(KENYA) The Watchlist: Top 5 Upcoming Artists of 2015 to Watch Out For in 2016

And so as the saying goes, out with the old in with the new. We’ve finally said goodbye to 2015 and ushered in a new year and as Kenyans say ‘Mwaka mpya mambo mapya’ (new year, new things).

Today we look at some of the upcoming artists that left their mark on 2015, who we also expect big things from in 2016.

Joy Gitau

To small circles Joy Gitau is not a new name, having launched her career four years ago and with a few songs in between however her career did not really pick up. But last year she released what I see as one of the best Rnb songs of 2015.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JmH2NTw8Bo0

I find it an offence to good music that this song did not get as much air play as it should have. Produced by one of the biggest producers in Kenya, Kevin Provoke, the song is clearly of high caliber and so is the video.

That said we hope that 2016 will see more great music from the epically talented Joy Gitau.

Cece Sagini

She officially launched her music career two years ago with her first song ‘Sio Mwisho’ which was an Afrosoul song.

However it was really in 2015 that her career really picked up after her collaboration with rapper Octopizzo in her song ‘I’m a doer’.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=STPuj6Ba1X8

But one thing is for sure, she’s one of the biggest upcoming talents in Kenya and we’ll be looking out for more of her in 2016.

Mankind

And if Afrosoul and RnB are not your cup of tea perhaps a taste of alternative music to lighten you up.

Yes, we finally have a Kenyan band that does alternative music and they are called Mankind. The youngsters brought the music industry to a standstill in 2015 thanks to their song ‘North’ (nope not Kanye’s daughter), which really came out in late 2014 only making it to the airwaves the next year.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ngcpRn8s-BM

They’ve had other songs after but only few made it to the airwaves most notably ‘Valentine’. They also promised an official music video for ‘North’ which unfortunately has yet to see the light of day.

All in all we hope that 2016 will be the year that Mankind excite Kenyans once more with their new sound.

C2K

If there’s one thing rapper C2K knows to do is grab your attention. Yes, the rapper managed to grab the attention of many since he came into the music game with his hit banger ‘Lupita’.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q98qDvzFeEk

And though this was not his first recorded song, it was the one that brought him recognition and he’s an obsession with important personalities since then. He’s song ‘Baba while you’re away’ inspired by Raila and of course his latest hit song ‘Kidero Grass’ a collaboration with Kagwe Mungai.

C2K clearly has a game plan and we’re excited to see what more he has under his sleeves.

Yung Haze

One of the most talented underdogs of the Kenyan rap game, Yung Haze would probably go unnoticed in a room but give him a mic and a stage and you’ll definitely not forget his name.

And his mixtape ‘Mr. Mwaeba’, which featured other big talents like Khaligraph Jones and Shukid, is perhaps one of the biggest take aways of hiphop in 2015. Lyrically dope with a clear mastery of delivering his Lil Wayne like punchlines (probably not Weezy of today, best rapper alive Weezy). He was also selected as part of Homeboyz Radio’s Freshmen List of 2015.

Perhaps 2016 will be the year Haze finally makes his mark in the rap game.