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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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).
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.
Let me tell you about Dutch 3Times, a genre-fluid lyricist and melodic craftsman whose music sits somewhere between Southern reflection and Detroit pressure. He has a sharp instinct for rhythm, moving between rap, melody, and tightly cut lyricism with ease. Whether he is working over heavy trap drums or slow, atmospheric production, Dutch 3Times knows how to make a beat feel alive. He does not simply settle into the pocket, he reshapes it. Welcome aboard, ladies and gentlemen.
The independent artist returns with “Distant Lover 4: Love, Lust & Heartbreak,” a bold and intoxicating 9-track project that runs 24 minutes and 14 seconds. It marks another strong chapter in his ambitious six-part “Distant Lover Saga,” a conceptual run built around the emotional extremes of love, lust, longing, and heartbreak. Seductive, reflective, dangerous, and thrilling, this latest release is a genre-bending statement from an artist willing to blur lines, bend sound, and follow feeling wherever it takes him.
Before the music even begins, the cover art sets the mood. Washed in luminous neon green, it feels like a futuristic dreamscape where passion and heartbreak have become their own coded language. Three glowing feminine silhouettes stand at the center, part muse, part memory, part mirage. They suggest desire, mystery, and emotional complication, while streams of digital text form a matrix-like backdrop repeating the album’s core themes, love, lust, heartbreak. The image is sleek, haunting, and cybernetic. In Dutch 3Times’ world, romance feels electric and elusive, deeply felt yet always slightly out of reach.
The music is just as immersive.
The opener, “No Stress” featuring Neisha Neshae, sets the tone with futuristic minimalism that actually works. Over a clean, sharp beat built from rubbery basslines, crisp percussion, and spacious melodic restraint, Dutch 3Times shows one of his strongest gifts, his ability to lock into the production until he feels fused with it. His flow moves with smooth confidence, calm and unbothered, while Neisha Neshae brings a sharper feminine edge that strengthens the chemistry without breaking the track’s hypnotic cool.
Then comes “No Secrets,” an explosive, hook-driven anthem powered by booming 808s and sliding drill basslines that tap into the raw force of UK and New York drill. Its refrain, “Girl you know what I mean, don’t keep no secrets from me,” gives the song instant replay value. Dutch’s commanding cadence and unmistakable voice push it even further, making it one of the project’s clear centerpieces.
“BackStreet Girls PT2” moves into darker territory, a woozy nocturnal trap trip that feels like wandering through a psychedelic after-hours haze. Warped synth textures, rolling low-end, and a slow hypnotic bounce give the track its pull. Dutch 3Times leans into melody here, letting his voice dissolve into the atmosphere until he feels less like a rapper in front of the beat and more like another instrument inside the mix, ghostlike, fluid, and intoxicating.
Tracks like “All Day All Night” bring polished modern rap swagger. Dark atmospheric keys sit against punchy, clean drums, leaving enough space for the bars to breathe. The song’s stripped-back confidence and easy hook give it anthem potential. It is simple, catchy, and hard to ignore.
“Do For Me” is one of the project’s most compelling moments. Cinematic, haunting, and experimental, it carries real danger in its DNA. The production feels deep, drugged, and immersive, covered in shadow and dramatic tension. Its repetitive hook stays with you after the song ends, circling in the mind like a temptation that refuses to fade.
What makes “Distant Lover 4: Love, Lust & Heartbreak” land is its range. Dutch 3Times builds a world where sleek hip-hop minimalism, explosive drill energy, hazy trap psychedelia, polished rap bravado, and cinematic experimentation sit together naturally. There is sensuality here. There is swagger. There is vulnerability. There is edge. More than anything, there is intention.
This is music for late-night drives, smoke-filled thoughts, reckless passion, quiet obsession, and every blurred feeling in between.
With “Distant Lover 4: Love, Lust & Heartbreak,” Dutch 3Times keeps shaping the “Distant Lover Saga” into something bigger than a sequence of releases. It is starting to feel like a living universe of emotion and sound.
There is something here for everyone. Find it now by streaming this project.
Afro Brazilian trio 3B Rich keep sharpening their place in contemporary music with the release of their latest single, “Slow Twerking.” Blending modern R&B, hip hop, and pop with an easy sense of control, the song lands as a hypnotic, club minded track full of cinematic detail and an undeniable groove.
