Kenrazy shone, V6 shone, these two short rappers enjoyed their careers from the view in the booth, behind decks to rocking in the show. But you know what fame is, crazy. It makes a humble man feel godly. Grandpa Records picked Kenrazy after Jomino dropped him, it could be for lack of consistency or expiry of contract but I know Razy was a busy rapper.
He nearly got off the grid, fumbled with the then rising Pacho Music Group, with unprofessional contract, the ‘tichi’ hitmaker was falling, he doing music with rising hood rappers in bedroom studios. Refigah of grandpa, picked him and brought him back to the limelight.
He too picked V6, a talented kapuka producer who had not a proper working place. He put him in a fully equipped studio. They made music and money, their 2013 single ‘hivyo ndio kunaendaga’ was hit with massive airplay.
They made more hit under Refigah in Grandpa but the more they made the more they felt they got wiser. They felt underpaid and their art not respected, they actually accused Refigah of ‘stealing’ from them.
They took off to start their label, make, market and sell their music on the own. It’s never such an easy task even for already established artists. It’s never that easy in music, many have failed Tyra Banks, Ryan Gosling and even Shaquille O’neal with four albums to his name.
It’s even worse in Kenya, only lucky artists who check off labels or split from bands make it. Kenyan industry is held hostage by shot callers, some like Refigah had deep pockets deep enough to pay for Kenrazy and V6’s music to be put on shelves after the fall out. They have released songs but they hardly get airplay. Their walk out of Grandpa records was a talk in town but all the music they have made since has not been enough to jump them back to the music world.
Refigah locked their industry gates soon as they left Grandpa gates and threw the keys. Kenrazy must loving his wife Sosuun and children, V6 is making music that is getting nowhere because they arguied with their boss who is a big industry player.
