Tbt hot tunes that still rock the airwaves

Music is a language that doesn’t speak in particular words. It speaks in emotions. Music gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination and life to everything.

Great music is unforgettable and despite how many years back it was released, once played it always entertains. There are musician s who existed in the past and left behind memorable moments in the music industry.

Some of these musicians passed on, others changed to other careers while others are still doing great in music. Some started as secular artistes and later changed to gospel music industry like Size 8 and Amani.

The greatest collabo was on ‘Tatizo’ song which was done by Nameless, Abbas Kubaff, Nyashinski, Pam, Juacali and Karma. Nameless, whose real name is David Mathenge, is a Kenyan pop artist. He is married to fellow musician Wahu Kagwi. They have two daughters, Tumiso and Nyakio.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=itOSvQouB8s

He rose to fame in 1999 through a star-search contest on Kenya’s urban music station 98.4 Capital FM, which he won with his original song “Megarider.” This was the turning point in his musical career.

He went on to sign with the Ogopa Deejays label in 2001 and collaborated with artists such as the late E-Sir on “Boomba Train,” and Amani on the regional hit “Ninanoki” in 2002 which broke Kenyan chart records by remaining nearly four months at number one.

He is regarded as one of the modern music pioneers in Kenya alongside his wife Wahu Kagwi.

Andrew Kabiru Karuku, popularly known as Abbas Kubaff, is a Kenyan hip hop artist who was raised in the Kariobangi South, Nairobi. As a member of the rap group K-South.

K-South was a trio formed by Abbas, his brother KC and neighborhood friend Bamboo. The group split in 2005 after KC went missing and Bamboo move to the United States. As a solo artiste, Abbas is famous for hit songs such as “Chapaa” and “Tokelezea”. 

Nyashinski rose in a group which was then known as Kleptomaniax which consisted of three members; Roba (Robert Manyasa), Collo (Collins Majale) and Nyashinski (Nyamari Ongegu).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IwLqF8KupQk

The group was formed in 1999 when they were still high school students at the Nairobi school. The group joined the Ogopa DJs label and released their first single, “Freak It” in 2002, which was followed by “Maniax Anthem” and “Haree.” In 2004 the group released another single “Tuendelee”, which became their biggest hit so far.

After 2007, the group had a break while their members engaged in solo projects. Nyashinski is still shinning in music, unlike his fellow members.

Paul Julius Nunda better known by his stage name Jua Cali, is a Kenyan hip hop artist. In 2000, together with record producer Clemo, he founded Calif Records where he has been ever since.

Juacali began rapping at age 10, encouraged by his elder brother Christopher Sati. His first recorded track was Ruka, released in 2001, and was followed by Nipe Asali in 2002. In 2004 He collaborated with Pilipili in the track “Kamata Dame”.

Peter Gatonye, known better for his stage name Pilipili is also a legendary musician. At the beginning of his career, he collaborated with another musician, Gun B. Their best-known song was “Nampenda”. He also sang a song with Ratatat, ‘Morale’.

He is known for hits such as Kamata Dem, Mpaka Che, Morale, Iweje, among others. His former partner, Gun B (Robert Misiani), died on 20 October 2007 due to illness.

Swabri Mohammed, better known by his stage name, Redsan, is a Kenyan reggae and ragga musician. His music career began when he won the Star Search challenge hosted at Carnivore discothèque in Nairobi in 1998. He released his first album ‘Seasons of the San (2002)’ as part of the Ogopa Djs unit.

This album included hit songs “Julie” and “Wanipa Raha” which propelled him to fame in Kenya, East Africa and abroad.

Cecilia Wairimu, better known by her stage name Amani, is a Kenyan singer and songwriter. She signed a record deal with Ogopa Deejays in 1999, right after graduating from high school.

Her 2002 collaboration with Nameless, titled “Ninanoki”, was a major national hit. Her later singles include “Talk to You” (featuring Patonee and Big Pin), “Bad Boy” featuring Nyashinski, Usiwe Mbali featuring AY, “Tamani”, “Missing My Baby”, and “Tonight”.

James “Jim” Wathigo Mburu, better known by his stage name Jimwat stylized was also a Kenyan genge rapper. While still in Form 4, Jimwat went to Calif Records and recorded his first song, Sema Nami Sweetie.

It was not released until he completed his O levels. On clearing high school, Jimwat released it and he was shocked to hear it on 98.4 Capital FM a few days after its release.

Later, other stations followed suit. The same year, he was featured by Rhaptaz, (a group composed of Gabu of P-Unit) in Paulina which became a club hit and was used in the Close-Up Dance-o-Mania competition.

Linet Munyari, famously known as Size 8, started her music career as a secular artist. She was discovered by Clemo, a Kenyan producer and co-founder of Calif Records when she auditioned locally and later signed on the Record label.

She released “Shamba Boy”, “Silali” and “Vidonge”. As of April 2013, she confirmed to have crossed over to the gospel music industry, having been born again and subsequently releasing her first single “Mateke”. She has released others like “Moto”, “Yuko na Wewe”, “Jemedari” and “Afadhali Yesu”.

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