanzania and this means that very few musicians, if any, give a hoot about consistency.

The truth is that people get bored very fast. I doubt if any of the people who are reading this article can have a jam in their playlists for more than a week and this means that artists need to release more music. There is no other way.

Many of you will be quick to point out that new age artists such as; Sailors Gang, Boondocks Gang, Ochunglo Family, 34 GVNG, Gwaash, etc. are constantly releasing music but let’s be honest, that is not serious music.

Nadia Mukami
Nadia Mukami

In as much as we find the songs by these youngins catchy, they rarely transcend our borders. It’s what it is. To add to that, the quality is always wanting.

I’m talking about the likes of Nyashinski, Nadia Mukami, Octopizzo, Khaligraph, King Kaka, Redsan, Nameless, Jua Cali, Avril etc. Will they ever wake up from their deep slumber? If so, when? Enough said.

‘So Alive’ hitmaker Sage Chemutai is a back with a new jam ‘Majestic’ and it’s really dope (Video)

Posted on by David Kingsley

Talented singer Barabara Chemutai Ng’eno, popularly known as Sage and famed for her So Alive hit with Octopizzo, is back with a new jam.

Also read: Where did Sage Chemutai disappear to?

The song titled Majestic is her second release in a series of songs for her once a month challenge featuring her and 4 other Kenyan artists have committed to dropping one song every month until December 2019.

The word ‘majestic’ means beautiful, powerful or something that causes great attention. This song is more about the former since it puts a  lot of emphasis on outward features that draws one person to the other.

Sage Chemutai
Sage Chemutai

As I was listening to this song, I kept marveling at how the song the song is such a beautiful composition. I can listen to this jam for an entire day and not get tired of it. It’s so sweet to the ears.

To add to that, Sage’s voice is just out of this world. This sultry lass is just majestic like her voice never mind the fact that this is not the kind of songs that we are used to from her.

I also loved how she featured Kipsigis words in her lyrics. The other thing that struck me about this jam is of course the Afro-beat track by Dillie. It really blends well Sage’s voice and you just want to keep listening to the song.

Listen to Majestic below and tell us what you think.

Octopizzo Vs Khaligraph: Who has more international appeal?

Posted on by David Kingsley

If you are keen, I’m sure you’ve noticed that both Octopizzo and Khaligraph Jones  have really upped their games in the last few years.

Also read: Octopizzo Vs Khaligraph: Whose music approach is better?

From their music videos down to language that they use, their content is definitely packaged batter than it was 5 (or so) years ago.

Octopizzo Zikishika
Octopizzo

After winning the hearts of Kenyans, they both decided to shift their focuses to the international audiences i.e. potential fans outside the country.

This journey has seen them go out of their ways to work with some of the best audio producers and videographers because let’s be honest, how can you compete against the likes of AKA, Sarkodie, and Nasty C if you don’t invest in good quality?

Khaligraph Jones
Khaligraph Jones

Of late, the music videos that are being released by Khaligraph and Octopizzo are of high quality and  you could easily say that they meet international standards.

In as much as we appreciate the efforts that are being made by the two rappers, we’d still like to find out who between them has more international appeal.

To help you decide, we’ll ask you to compare two of their most recent releases that’s Kanye by Octopizzo and Leave Me Alone by Khaligraph Jones.

 

 

Who is killing it when it comes to international appeal? Leave a comment below!

Amina should get back to making music

Posted on by David Kingsley

Did you know that The Trend host Amina Abdi Rabar was once a musician? If you are not aware then you are too young (I’ve been waiting to drop this line on someone).

She released two songs circa 2013 and they both performed well. Actually, one of them is a collabo with the one and only Octopizzo.

The other song, which happens to be my most favorite, is a collaboration with rapper K-Letta dubbed Paint The Town Red.

Amina Abdi Rabar
Amina Abdi Rabar

Apart from the fact that she has a melodious voice – the kind that will make you hit the replay button a couple of times –  I think she really has it in her.

She can actually give the likes of Avril, Mayonde and Vivian a run for their money. I’m willing to bet about this.

The way I see it, she should get back to making music because the local industry needs her but that’s just me.

Come to think of it though, how will she juggle all her hustles and still get time to get into studio and record songs? It would be tough.

Or she could release a song once in a while. I don’t know how she will do it but it needs to happen. Amina, if you are reading this, do the needful.

Listen to Octopizzo’s collabo with Amina dubbed Swag below.

Octopizzo could be Kenya’s richest musician, here’s why

Posted on by David Kingsley

Have you ever wondered how rapper Henry Ohanga, alias Octopizzo, makes his money because the truth is that he’s not hot on the streets as was the case 5 (or so) years ago which means that he does not get many shows – which is the biggest source of income for most artists.

Also read: Has Octopizzo lost relevance?

Interestingly, the Kibera-bred rapper is still laughing all the way to the bank and in my opinion, he is making more money than any other Kenyan artist and it’s not necessarily from his music.

