Rick Ross Revs Up Nairobi (Photos)

“Shout out to the boss Rick Ross for the love. We’re humbled and say no more, sending the instrumental right away. Africa is the future. #LiveAndDieInAfrika.” That was the tweet from one of Africa's most acclaimed music bands, Sauti Sol, the moment America's 42-year-old and five-time Grammy Awards nominee, William Leonard Roberts II popularly known by his stage moniker Rick Ross, intimated that he would drop a verse on the ensemble's hit jam, Live and Die In Afrika. And the fans cant wait for that to happen!

Rick Ross on stage.

Ross aka the "Biggest Boss" was in 254 to headline the second edition of NRG Wave concert, courtesy of the newest radio station in the city, NRG Radio. Held at Carnivore Grounds in Nairobi on Saturday night, the concert was hailed by music industry pundits and critics as one of the best to be held in the country in recent times.

The Purple Lamborghini hit rapper jetted into the country in the morning of Friday, April 27, from Miami. While addressing the media at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) the Maybach Music Group founder promised a 'killer' show, which he delivered at the sold-out concert.

Chipukeezy, Samba Mulla and Jaguar.

Despite the downpour witnessed in Nairobi, thousands of fun seekers thronged the venue where they partied all night long. A number of Kenyan artistes also hit the stage, including Khaligraph Jones, Camp Mulla, Timmy TDat and Fena Gitu and deejays Kace, Mellow, Xclusive and J Space. NRG Radio host Mwalimu Rachel was the event's emcee.

Mwalimu Rachel.

See more photos of the fun-packed night below:

Timmy TDat.

The Biggest Boss.

Khaligraph Jones.

DJs Xclusive and Kace.

Barry Ndengeye and Idd Aziz. 

Nameless and Arthur K.

Sauti Sol's manager Marek Fuchs.

Photos by Ace Maich

Sprite Quenches Thirst For Hip Hop Fans At NRG Wave Concert

As the highly anticipated NRG Wave concert starring legendary American rapper Rick Ross on April 28 nears, soft drink brand, Sprite, have literally thrown the mic into the ring. The brand has announced that the Sprite Rap Cypher, a collaboration of Kenya’s budding freestyle rap artistes, will be showcased at the event where one freestyle rapper will get the chance to perform their "bars" in front of thousands of fans at the NRG Wave event.

US rapper Rick Ross.

Furthermore, the top six freestyle rappers will feature in this year’s first Sprite Rap Cypher collective,
with their video being broadcast on the event’s big screens and subsequently promoted on viral
digital channels. The search for the country’s top six freestylers has commenced with a call-out for rappers to submit a video of their ‘six bars’ to the NRG Radio Instagram campaign with the hashtag #Spriteyourlyrics for their chance to be selected.

NRG Radio will further air a live Sprite Cypher Special radio show on their 91.3 FM frequency on
Thursday, April 26, at 4pm to showcase and celebrate Kenya’s budding lyricists. The live audiovisual
transmission can be viewed on www.nrg.radio from 4pm on the day. The Sprite soft drink brand has a long history of association with urban culture and hip hop is one of their core communication channels.

“We are very excited to provide our consumers with yet another platform to experience great quality
entertainment as they fully express themselves through art. I am looking forward to enjoying some real and raw cyphers from Kenyans through NRG Radio and crown it off on Saturday with live performances, graffiti and a lot of Sprite,” mentions Rodney Nzioka, Senior Franchise Brand Manager at Coca-Cola.

"NRG Radio is more than a radio experience. It’s a radio, digital and social experience designed to
engage today’s outgoing, digitally connected audiences. The NRG Wave is just one of our platforms that we are rolling out to bring those connections to life," says Denis Ndavi of NRG Media.

With Sprite onboard the NRG Wave, it looks like Kenya’s hip hop scene is about to jump to the next
level!

Meanwhile, a mega line-up of artistes to perform at the event has been unveiled. It includes Khaligraph Jones, Camp Mulla, Fena Gitu and rumour has it show stopper Nyashinski is also set to make an appearance alongside Rozay.

Rapper Khaligraph Jones.

The DJ line-up is just as juicy with the African Mzungu DJ Kace, DJ Mellow, DJ Xclusive and DJ Space gearing up for the ultimate Boss Experience. Celebrated NRG Radio hosts Mwalimu Racheal and Timmy T Dat will be the official MCs for the night.

