When talking Kenyan rap one would think of Dandora, the birth place of Kenyan hiphop or South C that refined the hardcore rap with a more commercial and club friendly touch. South C or Dandora has no musical voice in the present day; Kayole (1960) took over without fire arms but pure talent, raw and exclusively 1960 in its sound and design.
Khaligraph is on top of his game, churning out hits, dropping bars and representing the genre to the core. He is feuding with one of the top rappers, Kibra’s Octopizzo who is also known for witty, subliminal and creative bars. The battle for rap crown then came down to Khaligraph vs Octo, or Kibra (Namba 8) vs Kayole (1960), who is reppin’ more than who?
Kayole is running the show. Khali has maintained his consistency, he mentoring very good talents. Wakadinali is not a crew to play with, you can survive with Scar but the seriously bruises with heavy street bars. It’s not easy to come across rappers like Scar, Lushi in this era of internet rappers.
Kayole can pride itself of pure lyricism, flow and sound that is strictly their own. ‘Ordinary’ or ‘odi’ is their thing, you can’t take that from them and it has redefined Kenyan music and put them on the limelight. They are almost taking back hip-hop back to its more benign pre-gangsta roots in boasting and battling.
That’s growth and change, 1960 is representing it more than Namba Nane. Other Octopizzo, Namba Nane is not represented by many good rappers like Koyole is represented today. They can claim the sound hitting today. It’s growth to emphasize, if E-sir came back today, South C would look like a ghost town. The hood is no longer churning out fine music; Ogopa is as good as defunct.
Kayole, a new kid on the block is just on another level with their street gangsta rap with present feel, kinda reggae from far, true ghetto with their ‘ordinary’ fashion and lingo. They know how to add that ‘ordinary’ touch on any beat, reggae, genge tone, dance hall or boompab and it’s classic, trending and the thing now.
