Genge
Genge music, or genge, is a genre of hip hop music with additional influences from dancehall music that had its beginnings in Nairobi, Kenya.[1] The name was coined by the producer Clemo and popularized by Kenyan rappers Jua Cali and Nonini who started off at Calif Records, and is commonly sung in Sheng (slang), Swahili or local dialects. The term genge is a sheng word for "a group or a mass of people".
| Genge | |
|---|---|
| Stylistic origins | Hip hop, dancehall, Traditional African music, Reggaeton |
| Cultural origins | 1990s,2017 Nairobi, Kenya |
| Typical instruments | Rapping, Vocals, Keyboard, Sampler |
| Derivative forms | Kenyan hip hop |
| Subgenres | |
| Ghipuka, Gengetone | |
| Regional scenes | |
| Kenya | |
Origins and characteristics
As Kenyan urban music became more and more popular, Kenyan artists and music fans wanted to have a common name for their music and lots of names were suggested; among them were Boomba music, kapuka, and gemba among others. Around this time Nonini started a campaign to popularize the term "genge" to refer to Kenyan urban music, but also specifically music by artists on Calif Records.
Calif-style genge was originated by Clement "Clemo" Rapudo of Calif Records and located in California Estate, Nairobi. It was popularized by rappers, including Nonini with his song Manzi wa Nairobi and Jua Cali with the songs Nipe Asali and Ruka. Due to disagreement on the definition of Kenyan urban music, the name genge is now more commonly used to describe music from Calif Records. However, genge is easily identified by its rapping style and conversational rhythm format that makes a song sound like a casual discussion in sheng.
The most notable genge artists are Nonini, P-Unit, Jua Cali, Influx Swagga, Flexx, Jimw@t, Rat-a-tat, Alpha Msanii, the late Lady S, and Pili Pili among others. Nonini was the most popular artist on the Calif Records stable between the year 2002 and 2004 when he left for Homeboyz Productions. He has since fallen out of favor with most genge artists and importantly, producer Clemo. Jua Cali, who stayed with Calif Records, is the de facto king of genge; riding high on his latest song, Kwaheri - a collaboration with the Sanaipei Tande. Nonini is the self-titled Godfather of Genge.
Genge has given rise to other subgenres such as the Ghipuka popularised by Kenrazy, however, it remains a formidable force as America-based producer Keggah has added a fresh flavor to give genge a new sound that Kenyans are loving.
After years of silence from genge artists, in June 2018, an Umoja-based boy band called Ethic Entertainment, came out with their break-out song "Lamba Lolo" a song that garnered over 4 million views on YouTube. Other boy bands like Boondocks Gang, Ochungulo Family, Sailors Gang, Wakali Wao,Angry Panda, Wakadinali, Vintage Clan, Rico Gang came out and produced bangers that bore the subgenre, Gengetone,which has taken more infuence from dancehall music and less hiphop music than genge. There has been a sprout of hundreds of youth releasing songs from the ghetto in Nairobi. Most of these songs talk about sex, drugs, particularly bhang, and women.
On August 27, 2019, the hit banger "Wamlambez" by Sailors_254 was banned by KFCB for its obscene lyrics from public airplay to only restrict it to clubs and bars. It was regarded to be "pure pornography" by KFCB boss Dr. Ezekiel Mutua. The song became a national catchphrase even by students, youths, and even notable politicians like former Prime Minister Raila Odinga had been seen dancing to it.
Some of the most popular genge tracks include:
| Artist | Title | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nonini | Manzi wa Nairobi | ||||||||||||||
| We Kamu | |||||||||||||||
| Influx Swagga | Ongea Dada | ||||||||||||||
| Wazim | |||||||||||||||
| Last Night | |||||||||||||||
| Come Twende | |||||||||||||||
| Jua Cali | Ruka | ||||||||||||||
| Kiasi | |||||||||||||||
| Bidii Yangu | |||||||||||||||
| Flexx | Nyundo | ||||||||||||||
| Pilipili | Morale (featuring Rat-a-tat) | ||||||||||||||
| Kamata Dame | |||||||||||||||
| Jimw@t | Under 18,
Sitoi Kitu Kidogo | ||||||||||||||
| Ethic Entertainment | Lamba Lolo, | Position, | Saba, | Instagram, | Fyeka, | Figa, | Daladala | Chapa chapa | daktari | tarimbo | Thao ft Boondocks gang | vanilla | Quarantei | ||
| Boondocks Gang | Rieng, | Mavitu, | Ital, | Madam, | Mboko Haram | Mathogothanio | Nirombose | Kidolee | Taniuwa | Vuvuzela | Modo Man | Sidonyo | Kimangoto ft.Timmy Tdat | 2020 | Kawazim ft.Magix Enga,Sailors Gang |
| Sailors | Wamlambez(banned from public airplay) | Pekejeng | Queen B | Wainame | nyandus | Wakiritho | Katanisha | Jesu ni mwathani | Ni Tekenye | Dunda | |||||
| Zzero Sufuri | Zimenishika, | Matisha | Kashike | Matiati | Manzi | Magode choke | Magoe | Maria | |||||||
| Ochungulo Family | Bora Uhai | Na Iwake Rmx | Aluta | Kirimino | Thutha | Kong'o | Kaa na Mamayako | Do Re Mi | Dudu | Make up | Ngwai | Ntaambia nini watu | Pandemik | ||
| Gwaash | Sponyo | Ball 'n' flexx | Shooter | Wabebe | Kalongo(ft Boondocks Gang) | Katambe | Kichinjio
(ft Wakali Wao X Boondocks Gang) | ||||||||
| OnlyoneDelo | Chupa ku Chupa | Epuka | Sondeka Freestyle | Cheza | Tandika | Riba ft.Odi wa Murang'a,Nelly the Goon | |||||||||
| Angry Panda | Tapo | Nakudai | |||||||||||||
See also
- Kenyan hip hop
- Boomba, another form of Kenyan hip-hop
References
- Goldsmith, Melissa Ursula Dawn (2018). "Kenya". In Goldsmith, Melissa Ursula Dawn; Fonseca, Anthony J. (eds.). Hip Hop around the World: An Encyclopedia. ABC-CLIO. p. 393. ISBN 9780313357596.