Excitement over the Rick Ross #NRGWAVE concert is rife with only two days to the event and sponsors including Safaricom through Songa, Sprite, EABL, Shell, Bonfire Adventures, Redbull, MoSound Events and FlexAir Charters are also working to ensure fans receive the best of a Boss experience.

Selina Cast Asks Kenyans To Support Local Talent

Select Maisha Magic East fans of the hugely-success Swahili Telenovela, Selina, have had the privilege of meeting the cast at a special screening event held on Thursday, March 29 at Prestige Plaza in Nairobi. The rich cast made of over 25 members happily interacted and fans had a chance to learn more about them and hang out throughout the evening.

Speaking at the screening, Mnet Director, East & Southern channels Timothy Okwaro reiterated his commitment towards delivering memorable content and experiences to viewers of the channel. He said, “Selina is one of the leading shows on Maisha Magic East and we are proud to give our audiences a chance to meet with the cast. Keeping our programming fresh not only means that offer great entertainment, but also deliver memorable experiences to our audiences. Maisha Magic East is committed to delivering more and more shows like Selina that can educate and entertain our audiences on societal problems we are experiencing in Kenya today.”


The whole cast of Selina was at the screening including popular as well as upcoming multi-talented artiste such as Pascal Tokodi, who stars as Nelson; the rich, young boy who falls in love with Selina, played by Maisha Magic’s new talent discovery Celestine Gachohi. Seasoned and award winning stars Abel Amunga and Alex Khayo among others. They encouraged Kenyans to support local actors by watching their programs and paying to go to the cinemas and watch their movies.

Selina, which made its debut on Maisha Magic East on Monday, January 15, 2018 is a classic Cinderella-like story that combines the romance of the fairy-tale with the relevant social issue of educating the girl child. The show depicts the life of Selina, a 19-year-old girl, who is taken to work in a wealthy city home by her two-faced rural stepmother, Kristina. Kristina brainwashes Selina, convincing her to leave her family and education behind to work as a housemaid in order to support her family, her sickly father and her younger step-brother and sister. Kristina is simply looking to make some easy money from Selina. All the drama unravels when Selina falls for the youngest son of the house where she is deployed to work.


Maisha Magic East, is the only channel showcasing 100 per cent authentic local content with an exciting content mix for the whole family. The final episode of the first season of Selina will air on Friday at 7.30pm EAT on Maisha Magic East on DStv channel 158 and GOtv channel 4.

See more photos from the lovely screening event below:

Grief As DNA's Son Dies In School Swimming Pool

Singer Dennis Kaggia popularly known as DNA is mourning the passing on of his son, Jamal Waweru. The nine-year-old, a Class Three pupil at Kitengela International School, died after drowning in the school’s swimming pool on Wednesday afternoon.

DNA.

Jamal was pronounced dead at Nairobi Women’s Hospital in Lang’ata, Nairobi, where he was rushed after the fateful incident. His body was later taken to Shalom Funeral Home.

“He was a good boy,” a shattered DNA told the writer, a few moments after Jamal’s untimely death.

Jamal was DNA’s child with his ex girlfriend whom they dated during his Banjuka hey days. Our deepest sympathies to DNA and family during this difficult period.

Rick Ross Confirms His Nairobi Performance (Video)

American rapper Rick Ross has officially confirmed his Kenyan performance through a video drop released this afternoon quashing doubts of his performance in the country next month.

Rick Ross.

The So Sophisticated hit maker is set to perform at the much anticipated NRGWave concert to take place at Carnivore Grounds in Nairobi on April 28 this year.

Check out his video drop below:

Sauti Sol Release Collabo Single With Rapper Khaligraph Jones

Award-winning Kenyan music group Sauti Sol has released the fourth single from their Afrikan Sauce LP, featuring rapper Khaligraph Jones. To accompany the release of the single titled Rewind, the band also unveiled the video on its YouTube channel.

Sauti Sol.

The song is a fusion into Hip Hop into Afro beats. Written by Sauti Sol and Khaligraph Jones, co-composed by Humphrey Otieno and Joe Mutoria, it was produced by Sauti Sol and mixed and mastered by Humphrey Ndomboka. The video was shot and directed by Sesan in collaboration with Nate Thomas as the Director of Photography in Nairobi.

