From Boutross to Wakadinali - Is Shrap and Drill Taking Over the Kenyan Hip-Hop Scene?

Hip-Hop is such an influential music genre around the world. What's even more interesting is that different sub-genres of Hip-Hop seem to originate in different areas and remain uniquely original to the 'hoods' they originated from. You won't talk about Hip-Hop in the USA and miss to include trap, crunk, boom-bap, drill, mumble rap, Westcoast Hip-Hop as subgenres ; just to name but a few.

The same applies to Kenya where the Hip-Hop culture is quite rich. Doe this ring a bell? I know the first names that pop into your mind are Khaligraph Jones, Octopizzo, King Kaka and the likes. NO.

Today I'm going to take you through a drift of notable alternative rappers in the Kenyan Rap industry that have propagated a fresh and unique subgenre in the Kenyan Hip-Hop scene.

This subgenre is known as Shrap.

 Boutross,Kenyan Shrapper.
[©: @boutross_munene]

Shrap is the Kenyan trap sound. Shrap is a Sheng (kenyan slang) word that can be simply translated to "rapping in Sheng". This term is almost perfect as the most notable feature in Shrap is the extensive use of the Kenyan slang (Sheng). These "shrappers" would be the perfect equivalents to American rappers like Young Thug, Roddy Ricch, Lil Durk and drill artists like Pop Smoke.

So let's jump in and explore!

1.Boutross

Boutross is arguably the King of Shrap. He's one of the pioneers in this scene when the sub-genre was still in its early stages back in 2013. The 'Story Ilianza Like This' rapper has a number of notable projects under his belt but the most notable ones are his 2018 EP:Billy Jean and last year's album; 6ixviewsII8k with the latter spawning hit singles like Story Ilianza and Omoka. 

6IXVIEWSII8K album cover. 
[©: @boutross_munene]

He's also gone an extra mile to prove his independence in the music industry by cofounding the Indie Record Label known as ADF Music.

Boutross' rapping style is so easygoing and funky. He's one of those rappers that'd be keeping it on the low but still dropping bars and strong memorable punchlines while switching between Sheng and English.

Boutross. 
[©: @boutross_munene]

He started gaining mainstream appeal when he was featured in Octopizzo's song: Tergat Gang alongside Barack Jacuzzi and other rappers. I can say that one of his biggest achievements are being chosen as an Empawa Africa Artist in 2019 and getting featured as a Home Boyz Radio Freshman back in 2015.

Whether you vibe with his style or not, one thing that's for sure is that his star has just but started to shine even brighter.

Should he be crowned 'King of Shrap'? - most definitely.

2.Kahu$h

"Mi siwezi stop, aki I'm the best!" (I can't stop, I swear I'm the best!), goes a line in Kahu$h's 2019 hit single: Mi Siwezi. If you're his fan, I bet you can agree with me that this is the track that really brought him out of the dark and into the Rap limelight. This only seemed to be the start of a journey into prowess when he came back with his hit ;Mastingo, featuring Chris Kaiga which was an anthem back in 2020.

Kahu$h's W. I. N album cover. 
[©: @kahush_] 

Listening to Kahu$h, one would notice the blend of mellow and warm sounds intertwined with a great rapping style that's so alternative and unique in its own way. He's still able to deliver perfectly with humorous lines like : "She say she a queen, so I play her like it's chess"

With his 2019 album Trial and Error, 2020 album W. I. N(Winning in Nairobi) and multiple singles and successful collaborative projects under his name, Kenya's Cabinet Secretary for Health's son has really cemented his presence in this industry and he may stay longer than you might expect.

3.Chris Kaiga

It would be an abomination for me to talk about Kahu$h and miss to include the Zimenice hit maker here. "Si masoo ni mangire... zimenice!" This is probably one of the most memorable lines there's ever been in a Kenyan sound. Though Kaiga had other great projects beforehand, this collaborative masterpiece with Tezzla really catapulted him to greater heights in the Kenyan music industry as a whole.

Hapo tu! 
[©: @chris_kaiga]

He proves to not be just a one minute wonder as he can boast of other hit singles like Niko On, Chain Chain and Hapo Tu ;where he got featured by Nyashinski.

