Opinion: What happened to the conscious hip hop scene in Kenya
1 April 2014
Today being Hip Hop Tuesday at Mdundo, I have decided to ask one important question that has been lingering in my mind for quite a while now; what happened to our pioneer Hip hop groups as well as the conscious hip hop scene in Kenya?
Growing up Hip Hop groups such as Kalamashaka, Ukoo Flani Mau Mau and Wakamba Wawili used to rule the airwaves with their conscious lyricism and rhymes that the common mwananchi could easily relate with, but in the current music industry, it seems that such music doesn't really sell.
These pioneer groups made Kenyan Hip hop what it is now, and i can still vividly remember me and my friends chilling outside our house in Eastland’s listening and rapping along to Kalamashaka or Ukoo Flani Mau Mau before going to bed.
Fast forward to 2014 and these groups are no more, Kalamashaka broke up a long time ago when each member decided to pursue solo careers and completely disappeared from the scene.
Uko Flani Mau Mau on the other hand is still said to be active although we rarely hear anymore from the group of rappers that once made underground Hip hop a force to reckon with in the music industry.
As a big hip Hop fan, I still dream and long for the day when I will be able to switch on my stereo and get a dose of real, hard, conscious Hip Hop music that once defined our music, I'm not sure who the blame goes to the media or the artists but the fact remains that this is the kind of music that drives change and impact in society.
I applaud artists such as Keyvo K-Force and Ace The Don who always keep it real and conscious in their music because they are the driving force for the modern conscious Kenyan hip hop scene.
Growing up Hip Hop groups such as Kalamashaka, Ukoo Flani Mau Mau and Wakamba Wawili used to rule the airwaves with their conscious lyricism and rhymes that the common mwananchi could easily relate with, but in the current music industry, it seems that such music doesn't really sell.
These pioneer groups made Kenyan Hip hop what it is now, and i can still vividly remember me and my friends chilling outside our house in Eastland’s listening and rapping along to Kalamashaka or Ukoo Flani Mau Mau before going to bed.
Fast forward to 2014 and these groups are no more, Kalamashaka broke up a long time ago when each member decided to pursue solo careers and completely disappeared from the scene.
Uko Flani Mau Mau on the other hand is still said to be active although we rarely hear anymore from the group of rappers that once made underground Hip hop a force to reckon with in the music industry.
As a big hip Hop fan, I still dream and long for the day when I will be able to switch on my stereo and get a dose of real, hard, conscious Hip Hop music that once defined our music, I'm not sure who the blame goes to the media or the artists but the fact remains that this is the kind of music that drives change and impact in society.
I applaud artists such as Keyvo K-Force and Ace The Don who always keep it real and conscious in their music because they are the driving force for the modern conscious Kenyan hip hop scene.
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