You see, at the peak of his career Octopizzo developed a relationship with humanitarian organisations such as the United Nations and they have continued to engage him to date.

As you would expect, such assignments come with hefty perks and a lot of travel which explains why he is always out of the country.

Secondly, Octopizzo has maintained a clean image save for an incident early this year where he got into a scuffle with a 19-year-old boy, an incident that left the latter dead.

The Oliel hitmaker sells the story of grass to grace since he came from the slums and became something.

To add to that, has has a good image and this is what many brands love this explains why he was picked as an ambassador for Smirnoff alongside other brands.

Lastly,  unlike many Kenyan artists, Octopizzo monetizes his music. His songs are enlisted on platforms such as iTunes and Spotify, this way he’s able to make some coins through his music.

Listen to his latest single Kanye below.

Octopizzo performing his new jam ‘Kanye’

Posted on by Catherine Nderitu

Octopizzo performs his new jam Kanye. Kanye is filled with a lot of energy. We all know how this guy performs and the treatment he gives his music. The talented Kenyan artist has been doing so well in the music industry for a long time. Consistency is his thing.

Henry Ohanga, commonly referred to by his stage name Octopizzo is an award winning, recording and performing artist, humanitarian and an entrepreneur. Born in the sprawling slums of Kibera, Nairobi. He purposed to earnestly pursue his career in music.

What is ‘Kanye’ about?

Kanye in this context is all about where. There is a lot of self praise in this jam. We look at the first stanza first; Enda umwambie ongeza sauti asikie Mrembo asilie kwa Benzo we nikalie Pandisha mzuka babe nizungushie Akisha cooker dele nichachishie.

Octopizzo Knaye singer born and raised in Kibera

The kind of language used here though. To start with, here he is talking about a girl not crying in a Benz. Also the girl is told to dance for him. Find out which kind of dance this is and which cooker the driver is lighting!!!!

Its another one ni ngori eeh Kila siku kwetu holiday Msupa de punguza chocha de. In this stanza he praises his song as he says that everyday to them is a holiday.

Also there are stanzas that you should not miss, like this one; Niite plumber venye nabonga choo Kwenye boxer the only place nakuwanga ligi soo Ligi libido, niko ma ngiri though NFL, NBA hizo mbili bro. There is a lot of symbolism in this one where he compares himself to a plumber. Did he just say Ligi libido?

Kanye has had a positive reception from his fans. In addition, the jam has also proved that Octopizzo is not leaving the music scene anytime soon.

In conclusion Kanye by Octopizzo gets a rating of 6/10.

Below is a link to the video.

Octopizzo Vs Khaligraph: Who will survive the new-age music revolution?

Posted on by David Kingsley

Truth be told, the new-age (new wave) Kenyan musicians are giving established musicians a run for their money, even the likes of Octopizzo and Khaligraph. Allow me to explain my line of thought.

Also read: New-age musicians are giving established artists nightmares!

At the end of the day, even if their music genres are different, they are competing for the same fanbase, which is you and I, and as you know there can only be one winner so it’s either the new age artists beat the established artists or vice versa.

Khaligraph Jones
Khaligraph Jones

Both Octopizzo and Khaligraph were doing well before the emergence of new age artists because they were both releasing street music i.e. songs that are in Sheng and relate to the struggles that the ordinary person goes through.

If you’re keen then I am sure you have noticed that Khaligraph has stayed the course. On the other hand, Octopizzo has veered off. In the recent past, he has has changed his style so much so that you would think that he no longer cares about his local fans.

Both Octopizzo and Khaligraph have been trying to surmount the pressure that they are getting from new-age artist and it got to a point where they bowed to pressure. The way I see it they had no choice.

Octopizzo
Khaligraph Jones

If you listen to Octopizzo’s Zikishika, there is a verse where he drops lamba lolo. In Leave Me Alone, Khaligraph pays homage to Zzero Sufuri and the likes. As the saying goes, if you can’t beat them join them.

This got me thinking, who between the two can survive the new-age music revolution because let’s be honest, these youngins have taken over. From the fans, to music streaming sites and YouTube to local TV and radio stations to gigs, all people waiting to consume is new-age musicians.

Between Octopizzo and Khaligraph Jones, who do you think can keep up with the new-age artists?

Has Octopizzo lost relevance?

Posted on by David Kingsley

You might hate me for this but sometimes I get the feeling that Kenyan rapper Henry Ohanga, alias Octopizzo, has lost his relevance or he’s on the verge of losing it. Well, I could also be wrong.

Also read: Octopizzo Vs Khaligraph, whose music approach is better?

Admittedly, the Kibera-bred artist still makes good music but the truth is that is not what the mass market is consuming heavily. Put simply, it’s not the kind of music that most Kenyans are vibing to at the moment.

