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Top 10 Best Rappers in Kenya 2020

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The question of who is among the Top 10 Best Kenyan Rappers has always been up for debate but we promise to settle this here. With the fresh new wave in the Kenyan industry known as Gengetone, we have some new names that have made it to our Best Rappers in Kenya list. Here are the Best Kenyan Rappers in 2020.

 

10. Steph Kapela

As one of the most versatile artists in the rap game, Steph Kapela comes through with fire vocals and is also a songwriter. With only 7 songs and a couple of collaborations, Steph Kapela has made it to our list and is one of our favorites.

Steph Kapela songs have a little bit of everything in them, from Rap, Singing, trap and even soul, amazing right? Steph is super talented.steph kapela is one of the best kenyan rappers

9. King Kaka

Born Kennedy Ombima, King Kaka is a renowned rapper, songwriter and Businessman. King Kaka has been in the Rap industry for a very long time and has brought up other artist and given them a platform through Kaka Empire. King Kaka was born on 7 May 1987.

King Kaka’s successful hit song is known as ‘Dundaing’ which has over 4 million views on YouTube. The name ‘Dundaing’ means Partying.king kaka

8. Miracle Baby

Unlike many of the Legends on this list, Miracle Baby’s journey just started the other day. He is part of a group called Sailors and has technically made the group relevant after the hit song ‘Wamlambez’.

He is known for his fire catchy hooks and just gives a good vibe in every song he does. Miracle Baby will even be even better in the coming years.miracle baby

7. Xtatic

Her real name is Gloria Mecheo and has been a great rapper ever since, though she grew her fanbase after she featured in Khali Cartel 2 by Khaligraph Jones. She is also part of the new game and his fan base has been really growing of late.

Xtatic says she did petry before rap and that has really helped her with her music journey. She is one of the best rappers of the new generation in Kenya.xtatic is a female kenyan rapper

6. STL

Stella Nyambura Mwangi, a very talented female rapper who lives in Norway is the second female that is on the list. She is not only popularly in Kenya but also in Norway for she won the Melodi Grand Prix 2011.  Two successful albums, a lot of songs and collaborations with other artists, made STL one of the most famous artists in Kenya.

STL is also known for singing about the issues that disturb Kenya as a country. Her songs have been used before for an advertisement for Samsung for their Galaxy S9 smartphone.best female rapper in kenya

5. E-Sir

E-Sir was and is one of the best rappers in Kenya we have ever had. Unfortunately on 16 March 2003 he was involved in a car accident on the Great Rift Valley.  He has left behind “a huge musical footprint” due to his impact on his popularity and fanbase during his short career.

Even long after his departure E-Sir is and will be remembered for his music and how he shaped the rap industry in Kenya. E-sir was and is an inspiration to many. REST IN POWER.e sir was a kenyan rapper

4. Taio Tripper

Also known as Matthew Wakhungu is one of our favorites. He was part of the Hip-hop group Camp Mulla which was a major success in East Africa in 2011 and 2012 before their break up in 2013. He is also a deejay, songwriter and sound engineer.

Taio Tripper is one of the most prominent rappers in Kenya of our time, he is super-talented, and has his own unique style, which, made makes him a real star. Taio Tripper is on the road to becoming the best rapper in Kenya.taio tripper

3. Nyashinski

Incredible Nyamari Ongegu popularly known as Nyashinski is one who can sing love songs, rap and also release gospel songs. He was once a member of Kleptomaniax which was a Hip-hop group formed back in 1999 while in high school which won 3 awards.

The group never broke up but everyone somehow went their own way, who knows, we might hear from them soon. Nyashinski is regarded, and is,  as one of the most skillful and one of the best lyricist in East Africa.nyashinski is a kenyan rapper

 

2. Abbas Kubaff

Andrew Kabiru Karuku has now been in the industry for a very long time and is famous for hit songs such as “Tokelezea” and “Tokelezea”. Abbas Kubaff was born in  (8 January 1978) and has been winning awards across East Africa and producing music since 1995.

Abbas Kubaff has been considered as the Best Kenyan Rapper a lot of times. He was part of a rap group that later split in 2005. The rap group was made up of fellow rappers, Bamboo and KC. He has received awards from Chaguo La Teeniez Awards award(2008) and a Golden Mic award(2011).abbas kubaf

 

1. Khaligraph Jones

His real name is  Brian Ouko Omollo and he is also the only Kenyan on the Best Rappers in Africa. Khaligraph Jones was also the first rapper from Kenya to win awards and be internationally recognized by the Hip Hop community. Khaligraph Jones is also known for Khali Cartel which is a cypher he produces that showcases new talent in the rap industry.

He has a flow that is as quick as Twista’s (American) or M.I (Nigerian) and with this, he has gained a huge following with a lot of loyal fans. He first came to light in 2009 when he participated in the 2009 Channel O MC Africa Challenge and reached the finals. Khaligraph Jones is the Best Kenyan Rapper of all time.

Khaligraph Jones also won the SoundCity MVP award for best hip hop act early this year going against some Hip-hop Legends in Africa. The son ‘Leave me alone’ got him the award.

