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Hip Hop in Kenya
Hip Hop in Kenya is hot! Over the last 2 years the scene has seen a tremendous development with certain crews even generating sales to make a living off their music, something unheard of in neighbouring countries. Read the latest updates from our correspondent Anyake (K.A.) in Nairobi.
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Social Misfits
(written 2000)
Social Misfit Entertainment is a leading hip-hop establishment based in the UK that should be of interest to subscribers and visitors of Rumba-Kali. The management, production and recording label was formed and is managed by a young Kenyan known commonly as Sir Prestige (aka Patrick Waweru), who was born in Nakuru and who then emigrated to London from Nairobi mid-1986. Despite the considerable distance between his current overseas residency and country of birth the up-n-coming music mogul has maintained his identity as a Kenyan and truly represents his nation to the fullest.
He makes regular touch-downs at Jomo Kenyatta International airport to add his contributions to an increasingly vibrant entertainment scene in Kenya - whether its to DJ, perform, produce, promote or write special features for European music publications. As well as his role as the managing director of his rapidly growing company he is also its sole music producer creating beats for his cohorts, namely Da-Essence, Shiesty da Gypsy, Chris Smoove, Vega and Fury, SinisterMinisterz, Forensic, Debrah West, etc. As a unit, collectively referred to as The Social Misfits, they have fast began upon a mission on spreading their presence and music world-wide commencing with UK, then Africa and eventually the rest of the world.
Social Misfit Entertainment was officially formed in January 1998 though stems a longer history than that. In that that short time, and several acclaimed releases since, they have attained a credible reputation amongst the UK hip-hop community and media. Their releases have continuously frequented the European airwaves and the famous BBC Radio One hip-hop DJ, Tim Westwood, is a great supporter of their recordings. Those with access to the UK specialist press like Hip-Hop Connection, Blues & Soul, etc. will also have often read about them and their musical antics. As they continue in the UK to maintain their growing reputation for producing and releasing genuine innovative and high quality urban street music they have already commenced upon the next phase of making an impression back in the dark continent where they most originate from. With Prestige's extensive contacts back home - thanks to his frequent return visits, the first stop had to be ofcourse Kenya and at the beginning of 1999 they started upon their mission under the guidance of Godfather Entertainment, one of Kenya's leading promoters and their business representatives.
The debut release featuring Chris Smoove (a Sierra-Leone born emcee who also resides in London) and the man himself Prestige entitled "I know that" and their follow-up "Life is Hectic" was well received by Kenya's radio personalities and press media and this eventually led to a big and well attended show held at Da Barn in March 99 (click here to download the full dairy of that event). Prestige was later sourced and invited by the organisers of the Pamoja 99 concert to return and appear at the special event that commemorated the first year anniversary of the 1998 bomb-blast in Nairobi city. This event featured a host of Kenya's top artists including those now living abroad. He flew back all the way from Cleveland, Ohio (US) with Hardstone (widely regarded as Kenya's most successful ragga/hip-hop artist) for whom he was producing his forthcoming album entitled "Dangerous".
Recently Social Misfit Entertainment in conjunction with their Kenyan associates started a promotion campaign in Nairobi introducing Da-Essence, a group of four young teenagers, who have just completed and released their debut 19-track album called "Now Till Infinity - The Street Album". This interesting and variant debut has continued to receive welcome praise both in Kenya and Europe and it is planned that the climax of this campaign will be a series of shows when the guys arrive in Nairobi late-February 2000. They are currently shooting a video for the album title track for TV broadcast and have even commenced on their next album which emphasises more on their social and cultural upbringing as Africans leaving abroad and nicely combines langara/hi-life music with rugged hip-hop beats. In addition to producing the above, the always busy Sir Prestige is also currently working on two projects. The first of this is his nearly complete solo album entitled "Sir Prestige presents…. The Social Misfits" which as well as featuring his regular entourage (as suggested by the title) it will also feature cameos from an array of other artists he is associated with from the UK, US, France and ofcourse his home-country.
The dedicated beatsmith has also commenced on an ambitious project that combines the collective talents of Kenya's hottest hip-hop acts and this is expected to be the first-release on his new off-shoot company, Social Misfit (East Africa) Entertainment. Though hesitant on disclosing any more information at this early stage he promises a release by mid-2000 that will dramatically change the way in which East-African hip-hop artists are managed, marketed and promoted - both domestically and internationally. His main inspiring motive behind this notion is to justly serve the hip-hop and R&B community in this market and truly expose its artists to a potentially much wider audience. Commenting on his business proposal he enthusiastically states in his distinctive naturally acquired English/Kenyan twang that, "despite the uprising interest in the vibrant entertainment scene in Kenya, the current structure of the music industry there, and as I understand it the rest of East Africa too, is still very undeveloped in terms of distribution and sales, marketing and promotions, etc. and great thought has to be put into over-coming these aspects and thus filling these voids.
I do not expect this to change overnight and I hope my intentions will infact inspire other entrepreneurs, artists and business-people who I am sure are probably thinking of the same ideas I have that if we collectively think this scenario out we can create a strong enough foundation by which we can all benefit from profitably. I appreciate it is a challenging task especially when you may be dealing with people who have ulterior motives but it is one that should be done and can be achieved and I for one would like to see it in place so that our East African artists can make a living out of their talent and gain additional exposure." He already has in mind the artists he would like to sign to his new East African hip-hop label and these mainly represent Kenya and a number of prospects from Tanzania but once again reluctant on suggesting who these are until he puts his plan into effect. Stay tuned for updates on the forthcoming projects mentioned. In the meantime you can check out the Social Misfits website at www.social-misfit.com or email them at socialmisfits@hotmail.com. Sir Prestige can also be contacted directly at sirprestige@hotmail.com.
Nuttin' but the stone: first in a row of Kenyan ragga & hip hop releases
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