Octopizzo has released two songs since the year begun i.e. Babylon and Zikishika. While both songs were above par and well-executed, none of them was hit and we can debate this until the cows come home.

You could argue that the Oliel hit maker targets a particular niche with his music and he’s not interested in the mass market but the truth is that every artist wants his songs to go viral and garner millions of views on YouTube.

Octopizzo
Octopizzo

As we speak, Zikishika – which was released in April, has 810,000 views. Babylon – which was released in February has garnered only 780,000 views so far.

Now let’s compare this to Ethic who make music for the mass market. They have also released two songs this year namely Pandana and Figa. Pandana, which dropped in March has 2.3 million views, Figa which was released a fortnight ago has slightly above 1 million views.

If it is indeed true that numbers don’t lie, what does this tell you? What does it imply? The way I see it is that Octopizzo is losing or has lost relevance in the local music industry. It’s just what it is.

The emergence of new age-artists like Boondocks Gang, Ethic, Ochunglo Family, Rico Gang, Zzero Sufuri really tilted the scales. The mass market is consuming their music heavily at the moment and the sooner Kenyan artists realize this, the better!

We’ve seen the likes of The Kansoul working with these new age artists so that they can remain afloat so why can’t Octopizzo follow suit?

Watch Octopizzo’s latest release dubbed Zikishika below.

 

Most Kenyan musicians don’t know their worth and it’s sad

Posted on by David Kingsley

Despite being super-talented and all, you’ll be shocked to learn that most Kenyan musicians don’t really understand their worth. This is a sad fact of life!

So, here’s the scenario, you are are dead broke despite being an accomplished musician. You’ve dropped three new singles since the year began.

To add to that  you have thousands of followers on your own social media pages, meaning you can easily pull crowds to a gig.

Naiboi
Naiboi

Someone, say a fraudulent promoter, approaches and asks you to perform at an out of town gig for Ksh. 10,000 and you agree because you need to sort out some bills and what not.

Who’s the fool here? Is it the promoter or the musician. It’s definitely the latter and I’ll explain why.

You see, Kenyan musicians should be aware of their worth and stop undervaluing themselves. When they accept paltry amounts for out of town gigs, they are unknowingly setting a bad precedence.

Event organizers are always in constant communication. If word goes around that you charge a certain amount for a performance, your rate card is set.

Nyashinski

The next time an event organizer calls the musician up, they will probably offer them the same amount or much less.

At the end of the day, a musician will be bitter for getting bad rates yet they are being offered such meagre amounts because of the precedence that they set. It’s your fault bro!

Musicians should know that it’s okay to turn down amounts they are not comfortable with and that their personal needs or debts should not come before their crafts.

If a musician  needs a manager to help them evaluate how much they are worth, they should go ahead and get one. It’s totally okay!

This way, they’ll get paid what they are worth.  The musician, will also be able to do more things. Instead of performing at many small gigs and being underpaid, just have one or two and get your worth.

Some of the musicians who have been smiling all the way to the bank because they understand their worth are the likes of Naiboi, Khaligraph, Sauti Sol, Otile Brown, Nameless, Avril, Fena Gitu, King Kaka, Octopizzo, Nyashinski, just to name a few.

Avril

If you’ve been wondering how come they always have a new song every now and then it’s because they are getting paid what they are worth.

Also read: Khaligraph’s performance fee has shot to 1 million bob per show and it’s totally okay

Where did Sage Chemutai disappear to?

Posted on by David Kingsley

Most of us came to know Sage Chemutai when she released So Alive with Kenyan rapper Henry Ohanga, alias Octopizzo, but for some reason not much has been heard from her since then – at least musically.

Have you ever wondered where the mellow-voiced songstress disappeared to or what happened to her? She crossed my mind a few days ago and I sought to find out.

As you would expect, the first place I looked is her Y0uTube channel. It then dawned on me that she is still an active musician. Our songbird is still belting out sweet tunes ladies and gentlemen!

You should have seen my face when I realized that she’s still releasing music. Actually, she even dropped a new song dubbed Where Did Y0u Go about a fortnight ago.

Truth is Sage Chemutai is so talented but I don’t understand why the mainstream media has given her a black out for the last 5 (or so years).

If you asked me, I’d rather we see more of her kind than listening to Rieng, Lamba  Lolo, Wamlambez and the likes or we could have a mix of both.

Sage Chemutai
Sage Chemutai

We live in a country where people who make beautiful music are given a cold shoulder so much so that you even forget that they even exist.

While at it, we celebrate mediocre content and put in on heavy  rotation on our TV and ratio station and this begs a lot of questions.

Maybe, just maybe one day we will celebrate the likes of Sage who put so much work into their craft and treat our earbuds to beautiful sounds.

Side note: If you know where she is performing next leave a comment below because attending her gig has been on my checklist for the longest time. Like, really!

Listen to her latest single Where Did You Go below.