I read this note by Kanyewest and it made so much sense to me i could actually relate his situation with mine but in 2 different time zones! I decided to blog it in my own way….my very own Mgenge experience!

Am in the house listening to Hanyaring Game and Mwisho ya mawazo. They bring back so many memories yaani when i first started in the music industry back in the calif records days with ma first single Nonini ni nani na ni nini! Back then we were underground musicians no one wanted to embrace a style of music where niggaz are rapping in sheng but the off thing was like this cats were talking not even rapping.

My first interview ever was at nation radio mid-morning show with Bernard Otieno. I was with Juacali and Bernard played Ruka,a song called Ni ukweli and Manzi wa nairobi. He was asking feedback from the listeners and the first caller was like fuck that shit! 2nd caller said shit is wack! 3rd caller was like thats not rapping thats talking it shouldnt be on radio..4th…5th…6th…dissing. I was sinking in that chair at the studio. 30min into the show a guy called Bruce Odhiambo called,he was listening to the show from Kisumu. He is a veteran music producer who is highly respected up to today in Kenya. Bruce was lyk “this is a different style that Kenya is hearing from those young boys,it will take time before they fully embrace it. But what id like to tell those boys is that do ur thing and jus follow ur dreams. Never mind the haters!” That statement alone gets me going till today.

Music is so Nostalgic every song i listen to takes me back to the days i first played my single on CD to my mum,sisters and friends….When we used to take singles to radio stations with Jua….When u used to call up the radio stations and vote for our own songs lol…..When we never used to have cars….When we used to hustle all day and eat chipo za luthuli za mbao tuki rudi calif jioni…..When we never had money for fare kazi ni kuwika sare….When my first album finally came out…When we did those warehouse Crush concerts being paid 1000bob….When we were underdogs…..I never feel like am not the underdog.Ive never fealt comfortable. Im tormented by the need to create. With the loss of my Bro “Jude”in 1997 who never got a chance to see his younger brother shine….with the loss of my friend Muxhsin 2009 who never got to see my 3rd album give birth to the Godfather….The only thing thats keeps me sane is the need and responsibility to create.

I know how it feels to be critisized by the society,i know how it feels to be compared to sm one…It slows down ur wings.Society and Public opinion can beat the wings of Angels. During the Godfather album making smtimes i turn the music up,drink and cry. Imagining how far this journey has brought me in this 10yrs…Friends ive made during the journey and friends ive lost. I was blessed with the opportunity to bring my and other dreams to life.Its like performing magic or smthing when u see ur ideas u put down in paper become music then finally conceptualize to visuals on ur TV Screens.Its Sur-Real..We bring the unrealistic to reality.

There is no such thing as Fact anymore…just Opinion. The closest thing we have to fact is “Common Opinion”.Everyhing is an Opinion. The way u dress is an expression of ur opinion….Your religious beliefs are your opinion….The music u turn up loud is your opinion.For most people its easier to just agree. For me the hardest thing is to “just” agree and thats what Sparks CREATIVITY….the feeling that something can be better,the feeling that something is missing,the feeling that something is needed.

Follow ur dreams and strive always to be Pre-eminent!

Yours Truly

Godfather of Genge!

Nonini.