Driven by smooth, pulsing production and airy synth work, “Slow Twerking” reaches beyond the usual dancefloor rush. There is a real story inside it. The track sketches the life of a dancer moving through the nightlife world, holding onto her confidence, resilience, and ambition. Through vivid lyrics, 3B Rich present a woman who commands attention while working toward something larger, supporting her child, investing in her education, and building a future for herself on her own terms.
A big part of the song’s appeal comes from the way the group handles its vocals. Brothers Hi-en, Mr. Spotlight, and J-Royal play off one another with the kind of chemistry that makes the track feel loose and precise at the same time. Verses, hooks, and melodies pass naturally between them. Each voice has its own character, but together they create a polished, unified sound. The hook stays with you, long after the song ends.
On the production side, “Slow Twerking” captures what makes 3B Rich stand out. They move between genres with care, never losing the emotional pull or rhythmic focus of the song. The layered arrangement, sharp sense of rhythm, and melodic immediacy make it easy to imagine the track thriving both on streaming platforms and in a live setting.
The single also arrives at an important point for the trio. As attention around “Slow Twerking” continues to build, 3B Rich are wrapping up work on their debut album. The project is expected to push further into the ideas introduced here, with more genre blending, stronger storytelling, and adventurous production choices. It speaks to the group’s drive to test their range while staying grounded in something genuine.
Originally from Los Angeles and now based in Las Vegas, 3B Rich bring a distinct West Coast feel that is shaped by broader global influences. Their music is marked by tight harmonies, a strong stage presence, and a creative vision that connects different sounds and cultural perspectives. As their catalog grows, so does the sense that they are becoming a genuinely forward looking act, one with the potential to leave a real mark on pop and urban music.
With more releases, live shows, and industry partnerships ahead, 3B Rich are moving steadily from rising talent to serious creative contender.
“Slow Twerking” is available now on all major streaming platforms.
For the latest music, video releases, and tour updates, follow 3B Rich on YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok.
Rising bedroom R&B crooner Sylk McCloud, hailing from SE Washington, DC, turns up the temperature on his latest single, “Safeword.” It’s a slow burner built for the club, where glossy modern R&B melts into a little hip hop swagger. BuBu The Producer keeps the track sleek and plush, while featured rapper and emcee Mr.24 slides in with a verse that sharpens the edge.
Right away, “Safeword” lands in that moody late night pocket. The instrumental is velvet smooth, but it moves with a steady, hypnotic groove that nudges you closer. Sylk sings like he’s speaking directly across a dark room, soft in tone yet sure of himself. That push and pull is the point, a mix of vulnerability and control, desire and hesitation, all held in tension without spilling into melodrama.
The song takes its cues from the “Shades of Grey” film series, leaning into trust, fantasy, and the charged negotiation that comes with intimacy. Sylk makes the hook the centerpiece, letting the melody do the seducing even as the lyrics get bold:
“Tell me you’re sexy, all positions go
Are you ready for submission
Fifty shades is what I’m giving
Satisfaction all positions
Only one thing missing
Tell me your safeword…”
Those lines set the mood with a teasing confidence that never feels rushed. The chorus is restrained and tempting, built to linger rather than hit and disappear. Sylk’s voice floats above the beat with a magnetic ease, so the hook sticks in your head and in your gut.
When Mr.24 arrives, the energy shifts without breaking the spell. His delivery brings a gritty smooth contrast to Sylk’s melodic glide, grounding the fantasy in something a little tougher. It’s a smart pairing. The two artists sound comfortable sharing the same space, which helps “Safeword” work in more than one setting, from a packed dance floor to a late night playlist you keep to yourself.
A lot of the track’s pull comes from the production choices. BuBu The Producer builds a lush, atmospheric soundscape that matches Sylk’s tone, leaving room for breath, for pause, for that moment before the next touch. It feels designed for slow dancing, for cruising through the city after midnight, or for setting the room’s temperature with intention.
With “Safeword,” Sylk McCloud keeps carving out his lane in contemporary R&B, blending emotional weight with sensual confidence. The single plays like a small, cinematic scene, intimate on purpose, polished without feeling distant.
“Safeword” is now available on all major streaming platforms.
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