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August 05, 2005
Word association
Pioneers : Kalamashaka
I can clearly remember the first time I heard hip hop coming through the speakers in a language I could relate to, a language which I used for my everyday communication, sheng, I remember hearing "Vigeti say 'in the red corner muliro the oteraw and the blue corner kamau the ginthigia" and thinking to myself yeah one those wannabee's again, figuring the beat sampled a similar Mary J Blige song loop .....but straight out of the gate when I heard tafsiri hii I said to myself this is what I have been waiting for, sure before I had heard and seen kriss kross wannabee's(read: zig zag), but this was different, refreshing, the alpha of it all. The start of at least in my part of the world, pride in knowing that regular cats could do it, roc the MIC like all those dudes we saw on TV but with material I could relate to. This beat the feelingi had when me and my boy were doing crazy Q-tip imitations in school when we first heard ‘Can I Kick It’ joint had us buggin out granted we only knew the hook…what up! Sidney you know what’s up?
The following day I had to get a tape and dub the joint when it came on again...as soon as I got it on tape I proceeded to dissect what this cats where saying and I was stricken by what the hook was saying, a message of hope and telling the world of their plight, lyrics were real and they hit home. I can honestly admit that kama was my favorite at the time his Mic presence, delivery and cadence was dope, I became a fan and as time went on I knew Kalamashaka were special. 1995 was the birth and from then on 'tafsiri hii' went on to be Classic of cult status, everywhere you went kids were rhyming to it even ‘nazizi’ years later would rhyme about them...the airplay was massive the Impact was far reaching. There was no better way to burst into the scene for me at least. How could these cats who got booed when they tried rapping in swahili on the shows all of a sudden achieve this status? must because the kicked something dope and something fresh, something run dmc'ish shoot maybe even groundbreaking. One of my favorite tracks from the group was 'watu watatu' in this particular song these dudes had grown so much lyrically and musically it seems they had studied the art form. 'Ni wakati' is another gem that I bump on the regular. Dope lyrics,
Anajifanya ako next kwa M.u.n.g.u/ jina M.z.u.n.g.u/ we uki checki kwa kamusi/ hiyo humanisha kitu deadly/ kitu safi, mwenya ujuzi/probably above kila kitu, especially watu weusi watu weusi/…. how heads sleep on this?
"Ana pretend anatuletea peace na raha/ ah huh/They intent tumalizane ndio maana anatu-dis, anatu-supply na silaha”, aha/ni juu yako wee kutumia brain/....
Fast forward a couple of years later all grown up and out of the country I continued to bump to the first album...I kept wondering how come dudes are no where in the radio? I started suffering for kalamashaka withdrawal (Ok I’m reaching but I felt like I was missing something) nothing coming out Kenya could ignite the verve I had when I listened to 'watu watatu’, ‘Ni wakati’ or Tafsiri hii
I happened to stumble upon a supposed release by the group but nothing materialized. The Kalamashaka, Ken ring, Kaddo project never dropped. one other track is on the radio blog 'Shauri Yako' More info on the supposed release visit .. Article . I was disappointed but kept hoping a release would be in the offing the closest I came to was a mix tape like track, using the same beat as ‘And so’ by blackmoon’ track
I'm writing this to give props due to the Trailblazers of hip hop in Kenya, this their tenth anniversary, and through the years they have blessed my ears with tracks, not as often as I would like, but like Q-tip says " Industry rule 4080 the record industry is shady baby"...so I understand and give them props for not switching up. Not selling their soul for quick riches, for maintaining their integrity ten years deep. These are cats who inspire me, they could have gone ahead and changed and moved from the 'hood' but cats are staying put and doing something for their community. Kama, Oteraw,Vigeti props for staying real. With the new moves being made by the crew and much bigger squad in place , a studio already up ‘ANDAKI Studios’ see more Pictures, more links visit Mental's blog…lol they even have mudhut in the entrance how Gully is that? And their new(this relative) track called ‘mazishi ya polisi’ - Ukoo Flani Mau Mau, you can listen to this on DJ Edu's show the first track, it is dope as hell with production work from their in house producer…I’m encouraged, that they soon shall be churning out more music for their fan base and new converts.
Again DAP where dap is due Kama, Oteraw,Vigeti props for staying real.
Attached is “ni wakati (remix)’ off of the Rough guide to African Rap album, notice anything different aside from the beats?. Enjoy.
Ni Wakati(Remix) - Kalamashaka.mp3
AOB…will be participating in hoops tourney this weekend and in our weekly recreation league the playoffs have started, have- ball-till–you-fall weekend will ya
Peace
9 Comments:
yo, that line " anajiita yeye ni M.Z.U.N.G.U..." blew me off too. i mean that word play right there is out of this world and to think that its shit that's really making sense! its rhyming for a reason! not just for the fuck of it.
daps! and more daps to the pioneers, they just too next-level for muthafuckas to appreaciate them. these dudes is legends to me.
good look for that piece MXL and the new web is ablaze!
PS: y'all better listen to "mazishi ya polisi" now playing on 1Extra.
Fri Aug 05, 03:30:00 PM
Ni Wakati indeed.
Thanks for the mp3, loving it.
Sat Aug 06, 08:29:00 AM
Msanii
I totally agree. Mad props to KShaka...
I remember the Coolio concert when they got booed and thanked the crowd for their booes... A few months later, everyone was screaming for them at their Carnivore launch.
Remaining true to yourself always makes you shine through!!!
Mon Aug 08, 04:52:00 AM
Big up to you Msanii for the much-deserved props to the groundbreaking Kalamashaka trio. Tafsiri hii will go down in history for what it was: an eye & ear opener. I loved "Ni Wakati" for it's daring approach to issues affecting us all. I have a hard time listening to current Kenya Hiphop since 90% of the lyrics lack staying power, things will hopefully change when folks go back to basics.
Thanks for the remix MP3 & enjoy your hoop game.
Tue Aug 09, 12:19:00 AM
am not a fan of kenyan music, but you have convinved me to look for there music and give them a try
Wed Aug 10, 09:01:00 AM
K-Shaka are for sure the pioneers of the genre in kenya.. they are responsible for changing the musical mindset of a whole generation of youth (not counting that wannabe above, Nick)!!
thanks for dropping by!
Mon Aug 15, 09:07:00 AM
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Mon Aug 15, 01:41:00 PM
@W..appreciate the love homey hope you got that for me??
@Afrommusing thanks for stopping been a minute
@Milonare..thats real.
@Akiey glad you like the song. i; with you on the half hearted created lyrics and equally half assed pseudo emcee's
@Nicko...lol try them nothing but realness.
@S thanks for stopping by, appreciate the love
Mon Aug 15, 01:42:00 PM
I was at the latest Kenya Music Week event at Sarit (Dec 2006). Met Kama and (at last!) got to purchase a tape of Ni Wakati- the dbut album. It's a shame they didn't have it on CD, but I got the latest UkooFlani Mau Mau mixtape CD and Kama was on hand to autograph both. They are supposed to have a new joint out but I haven't landed on it yet, I wish someone who has could post a review.
The one thing I respect Kshaka and the whole Maumau fam for is authenticity. Hip hop is all about self-expression, articulating experiences, feelings, opinions, whatever is worth talking about, which is why these guys shine, because when they rhyme it communicates, you feel it.
That's what all great artists are about, regardless of genre. That's what is lacking in the kapuka generation. That's the reason I have issues Nairobi's FM stations, Buzz and Pulse, all those "exhibition" stores selling G-unit shoes and the whole kapuka culture.
Wed Jan 25, 06:50:00 AM
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