Kenyan hip hop

Overview of hip hop in Kenya

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Kenyan hip hop

Stylistic origins|

* Hip hop
* contemporary R&B
* dance-pop

Cultural origins| 1990s, Nairobi, Kenya
Typical instruments|

* Drum machine
* keyboards
* rapping
* vocals
* sampler
* synthesizer

Derivative forms|

* Southern hip hop
* West Coast hip hop
* East Coast hip hop

Subgenres
kapuka, genge, gengetone, shrap, Kenyan drill
2024 in kenyan hip hop
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Kenyan hip hop[1] is a genre of music and a culture that covers various forms and sub-genres of hip hop and rap originating from Kenya. It is most commonly a combination of Swahili and English (Kenya's official languages) as well as Sheng and a variety of tribal languages.[2]

## Development

[edit]

As hip hop gained recognition in the global music scene in the late 1980s and early 1990s, it became increasingly common in Kenyan media. As most American rappers were of African descent, Kenyan youths felt represented and inspired, and started emulating them by wearing African American urban fashion; exchanging albums, mix tapes, hip hop magazines such as Word Up and The Source; and reciting song lyrics and rapping in English.[3] The movement spread further when matatus painted with graffiti started playing rap music, and some Kenyan artists started releasing rap-influenced songs.

According to Alicia Rebensdorf,[4] initially there was a strong correlation between rap music and wealth in Nairobi in the 1990s. The extremely high cost of rap CDs, magazines, merchandise, and music equipment led the genre to be initially exclusive to middle- and upper-class youths.[3] Music videos were a primary source of exposure to the global rap/hip-hop music scene and culture. In this visual medium, the social and cultural meanings of lyrics were overshadowed by the "visual images of wealth and the verbal speed of the rappers", producing a "relatively materialistic notion of rap music and hip-hop culture".[3]

According to the documentary Hip-Hop Colony,[5] the beginnings of Kenyan hip hop was like a "new breed of colonialism," transplanting the original styles from the Westernized world to Africa.[6] However, Kenya has not only embraced but also appropriated the genre, creating its own distinct version. Since its explosion in the mid-1990s, Kenyan hip hop is now generally written and performed in English, Swahili, and Sheng, a slang combination of the two.

## History

[edit]

In 1990, the teenage singer and producer Ricky Oyaro made the initial impact on the Kenyan music scene with the hip-hop/R&B single "Renaissance", which triggered a renaissance in the then-ailing Kenyan music industry. The song received massive airplay on radio and Music Time on Kenyan television. Jimmy Gathu, one of the earliest known rappers on the Kenyan scene, would soon follow with his 1991 hit "Look, Think, Stay Alive",[7] a song dealing with road safety. Soon after, more and more Kenyan youths started rapping on TV. The show Mizizi, which aired on the Kenya Broadcasting Corporation, gave young rappers a platform to express themselves, giving rise to Kenyan hip hop.

The first major commercial hip hop hit emerged in 1996 with "Uhiki" by Hardstone (Harrison Ngunjiri), which sampled a Kikuyu folk song and Marvin Gaye's "Sexual Healing",[citation needed] and was produced by Tedd Josiah of Audio Vault Studios (now Blue Zebra). Other popular pioneering acts were Kalamashaka with their national hit "Tafsiri Hii",[citation needed] K-South with "Nyabaga Kodo Gakwa" (which was also sampled from a Kikuyu folk song), and Poxi Presha with his breakout hit "Dhako Kelo".[citation needed]

Gidi Gidi Maji Maji became well-known in 1999 for their song "Ting Badi Malo", and released their debut album Ismarwa the following year. They went on to release their popular and politically charged hit "Unbwogable" in 2002; the word took on the meaning of "unshakable", "unstoppable", or "unbeatable" and was subsequently used by major politicians and in reference to 2008 US presidential candidate Barack Obama.[8][9]

In 2006, Ukoo Flani Mau Mau was awarded Best Song (Hip Hop) at the 2006 Kisima Music Awards for "Punchlines Kibao", featuring Vigeti (Kalamashaka, Kimya, and Ibra da Hustla (Nako 2 Nako)). The song was produced by Musyoka and recorded at Andaki Studios, deep in the heart of Dandora, Kenya's home of hip hop.[citation needed]