If at all you think Kaiga just surfaced into the industry like a mysterious fairy, you must be so wrong. Kaiga has been on the scene for over 10 years now. He was actually once a member of a now defunct music group known as Kwenye Hii Masaa, which also consisted of artists like Nelly the Goon. This really proves his consistency and patience to grow to the star he is at the moment. 

Chris Kaiga, the "Zimenice" hit maker. 
[©: @chris_kaiga]

Kaiga's musical style is so unique. Really unique. I can describe it as a mash up of Gengetone, rap,uptown beats, Afro pop and a bit of Funk and Jazz. Kaiga himself coins his style as Debe;which he beefs up with great conceptual music videos. 

The feel-good vibes and humor in his music are just enough to soothe one's soul and still entertain to a great extent. He's really brought a fresh breath of air into the kenyan music industry and I bet he's got even hotter plans up his sleeve!

4.Wakadinali

Talk about American drill artists like the late Pop Smoke, Fivio Foreign,A$AP Ferg, Polo G and CJ, no other Kenyan rapper has been able to bring this subgenre to life much better than Wakadinali. 

Drill Hip-Hop isn't such a popular genre in Kenya let alone in Africa. But Wakadinali have been able to bring it to life in such an amazingly entertaining way that it has undoubtedly become a staple to Kenyan Hip-Hop fans. 

Rong Rende Crew:Scar, Domani & SewerSydaa
[©: @wakadinali]

If at all you've never heard of them...you better! 

The group consists of of three rappers namely; Scar, Domani and SewerSydaa. All the three are from Eastlands;a neighborhood in the outskirts of Nairobi. An interesting fact:the group was cofounded by Scar and Domani back in 2003.

YES:2003! SewerSydaa then came to join the two much later on. The group also goes with the monikers Rong Rende and Zozanation. 

With an impressive discography of albums and singles, the drill group has been able to break into not only the Kenyan mainstream scene but also continentally. They've had a number of impressive projects but the most popular ones are these albums : Ndani ya Cockpit(2017),Ndani ya Cockpit 2 (2018), Mtoto wa Mama (2019) and Victims of Madness (2020). 

Victims of Madness was one of the most anticipated album releases ever in Kenya. And true to its excellence, it was able to spawn multiple smash hits like Triple XL, Extra Pressure and Chesswoh. 

Victims of Madness album cover. 
[©: @wakadinali]

Just as any drill artists, Wakadinali's lyrics usually portray violent and hedonistic criminal lifestyles. However, their rapping style is indisputably world-class. A typical Wakadinali's track is characterized by bars on bars, multiple punchlines and sparse instrumentation to make the lyrics take centerstage. 

If at all there's a prize for best African drill artists, why not grant it to Wakadinali without any question? 

5.Jovie Jovv

The Nairobian Shrap scene can not be complete without Jovie Jovv. Jovie started gaining tract in the Kenyan Rap scene back in 2016 and immediately became a household name. He sets himself apart from other Shrap artists by his eerie rapping style and crooning sweetly over mellow beats. 

The Don:Jovie Jovv
[©: @joviejovv]

Considered as "cool kid wa Kilimani", Jovie has been able to debunk such jokes by bringing out great content. His 2020 debut studio album ;DWMD (Don Wa MaDon) was particularly successful with features ranging from Bey T, Steph Kapella, Silverstone Barz and others. 

DWMD album cover. 
[©: @joviejovv]

 He's made his name known and cemented his career greatly to the point of even securing a collaboration with Sho Madjozi in 2020.This was a great moment in the Kenyan Shrap industry as it just proved how much Shrap is gaining tract even outside Kenya's borders. 

 

All hail to the Don! 

Will Shrap and Kenyan Drill Stay? 

YES.Most definitely. 

I feel so because these are genres that have been growing gradually in the Kenyan music industry and have come to be accepted greatly and affectionately not only by the Kenyan audience but also outside the borders. 

And I believe that this is just but the start of a golden Era in the Kenyan Hip-Hop scene. 

What do you think about this? Lemme know your thoughts in the comment section below! 

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Bye and don't forget to smile...you're worth it!