Speaking on his first collaboration with Sauti Sol, Khaligraph said: “I’ve been pushing for a collabo with Sauti Sol for about four years now. At that time I still wasn’t ready, until recently when I talked to Bien and Savara but I still needed to get the concept ready. One day Bien called me for a jam session, which was a first for me. I have never gone through that type of music making process before with anyone and it was amazing. I felt alive, the vibe was organic and we ended up recording Rewind the same day,” he added.

Khaligraph Jones.

Sauti Sol's Polycarp Otieno said, "Working with Khaligraph was flawless. We brought him into our world of making live music where we jammed with our band first, got the desired vibe and jumped into studio immediately after. He fit right in and we had the song done the very same day. He is a phenomenal artiste.”

In response to fans’ feedback and requests for more new music Sauti Sol has also embarked on a bold monthly release schedule, which will allow fans to enjoy new music from its latest LP each month until the entire LP is released. Sauti Sol was last month named creative directors of the music streaming service, Songa, a collaboration that will see them work closely with Safaricom and other stakeholders in the industry to ensure greater participation and ownership among the music fraternity.

“Safaricom has been a firm supporter of the Kenyan music industry throughout our 17-year history. When we launched Songa by Safaricom we promised to focus on creating a platform that would spur and support the growth of the Kenyan music industry by working closely with artistes, as well as contribute to the growth of African music by showcasing the talent on the continent. Our collaboration with Sauti Sol shows that we are on track with fulfilling our promise. It also speaks to our brand spirit of Twaweza, which is that when we come together, great things happen,” said Safaricom's Director – Consumer Business Sylvia Mulinge.

Sauti Sol fans using Android devices can stream and download their favourite tracks on Songa by dialling *812*3#.

You can watch the Rewind video here:

Manu Dibango To Headline International Jazz Day Celebrations In Nairobi

Iconic African jazz musician Manu Dibango is expected in Nairobi in a few weeks’ time, when he will headline Safaricom’s International Jazz Day celebrations in Nairobi on May 1. This will be Dibango’s maiden performance on the Safaricom Jazz stage, at a concert that will launch the 2017-2018 Safaricom International Jazz Festival calendar and highlight the role of jazz in uniting people across the globe.

Manu Dibango.

Born in Douala, Cameroon, in 1933, Dibango is most well-known for his Grammy Award-winning track Soul Makossa. The song topped the charts in 1973 and went on to be sampled by various musicians including the late King of Pop Michael Jackson and US-based Bajan star Rihanna.

With a catalogue of over 40 albums and several film soundtracks to his name, Dibango has enjoyed a music career spanning several continents over five decades, during which he has worked with artists such as Herbie Hancock, Bootsy Collins, Bernie Worrel and the late Grammy Award nominee Hugh Masekela.

Manu Dibango.

“It’s a privilege and a dream come true for us to host Manu Dibango as we kick off the events that will lead up to the 6th edition of the Safaricom International Jazz Festival next year. Not only is he well known and loved world over, he brings to our stage an energy and fire that has been well stoked through a lifetime of passion for jazz, and puts us in the same league as some of the biggest jazz festivals on the continent,” said Festival Founder and Safaricom C.E.O Bob Collymore.

Dibango will be joined by his band – the Soul Makossa Gang – and a sterling line-up of Kenyan jazz artists including: Mwai & The Truth, Afrosync, Edward Parseen & The Different Faces Band, James Gogo, Swahili Jazz Band, Chris Bittok and Eddie Grey. Also set to perform are husband and wife duo Jacob & Kavutha Asiyo, Shamsi Music, Limericks, Mambo Tribe, Ghetto Classics and Nairobi Horns Project, who will be performing with Africa Plus from South Africa.

Chris Bittok.

“This will be a celebration of local jazz talent and an opportunity for us to honour all the Kenyan bands that have been a part of the Safaricom International Jazz Festival on one stage. They have played a big role in making this event what it is today, so it’s only fitting that we celebrate them in this way,” said Mr. Collymore.

Safaricom has a rich history of supporting local music talent over the last 17 years, having invested hundreds of millions of shillings in the industry through concerts, sponsorships, collaborations and more recently, with the launch of its music streaming app SONGA By Safaricom.

Ghetto Classics.

Last month the company marked the fifth anniversary of the Safaricom International Jazz Festival, which has since 2014 donated close to Sh40 million in proceeds from the event to the Ghetto Classics music programme. The funds have been used to expand the music programme in low income neighbourhoods in Nairobi and Mombasa, teaching music skills to over 1,400 young boys and girls with the aim of nurturing talent and providing them with an alternative source of recreation and income.