 

khaligraph jones is the best kenyan rapper


Top 10 Best Kenyan Rapper in 2020

  1. Khaligraph Jones
  2. Abbas Kubaff
  3. Nyashinski
  4. E-Sir
  5. Taio Tripper
  6. STL
  7. Xtatic
  8. Miracle Baby
  9. King Kaka
  10. Steph kapelaTop 10 Best Rappers in Kenya 2020Top 10 Best Rappers in Kenya 2020

 

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Digital Guts Builds a Restless Genre Bending World From Anonymity, DIY Instinct, and Sonic Experimentation on “Digital Guts”

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Digital Guts Builds a Restless Genre Bending World From Anonymity, DIY Instinct, and Sonic Experimentation on “Digital Guts”

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Originally from Michigan and now based in Philadelphia, Digital Guts is an artist who embraces anonymity, keeping attention on the music rather than the person behind it. That sense of mystery fits naturally with a deeply DIY approach. The self-titled 7-track album “Digital Guts” is a fascinating, genre-bending project, connecting an underground electronic and emo aesthetic with experimental, sample-heavy instrumental structures. The result feels committed to sonic exploration, with arrangements that resist cookie-cutter formulas and a production style that shifts deliberately from one track to the next.

Opener “Angels Ball Out” sets the record in motion with a grand introduction. Its beat leans heavily on clever, layered sampling, creating a textured foundation that feels nostalgic while remaining distinctly underground. The rhythm settles into a smooth, loop-centered hip-hop bounce. It functions almost like an overture, especially once the album reaches its final track, “Bye Bye,” which cleverly returns to “Angels Ball Out” through a full-circle structural reverse play. Weightless, ethereal, and triumphant, the opener creates a cinematic entryway into the album’s universe.

The second track, “Goth Girl,” moves directly toward darker alternative subcultures, driven by a shadowy trap bounce and alluring vocals. A deeply calming, hypnotic instrumental backdrop balances the vocal loop, while the rhythm stays slow, deliberate, and swaying. Much of the vocal cadence circles around one lingering question, “What you see in me?” At a faster tempo, that repetition might become tedious. Here, it works beautifully, drawing a comparison to Rihanna’s “Pour It Out,” filtered through a more gothic atmosphere.

What comes through is deep longing, melancholia, and romantic fixation. The restrained beat strengthens the sense of emotional vulnerability and keeps the listener absorbed in the atmospheric space surrounding the voice.

Third track “Broken” marks a huge sonic pivot. The smooth sampling falls away as the production dives headfirst into aggressive electronic hip-hop, powered by high-energy UK drum and bass patterns. The rhythm is high-octane, frenetic, and relentless. Its chaotic cadence recalls early The Prodigy and the aggressive electronic-punk style associated with Wargasm UK.

The mood is erratic, anxious, and explosive. “Broken” captures the sensation of mental fracturing or inner chaos, pushing the album’s energy suddenly into overdrive.

Another standout from the album is “cryonme,” easily its most experimental and polarizing track. The production is intensely maximalist, with so many elements moving at once that the beat can feel intentionally at odds with the underlying tone. Its eccentric layering carries a distinct art-pop Gorillaz influence, while hyper-pulsating electronic details become one of the track’s defining characteristics.

The rhythm is disjointed and constantly shifting. “cryonme” is among the album’s more lyric-driven moments, asking the listener to follow the vocal cadence through a maze of competing instrumental sounds. The mood is melodramatic, eccentric, and overwhelming. It resembles emotional overload poured into a blender, producing a surreal and slightly chaotic listening experience.

“Dreams” is a synthetic masterpiece, hauntingly beautiful throughout and capable of leaving a desirable aftertaste long after its final notes fade.

This, ladies and gentlemen, is the story of Digital Guts’ “Digital Guts,” streaming now on popular digital platforms.

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Gospel Artist Harmoni Allen Confronts Mental Health Stigma With Vulnerability Faith and Soul on Her Powerful Single “Schitzo”

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Gospel Artist Harmoni Allen Confronts Mental Health Stigma With Vulnerability Faith and Soul on Her Powerful Single “Schitzo”

Right now, gospel artist Harmoni Allen’s work reflects the transformative power of faith, with vulnerability, triumph, encouragement, and Christ-centered hope running through her music. Her warm vocals, expressive delivery, and deeply personal storytelling give that message a human center. Drawing from lived experience and testimony, she turns questions of faith, healing, freedom, resilience, and hope into songs that feel intimate without losing their uplifting spirit.

Harmoni Allen’s “Schitzo” is a sincere, soul-stirring track built around a deeply personal subject. Short for schizophrenia, the song opens an intimate conversation about mental well-being, judgment, fear, vulnerability, and the struggle to feel free in a world that can be quick to define people from the outside. Harmoni does not keep the subject at a safe distance. She brings the listener directly into the experience, shaping the song as a confession that feels immediate and exposed.

The accompanying music video establishes that vulnerability from its opening moments. Harmoni sits alone on her front porch, drinking water, visibly troubled and seemingly asking herself whether she is truly okay. Nearby, two women watch her from a distance. Their expressions communicate the judgment and assumptions that sit at the center of the song. Without speaking, they capture a painful reality: people can decide who someone is before taking the time to understand what that person may be going through.

