Greetings Earthling, I have now taken over your Website. Welcome to Trendwatch. My main aim, aside from trying to change the world with my ridiculous perspective, is to spot trends whether it’s in entertainment, fashion or leisure. Trendwatch will then keep you updated on what’s trending in the 254, no twitter, every Wednesday.
To pop my cherry, I have decided to check what’s hot in the music scene. There’s been a dance revolution with regards to global music. The techno vibe has married into hip hop ala Flo-rida, r&b ala Usher & we’re finally seeing DJs who’ve done this for years like David Guetta, Bob Sinclair & Benny Bennassi becoming household names. Calvin Harris has had 2 number 1 records worldwide courtesy of Rihanna! Dance has taken over, no dub step!
In the 254 as well, a lot has changed since the days when Tedd Josiah & Gido Kibukosya were the only producers worth mentioning with regards to Kenyan urban music. The industry is now rife with so much talent than we know what to do with. The tons of music I get from these kids is insane, my inbox knows no condoms & is constantly pregnant with Kenyan music. The last couple of months I noticed something though.
Music from the 254 is starting to find itself married to the dance craze. Let me illustrate using examples as my Physics teacher would say, even though illustrations always ended up confusing me.
The Godfather is back with some new music & a video in the works. Yes, my man Habo aka Nonini has a joint with a talented girl called Annette. The joint is called Pole Pole. Press Play.
It has that afro house feel from Mzansi doesn’t it? Kind of reminds me of Liquideep. The hook is grand but wsup with Nons? His voice gets raspy on this but he still delivers.
Next up is another one that’s tearing up the clubs across the borders. 254 meets 256, that is, Kenya meets Uganda as Madtraxx collaborates with Keko.
Keko is the young Ugandan femcee who won a Channel O award not too far back, yes, the one with the Mohawk. Press play.
One thing I like about Madtraxx is when he makes a beat no matter what path he takes, he owns it. Look at his track record, whether he’s going crunk, kwaito or rhumba dude kills it on production! This one is for lack of a better term, 254 dance music straight up! This is that get your ass on the dance floor music! Keko can rap. She may sound like a little boy, akin Taio Tripper before he broke his voice, but she can flow! She is a banger, and the record is a club banger as well!
Finally to illustrate how 254 music has embraced the dance craze is a record from the most unlikely candidate ever. Nick Mutuma aka Nene who shot to fame in the 254 when he appeared in Shuga 1 playing the goody goody Leo has decided to flex his music muscles.
He has a joint called 254 anthem with the lovely lovely Lyra Aoko. Press Play.
This one has more of hip hop vibe, kind of like Pharell Williams’s sound on Snoop’s “Drop it like it’s hot†minus the heavy drums. I can see the kids jerking to this one no doubt!
With that concludes your 1st lesson on Trendwatch. Talk to me, let me know what you think, what you like but most importantly what you hate. There seems to be a lot of that hapa 254.
Pamoja!!!