A Candid 'Mtindo' Hang Out with Boutross on IG Live

Muriuki pleasantly interrupted Boutross’ movie time to catch up on a candid IG Live. Fun games, good laughter and the inside scoop on the new album ‘Mtindo’. 

Download Full Mtindo Album on Mdundo Now

Muriuki: You are so cheeky, is that right?

Boutross: That’s what people say but sidhani. *chuckles I’m a very serious guy. 

A Game of Never Have I Ever

Muriuki: Let’s play ‘Never Have I Ever’

Boutross: Haya, let’s go…

Muriuki: Never have I ever simped.

Boutross: Aaahh! I’ve had my moments. Haha.. There’s a time nimewahi simp. Unajua kila mtu anapataga match wake. 

Muriuki: Ilikuwa nani? 

Boutross: Eh eh, do you want me to get k*lled hapo hivyo. I’m already in too much trouble as it is. Eh eh eh, wacha tu. 

Muriuki: Never have I ever gotten heart broken.

Boutross: Aaah! Hii tunafaa tu kuita ‘Ever have I ever’. Yeah, I think once… no twice. The first one ilikuwa I think nikiwa bado primo and then this other one ilikuwa recently. 

Muriuki: Who was your primary school crush?

Boutross: Eiih..Hakuwa crush, alikuwa dem yangu for I think 2 days.

Muriuki: Never have I ever forgotten my lyrics during a show.

Boutross: Yeah, like whaaat! Many times, many times… Even my recent one, nilisahau lyrics za ngoma yangu. 

Muriuki: During the Listening party? 

Boutross: The launch…yeah. I forgot a song hapo alafu nikaanza tu kucheka and then nikaikumbuka haraka haraka. It always happens, it’s like a norm. You know, sometimes, you just, Idk. It’s like unfiltered nini…inakuja inachapa msee slap and then you just forget. But you always come back, always!

Boutross: Never Have I Ever, Have you ever been heartbroken?

Muriuki: OMG yes! *lmao…In this Nairobi, there is no way you will ever have your heart not broken. Unajuaga hivi, when you are in a relationship in Nairobi, just know it’s part of being Nairobian. 

Boutross: It comes with the package. 

Let's Dive In

Muriuki: Which songs opened doors for you: Got you here today? When you guys were recording on laptops & earphones…

Boutross: That’s the EDF era. The earphones with the computer ilikuwa time ya EDF, Hitch Town and then the evolution to… Ile song ingine ilikuwa inaitwa Hold Up Gang, Bonoko, Drip to the Shraps and then to the one with Octopizzo with Tergat Gang. And now to the Story Zilianza Like This, to the Yeah Yeah Yeah, Ndovu Kuu, Angela and then now Mtindo. I think that has been the Evolution of Boutross music. 

Comments: Kwani mko na bundles za airtel. 

Muriuki: Uko active TikTok?

Boutross: Eehh, nilikuwa active kitambo and then Idk, I kinda stopped. By the way nafaa kurudi tena like full force because that place nakuaga na kicraze idk. Nafanyaga kitu alafu inago viral. 

Muriuki: On TikTok FYP, Kenyans are in the comments of every viral video roasting people. 

Boutross: You! Kenyans we are always everywhere. Kwanza when it’s involving social media, kila time lazima tukuange hapo. Aiiyaa…that’s why I like being Kenyan. Social Media hauwezi tushinda.

Muriuki: Do you feel like that wave has helped push your music?

Boutross: Yes, definitely! Especially that we have a lot of our people socially active. Inamaanisha it can get my song isikike many places because the more people engage with your song, the more they post. That means, the likelihood ya kuonekana with people from even outside and different scopes inakuwa greater. So yeah! It really does, I think even 50% to 60% wametoka kwa hiyo side ya social media.   

Muriuki: There was a viral video of your song?

Boutross: Of the girl in a pink dress in a stadium? Yeah, that was Fiji. Those Polinesian countries, bro I don’t know what’s happening but we are topping charts like crazy. 

Muriuki: Why did you start doing music? 

Boutross: Honestly because I just love music, idk…I don’t think there is something that inspired me to do it, I just loved music.  There are certain things along the way that might have pushed me just kuifuata even more, pursue it even more than I was. Music was just in me since nikue mtoi. 

Muriuki: Was HipHop your favourite genre growing up and that’s why you do it now?

Boutross: It wasn’t my favourite one. Actually even growing up, it wasn’t the one that I was listening to as much. I came to start listening to it a bit later on, maybe after primary or primary eight. I had a lot of things hapo that I was listening to. As a young kid, I remember in the house my uncles used to play a lot of reggae and we grew up to dancehall. And HipHop just came in afterwards. The Lil Wayne, Souja Boy and the akina Nelly. Remember those times, Nelly alikuwa anaweka katape kwa cheek? Then it just switched up. 