Looking for answers, Harmoni calls a friend and heads to a hospital. The song then unfolds inside a psychiatrist’s office, where she is asked, “So, Miss Allen, what brings you to my office today?” Her answer becomes the emotional core of “Schitzo.” The music takes over, developing into a slow-burning, soulfully rich R&B confession carried by Harmoni’s heavenly, deeply vulnerable vocals.

Verse by verse, Harmoni reveals the strain of living under the gaze of people who may fear, misunderstand, or judge what they cannot see. She sings about people being scared of her, watching from afar, the medicines she takes, and the exhausting burden of being viewed through a label instead of recognized as a human being. Inside that pressure, however, comes a moment of release. She looks into the mirror, sits on the bed, takes a breath, and arrives at the realization that she is free.

That realization does not magically change the world around her. People still look at her the same way. Their assumptions remain. This is where “Schitzo” broadens into something many listeners can recognize, the understanding that other people’s perceptions do not get to define your identity, your worth, or your destiny.

Harmoni’s faith gives that idea its foundation. Beneath the emotional turbulence is a steady conviction that God has the last say. People may judge from afar, attach labels, and make assumptions based on appearance, yet those opinions do not determine the course of someone’s life. For Harmoni, faith creates a space where judgment begins to lose its hold and freedom becomes possible.

Musically, “Schitzo” carries the same emotional weight as its subject. The production settles into a slow-burning R&B groove that gives Harmoni’s voice room to breathe, ache, and communicate. Her soulful delivery has a nostalgic warmth, while smooth layers of vocal harmony wrap around the lead with an almost heavenly glow. The arrangement remains restrained, keeping the storytelling in clear focus instead of crowding it with unnecessary drama. Harmoni shifts naturally between fragility and quiet strength, making the performance feel close enough to resemble a private conversation across the room.

“Schitzo” ultimately centers on being seen, being misunderstood, finding your breath again, and recognizing that freedom can survive other people’s judgment.

When the final note fades, Harmoni Allen leaves behind the message that has guided the song from the beginning: people may have their opinions, but God has the final say!

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Serag Baddar Revisits a Teenage Guitar Idea With Intimacy and Patience on the Atmospheric Post Rock Track “Limerence”

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Serag Baddar Revisits a Teenage Guitar Idea With Intimacy and Patience on the Atmospheric Post Rock Track “Limerence”

Based in Malta, composer Serag Baddar turns a long-held guitar idea into something intimate and absorbing on “Limerence.” The post-rock track grew from a riff he wrote 15 years ago, with one section carrying a subtle nod to Buckethead’s “Padmasana,” whose rhythm guitar left a clear impression on Baddar.

Crisp, mellow, and atmospheric, “Limerence” moves through clean guitar layers and an ethereal sense of space. Silken vocals shimmer underneath, adding a restrained melancholy that suggests heartbreak without overwhelming the arrangement.

Baddar’s background in heavy metal remains important to the song, even as he strips away high-gain distortion and conventional vocal delivery. In their place, structure and melody do most of the emotional work. At the center is a clean, melodic guitar riff designed to flow ergonomically across the fretboard, giving the performance a natural physical ease.

The quieter acoustic and clean passages of progressive metal are an obvious reference point. Opeth and Tool, two bands that have shaped Baddar’s style, can be heard in the track’s sense of structure and restraint. Its spacious ambient textures also draw from the accessible melodic soundscapes associated with instrumental artists such as Buckethead. “Padmasana” is especially relevant, with its rhythm guitar inspiring a small section of “Limerence.”

The pacing is deliberate and unhurried, in keeping with post-rock’s slow-burn character. Its rhythmic framework stays steady, patient, and evocative, giving the central guitar melody room to breathe. Notes are allowed to ring out and decay naturally rather than being crowded by unnecessary movement.

Much of the song’s appeal comes from that simplicity. The arrangement avoids excessive time-signature gymnastics and settles into a smooth, approachable cadence that strengthens its hypnotic quality. That choice suits the meaning behind “Limerence,” the intense and involuntary psychological state of romantic obsession and infatuation that Baddar seeks to capture emotionally.

Because the released track is a “demo” mix, it retains a raw, unpolished authenticity. That texture fits Baddar’s philosophy of “writing for dopamine,” prioritizing emotional resonance and the organic “magic” of a creative spark over pristine, heavily compressed commercial engineering.

The result is intimate and thoughtful. It feels reflective and deeply personal, like a bedroom guitarist finally translating a 15-year-old teenage memory into a cohesive, immersive piece of music. The closing stretch brings the song’s crisp, clean, haunting guitar riff into sharper focus, giving the track a fitting climax and reminding us how much of its emotional weight rests on that original idea.

Baddar waited until he felt his technical ability and musical vision had matured enough to do the riff justice before recording and releasing it. He approaches music as a philosophical hobby, creating for the pleasure of the craft rather than under commercial pressure.

Taken as a whole, “Limerence” is an accomplished, carefully felt performance worth spending time with. It is streaming now.

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