## Awards

[edit]

The first all-Kenyan hip hop awards ceremony, the UnKut Africa Hip Hop Awards, was held virtually in 2018 and in-person in December 2019 with over 10,000 votes cast. The event was hosted by UnKut Africa, an entertainment organization founded by Ruby V.[10]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Nyanga, Caroline. "Revealed: The real origin of Kenyan hip hop". Standardmedia.co.ke. Retrieved 26 December 2021.
2. ^ Wangeci, Tela (2023-03-02). "50 years of Hip-Hop: An Inside Look At Nairobi's Rap Scene". The NATIVE. Retrieved 2024-06-06.
3. ^ a b c Rebensdorf, Alicia. "Representing the Real: Exploring Appropriations of Hip-Hop Culture in the Internet and Nairobi – Capital in Hip-Hop, the Internet and Nairobi". Lewis and Clark College. Archived from the original on November 9, 2007.
4. ^ Rebensdorf, Alicia. "Representing the Real: Exploring Appropriations of Hip-Hop Culture in the Internet and Nairobi". Lewis and Clark College. Archived from the original on October 13, 2007.
5. ^ "HIP HOP COLONY". Retrieved 26 December 2021 - via YouTube.
6. ^ "Emerge Media Films presents HIP-HOP COLONY: The African Hip-hop Explosion - A film by Michael Wanguhu". Hiphopcolony.com. Retrieved 2014-02-25.
7. ^ "Matatu Safety Pop Video". 2007-11-18. Archived from the original on 2021-12-21. Retrieved 2014-02-25 - via YouTube.
8. ^ "Unbwogable". The New York Times. 4 December 2008. Retrieved 2014-02-25.
9. ^ "unbwogable". Waywordradio.org. 2005-02-04. Retrieved 2014-02-25.
10. ^ "Unkut Hip Hop Award winners celebrated". The-star.co.ke. Retrieved 26 December 2021.

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Genres of African popular music

* African blues
* desert blues
* African hip hop
* Algerian
* Gambian
* Ghanaian
* Ivorian
* Kenyan
* Boomba
* Genge
* Malawian
* Moroccan
* Mauritian
* Nigerian
* Nigerien
* Senegalese
* Hip hop galsen
* Tanzanian
* Bongo Flava
* Zenji flava
* Togolese
* Zimbabwean
* African reggae
* Nigerian reggae
* Seggae
* Zimdancehall
* Afrobeat
* Afrobeats
* Afro-rock
* African heavy metal
* Zamrock
* Afro-soul
* Alté
* Amapiano
* Ambasse bey
* Apala
* Assiko
* Azonto
* Bajourou
* Bantowbol
* Batuque
* Bend-skin
* Benga
* Bikutsi
* Cape jazz
* Chaabi
* Algerian
* Moroccan
* Chimurenga
* Colá
* Coladeira
* Congolese rumba
* Coupé-décalé
* Edo Funk
* Fuji
* Funaná
* Gnawa
* Gqom
* Highlife
* Burger-highlife
* Igbo highlife
* Hipco
* Hiplife
* Isicathamiya
* Jaiva
* Jit
* Jùjú
* Kadongo Kamu
* Kidandali
* Kizomba
* Kuduro
* Kwaito
* Kwela
* Logobi
* Madiaba
* Mahraganat
* Makossa
* Marabi
* Marrabenta
* Maloya
* Mbalax
* Mbaqanga
* Mbube
* Morna
* Moroccan pop
* Motswako
* Muziki wa dansi
* Ndombolo
* Njuup
* Odi Pop
* Palm-wine
* Raï
* Raï'n'B
* Sakara
* Salegy
* Santé engagé
* Sega
* Seggae
* Semba
* Shaabi
* Shangaan Electro
* Singeli
* Soukous
* Sudanese popular music
* Taarab
* Tabanka
* Wassoulou
* Zaley
* Ziglibithy
* Zimbabwean jazz
* Zoblazo
* Zouglou