Muriuki: This new album is very dirty. Is that because s*x sells or is it just your vibe? 

Boutross: It’s just me, it’s just my vibe. I like mixing my music with contemporary messages and other things also…LoL! Maybe the other things ndio ziu dominate sana.

Comments: Boutross unakunywa uji na straw. 

Muriuki:What is the story of Mtindo?

Boutross: Of course you know the industry na mambo ya rights. Idk a lot of things with the contracts, so to get even all the artists in just one place was quite a tricky situation. I won’t lie to you, the 2 years was just, the on and off of legal matters, disputes. Releasing a song, dropping it from the album, making sure I record more, getting new features and whatever. Afterwards it was just another 3 or 4 months of planning on how we are going to release it. That was the whole situation in those 2 years. 

Muriuki: How did you get all those phenomenal artists to feature on your album?

Boutross: Eh walikuwa wengi. Eiih Idk, hata mi naona tu ni Mungu tu alinisaidia…na management yangu. Si unajua niko na wazito wangu wako hapo na mimi. Idk, I won’t say anything much other than nilikuwa tu blessed kupata opportunity ya kupewa love hivyo na wasanii wengine, kwanza wako na accolades like that; coz iko na features crazy. Hata mimi naangaliaga hivi, I tell myself, okay that’s fire. Every time I’ve been meeting up with these guys that I’ve had on the feature, we’ve always had chemistry. Tumetoka na good terms, hakujawahi kuwa na disputes or anything. Both parties zimekuwaga na good music.  It was maybe about time, it was maybe something that we needed idk.  I just did it na kila mtu alicome through, wenye walicome through. And then we had Mtindo. And people are loving it, so that’s the direction I am going with. 

Muriuki: The sound on the album is not what we are used to with you. Is there a reason? What’s the story? 

Boutross: I don’t think there’s much of a change since even the first projects I’d been releasing as Boutross, I’ve always had those type of songs. But the Trap side have always been the ones dominating more than the other ones. So after Angela, Misbehaviour and Ndovu Kuu, it shone a little bit of light to the side of Boutross that people couldn’t focus on as much.  I think for me I grabbed this opportunity and told myself, hii ndio time yangu ya kutokelezea. Let me shine! So yeah, Mtindo happened. It was the perfect time to unveil the new Boutross; like growth. Every artist has to grow, the same way a kid grows from a kid to a grown person. Si kuna characters zina change? For me as an artist, it’s just a different part of my career. A different stage of my career. I am practically happy with it because watu wameipenda; so S/O to that. 

Muriuki: Was there an album released before Mtindo. 

Boutross: Niko tu na moja, Mtindo. The other ones were just mix tapes and EPs. This was the first one to unveil Boutross the artist. That’s why I said ‘Debut Album’. It’s the first one.

Muriuki: 20Songs! My favourite song is Blocks Hot with Khali.

Booutross: Blocks Hot is FIRE! Eeeehh kwanza hivyo OG! He came through…he killed it. 

A fun game of  ‘Finish the Lyrics…’

Boutross ate this up. He remembered all his lyrics.

Comments: You should be on a colgate ad. 

Quick Fire Game

Favourite Food?

Paneer and puree

Dating or Single?

Single

Favourite Song right now?

Red Flags by Ruger

Celebrity Crush?

Initials N.K

Favourite artist?

Maina

Muriuki: What’s up with you and babes twice your size?

Boutross: Baloon inatobolewa na kidole kubwa ama na pin? Need I say more? 

About Muriuki Kiai, The Mdundo IG Live Interviewer

Muriuki Kiai is a dynamic moderator and a prominent figure in Africa's music industry. With a wealth of experience, particularly in copyright law, she brings a unique perspective to her role as a Data & Copyright Analyst at Mdundo. Muriuki's expertise extends beyond the legal realm; she's renowned for her exceptional hosting skills, having conducted engaging IG Live interviews with some of the continent's most notable music stars.

As the official moderator of the Mdundo Story, Muriuki has demonstrated her ability to create an atmosphere where interviewees feel comfortable and are willing to share exclusive insights. Her knack for making guests feel at ease allows for candid and expressive conversations, often resulting in the revelation of insider information.

Beyond her professional endeavors, Muriuki is the founder of Kiota, an initiative that seeks to empower new breastfeeding mothers. This is a strong passion point for Muriuki. Additionally, she hosts an X-rated podcast, showcasing her versatility and willingness to delve into diverse topics.

Muriuki's achievements have garnered attention from various media outlets, with features in The Parents' Magazine, The Standard, and Nairobian newspapers. Her multifaceted skill set, combined with her passion for music and copyright law, positions her as a leading figure shaping the landscape of Africa's music industry.