OG singer Mr Lenny opens up about traumatic experience

Renowned musician Lenson Njuki, better known as Mr Lenny, has opened up about the devastating loss of his elder sister Essie, who succumbed to a sudden and catastrophic brain aneurysm.

In a heartfelt interview on the Iko Nini podcast, Mr Lenny recounted the agonizing journey that led to his sister’s untimely passing.

The tragedy struck when Essie collapsed while meeting friends in town. Her playful demeanor initially masked the gravity of her condition, but the seriousness of the situation became evident when she was rushed to a hospital in Nairobi’s Central Business District. She was later transferred to another facility.

Signs of her condition had been present but were not initially recognized as alarming. Mr Lenny revealed:

“She passed away in January, and in December, she had organized a family gathering. We went to the Coast, but throughout the trip, she complained of headaches. She would take painkillers, but nothing seemed to help.”

Upon seeking medical attention, it was discovered that she had a brain aneurysm.

The family faced a difficult decision when the doctor presented a 50/50 survival rate through surgery. Despite the risks, they opted for the procedure.

“When it was time for her to go into the operating room, she started crying and said her goodbyes, as if she knew she wouldn’t make it through. At the time, she had separated from her baby daddies and was living with our mother. She asked us not to fight with her baby daddies (we weren’t on good terms), and she also asked us to take care of her children.”

Despite what appeared to be a successful operation, Mr Lenny’s sister never regained consciousness.

The family faced the agonizing decision to remove her from life support after learning that her brain had suffered irreversible damage.

The financial burden compounded their grief, as daily ICU expenses amounted to approximately 200,000 Kenyan Shillings.

Tragically, even after a second operation, Mr Lenny’s sister did not recover.

Devastated by the loss, the family made the heartbreaking decision to turn off life support.

“At some point, the doctors informed us that her brain had died and asked whether to switch off the machines or keep her on life support. Eventually, we sat down as a family and decided to remove her from life support. It was a truly heartbreaking moment for us.”

In a testament to their unity and support, Kenyans both within and outside the country rallied to help the grieving family, contributing significantly to clearing a substantial medical bill of Sh3 million.

Mr Lenny expressed deep gratitude for the outpouring of support during this challenging time.

Mr Lenny: Peer pressure is a real danger in the celebrity world

Renowned musician Lenson Njuki, better known as Mr Lenny, has spoken out about the dangers of peer pressure in the celebrity world.

In an interview with Nairobi News, Mr Lenny said that he has seen firsthand how easy it is for celebrities to succumb to peer pressure, especially when it comes to substance abuse.

“We have seen the tragic demise of celebrated individuals, some of whom we grew up listening to,” he said. “All this is a result of succumbing to peer pressure and the allure of drugs.”

Mr Lenny said that he has made a conscious decision to avoid destructive habits and to stay focused on his career. He said that he has always been cautious about how he spends his money and that he has never been a drug user.

“It is a personal decision,” he said. “I have seen what drugs can do to people, and I never want to go down that road.”

Mr Lenny said that he knows that peer pressure can be difficult to resist, but he urged young people to stay strong and to make the right choices.

“You cannot stop your child from being who they want to be,” he said. “You should allow them to experiment. All you can do is inspire them and teach them well.”

Mr Lenny is a father of two and said that he is committed to providing his children with a safe and supportive environment. He said that he will encourage them to follow their dreams, but that he will also set clear boundaries and expectations.

“I want my children to be happy and successful,” he said. “But I also want them to be safe and to make good choices.”

Mr Lenny’s message is a powerful one, and it is one that is all too relevant in today’s world. Peer pressure is a real danger, but it is one that can be overcome with strength and determination.

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

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.

 

Happy Birthday South C’s Finest Rapper and Lyricist, E-Sir…

E-Sir….

It’s a short cryptic name. It’s like a fig.  A fig is a tiny seed, but grows to gigantic proportions. From humble, feeble beginnings to a towering, overshadowing stature in total indifference to numerous challenges and pitfalls along the journey.

Perhaps, in nature a fig seed would best animate the life of Kenya’s most celebrated fallen Hip Hop artist, Issah Mmari Wangui, fondly known as E-Sir.

Today, in better circumstances, E-Sir would be marking 19 years in the Hip Hop industry. However, that bubbly candle was snuffed out in a grisly road accident on a chilly Sunday morning – 16th March, 2003 aged just 21.