* v
* t
* e

Hip hop

* Breaking
* DJing
* Graffiti
* Emceeing
* Beatboxing

Culture|

* Battle rap
* Dance
* Fashion
* Activism
* Feminism
* Feminist activism
* LGBT
* Festivals
* Music
* Production
* Theater
* Genres

History|

* Five-Percent Nation
* Universal Zulu Nation
* Old-school
* New school
* Golden age
* Bristol underground scene

Subgenres|

| General|

* Alternative
* Hipster hop
* Boom bap
* Bounce
* British
* Road rap
* Chipmunk soul
* Chopped and screwed
* Chopper
* Cloud rap
* Comedy
* Crunk
* Crunkcore
* East Coast
* Freestyle rap
* Hyphy
* Jerkin'
* Instrumental
* Latin
* Chicano rap
* Lofi
* Miami bass
* Mumble rap
* Nerdcore
* Chap hop
* Political
* Conscious
* Progressive rap
* Religious
* Christian
* Jewish
* Snap music
* Southern
* Turntablism
* Underground

|

Hardcore|

* Dirty rap
* Gangsta rap
* Mafioso rap
* G-funk
* Horrorcore
* Memphis rap

Trap music|

* Afro trap
* Drill
* Brooklyn drill
* Jersey drill
* Sample drill
* UK drill
* Latin trap
* Phonk
* Plugg
* Rage
* Tread
* UK trap

Fusion genres|

| General|

* Country rap
* Electro
* Emo rap
* Hip hop soul
* Hip house
* Industrial
* Jazz rap
* New jack swing
* Pop rap
* Psychedelic rap
* Punk rap
* Ragga
* Rap opera
* Rap rock
* Trip hop

|

Rap metal|

* Trap metal
* Nu metal

Regional|

* Afroswing
* Bongo flava
* Boomba music
* Cumbia rap
* Genge
* Hip hop galsen
* Hipco
* Hiplife
* Igbo rap
* Kwaito
* Low bap
* Motswako
* Na mele paleoleo
* Nuyorican rap
* Romany hip hop
* Songo-salsa
* Scam rap
* Stronda
* Urban Pasifika
* Vigilante rap
* Zenji flava

Derivatives|

| Electronic|

* Breakbeat
* Baltimore club
* Florida breaks
* Ghetto house
* Ghettotech
* Glitch hop
* Grime
* Illbient
* Freestyle
* Wonky

|

Other|

* Funk carioca
* Reggaeton
* Alternative reggaeton

Regional scenes|

| African|

* Algerian
* Angolan
* Beninese
* Botswana
* Gambian
* Ghanaian
* Ivorian
* Kenyan
* Malawian
* Mauritian
* Moroccan
* Namibian
* Nigerian
* Port Harcourt
* Nigerien
* Senegalese
* South African
* Tanzanian
* Togolese
* Zambian
* Zimbabwean

|

Asian|

* Armenian
* Azerbaijani
* Bangladeshi
* Burmese
* Chinese
* Indian
* Desi
* Indonesian
* Japanese
* Korean
* Malaysian
* Mongolian
* Nepalese
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European|

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Middle Eastern|

* Arabic
* Egyptian
* Iranian
* Israeli
* Lebanese
* Palestinian
* Saudi Arabian
* Tunisian
* Turkish
* Yemeni

North American|

United States:

* East Coast
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* New Jersey
* New York City
* Philadelphia
* Washington, D.C.
* Midwestern
* Chicago
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* Wisconsin
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* Asian American
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Outside the US:

* Canadian
* Cuban
* Dominican
* Haitian
* Mexican
* Salvadoran

Oceanian|

* Australian
* New Zealand

South American|

* Brazilian
* Brasília
* Chilean
* Colombian

Other topics|

* Auto-Tune
* Contemporary R&B
* Disc jockey
* DJ mixer
* Record player
* Turntablism
* Drum machine
* Hip hop skit
* Music sequencer
* Sampler
* Social injustice
* Synthesizer
* Video vixen
* Partner violence in hip hop
* LGBT representations in hip hop music
* Feminist activism in hip hop

* Category

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