Just why E-Sir fondly remains in the hearts and minds of Hip Hop fans? His was a soul born before his time – a dynamic fusion of unique talent, entrepreneurial mindset and a burning desire to be the best in the industry.

A casual online search of the republic’s most iconic musicians has E-Sir cheekily tacked in between regional musical entities – Daudi Kabaka, Les Wanyika, Them Mushrooms, et al – all with eventful careers spanning decades. E-Sir’s case is different.

In two short years, 2001 – 2003, E-sir had grown from ‘South C’s Finest’ – winning freestyle rap sessions on street corners – to a star with a huge national following.

E-Sir had an easy-flowing lyrical flow, often in flawless Swahili and became one of the pioneers of Kapuka. Signed to the label Ogopa DJs, E-Sir’s peers on the Kapuka Beat includes Nameless, Redsan, Mr. Lenny, Vinnie Banton, amongst others.

In 2003, local Hip Hop faced a daunting task to penetrate the market, as Western Hip hop had a fanatical following. Remember The East vs. West beef? Yeah, that’s what E-Sir and fellow stars had to over shadow…..

And, Oh Boy! They did it in style!

E-Sir’s ageless hits include Bamba ft. Big Pin and K-Rupt (Deceased), Mos Mos ft. Brenda, Saree, and the soulful Hamnitishi ft. Talia – which, loved ones believe has a deeper message that foresaw his imminent demise. Up to date, E-sir’s greatest hit, Bumba Train alongside close friend nameless still enjoys massive airplay on radio.

E-Sir’s musical dream still lives on with his younger brother, Habib still in the industry.

Long Live E-Sir.

Nameless Vs Jua Cali: Who made our childhood memorable?

If you are in your 20s or older then I’m sure you have nostalgia when you remember the kind of songs that rules the airwaves in the early 2000s.

Longombas
Longombas

Genge music had just emerged and almost every artist was releasing a song that was inclined towards the genre.

However, others decided to steer their own paths and their songs were received well by fans nevertheless.

Put simply, it was a beautiful time for Kenyan music. It’s almost similar to the music revolution that is being witnessed in the country at the moment.

Among the male artists that were such a big deal at the time were; Pilipili, Flexx, E-Sir, Jimwat, Nonini, Klepto, Czars, Longombas, Redsan, Deux Vultures, Historians, Prezzo, Wyre, Mr. Lenny, Jua Cali and Nameless.

Prezzo
Prezzo

Today, we will focus on the last two names i.e Nameless and Jua Cali simply because they are big deal up to this very day, aren’t they though?

We want to find out who between the two made your childhood memorable and the song that brings back the good old memories.

Admittedly, both artists are talented. They’ve both played a crucial role in shaping the Kenyan sound.

Jua Cali
Jua Cali

However, if you had to choose one of them, who would you settle on and why? Tell us below.

Kenyan musicians who’ve been struggling to make a comeback and what they need to do

Kenyan musicians who were household names 10 years (or so) ago have been struggling to make a comeback in the last few years. However, their efforts are neither here nor there. It’s almost as if they are wasting their time.

DNA

Truth is, time flies. Maybe you treated Kenyans to a big hit in your heydays. For one reason or the other, you decided to slow down or take a break as you bask in your success. Maybe you just got lazy, who knows?

Somewhere along the way, perhaps after 5 (or so) years, the musician decides to go back to studio to record songs. More often than not, what motivates them is the fact that their bank account are not as fat as they used to be.

They hurry to release the songs. However, the songs don’t do well. They can’t even get 10,000 views on YouTube. This comes as a shock to many artists who were big back in the day. They find it hard to believe that their fans have moved on.

You see, 5 years is such a long time. Hundreds, maybe thousands of new musicians have cropped up since the old guns took a break. Naturally, some of them won the hearts of music fans.

As such, when the old guns make a comeback after so many years, they find it hard to penetrate the industry. Perhaps they sound the same way and this makes it even harder.

Instead of releasing many songs that no one bothers to listen to, these old guns should come face-to-face with the fact that they are no longer the household acts that they were a decade ago.

In so doing, they will come to the realization that they need to work with new-age musicians to regain relevance and break through in the local industry.

Accepting that you are no longer at the top takes a lot of humility. Actually, it’s a laudable act. The sooner most old guns realize this the better.

Some of the old guns who have been trying to make a comeback include; Mr. Lenny, Kenzo, DNA, Nonini, Kendi, Kenrazy, Big Pin, Julani, just to name a few. I hope one day they will get an eye-opener.

Watch DNA’s latest single dubbed Lokko below.