Wakadinali
Wakadinali is a Kenyan hip hop group with three members, Munga Domani, Scar Mkadinali and Sewer Sydaa.[1] The group is also known as Rong Rende.[2] Wakadinali who are from the Eastlands area in Nairobi started out as an underground hiphop group and broke into the mainstream in 2020.[3]
Tela Wangeci linked the group in 2023 to what she called a "hiphop renaissance" in Nairobi, which she attributed to their ability to make music that represents the ordinary Kenyan youth.[4]
In 2022, Rolling Stone listed their song "Mc Mca" as one of the top 40 Afropop songs of 2022.[5] Their song "Sikutambui" was also listed Rolling Stone's The 40 Best Afropop Songs of 2023 list.[6]
In 2022, Wakadinali were the second most streamed local artists in Kenya on Spotify[7]. In 2023, Wakadinali were the most streamed artists in Kenya on Spotify. They were also was the fifth most streamed hip-hop artists in Kenya.[2]
History[edit]
Ndani ya Cockpit 1 was their debut album in 2017. It was then followed by a second album in 2018, Ndani ya Cockpit 2. The album uses a lot of trap sound.[8]
In 2020, Wakadinali released the Victims of Madness album which catapulted them into the mainstream. The 15-track album heavily relied on drill sounds and included hit songs like XL, Extra Pressure and Morio Anzenza.[9] Tangaza Magazine writes that the name of the album "invites the audience to look at crime and criminals in a different way. What if we put ourselves in their shoes and saw their state of victimhood?".[10] A common theme of the album is gun violence with songs such as XXL entirely focusing on the topic. In the album, Wakadinali frequently hint that gun violence is not always originating from the gangsters, but rather from police officers. Police brutality is a common theme in songs such as Njege Sanse and Kim Jong Un.
In 2021, in collaboration with Sir Bwoy, they released Geri inengi, a single that gained them more mainstream recognition. The song popularized the Sheng phrase "Subaru ya Mambaru" which refers to a Subaru car full of detectives[11].
In 2022, Wakadinali released three albums. Easy and Haitaki Hasira were released in January 2022, while Ndani ya Cockpit 3 was released in December of the same year.[12] Ndani ya Cockpit 3 was the 10th most streamed album of 2023 in Kenya[13]
Awards and nominations[edit]
In 2019 and 2020, Wakadinali won the Best Rap Group in at the Unkut Hennessy HipHop Awards[14].
In 2023, Wakadinali were nominated in the Best Hiphop Group and Best New MVP at the 2023 Soundcity MVP Awards[15]. Their song "Geri Inegi" was also nominated for Best Hip Hop song[16]. In 2022 and 2023, they were nominated for Best Group of the Year at the Pulse Music Video Awards[17] [18].
References[edit]
- ^ "Wakadinali Take The Top Spot As Kenya's Most Streamed Artists - The Sauce". www.capitalfm.co.ke.
- ^ a b Nzyoka, Nzula. "Wakadinali fifth most popular hip-hop group in Kenya after Drake, Burna Boy, 21 Savage". KBC. Retrieved 10 May 2024.
- ^ Kimutai, Cyprian. "Wakadinali tease 'Ndani ya Cockpit 3'". Pulse.live.co.ke. Pulse. Retrieved 10 May 2024.
- ^ Wangeci, Tela. "50 YEARS OF HIP-HOP: A CURRENT LOOK AT NAIROBI'S THRIVING RAP SCENE". NATIVE. Retrieved 10 May 2024.
- ^ Conteh, Mankaprr; Makinde, Tami; Miya, Madzadza; Saraki, Seyi; Wangeci, Tela. "The 40 Best Afropop Songs of 2022". RollingStone. RollingStone. Retrieved 12 May 2024.
- ^ Rolling Stone. "The 40 Best Afropop Songs of 2023". Rolling Stone. Rolling Stone. Retrieved 12 May 2024.
- ^ Waruinge, Maureen. "Lil Maina to Wakadinali - Top streamed Kenyan songs of 2022 on Spotify". Mpasho. Mpasho. Retrieved 13 May 2024.
- ^ Muiruri, Beautah. "Acumen and Dominion: Why Wakadinali only sit in the cockpit of entertainment". WAKILISHA. Retrieved 10 May 2024.
- ^ Standard Entertainment. "Victims of Madness: Wakadinali album to drop in November". The Standard. Retrieved 10 May 2024.
- ^ Mwandishi, Mesh. "Wakadinali's Drill Themed "Victim's Of Madness" Challenge's Our Notions On Crime & Its Perpetrators". TANGAZA. TANGAZA MAGAZINE. Retrieved 10 May 2024.
- ^ Matiko, Sinda. "Subaru Ya Mambaru most streamed song in Kenya". NATION. NATION. Retrieved 13 May 2024.
- ^ Robi, Amos. "Top 22 Kenyan albums and EPs released in 2022 [Pulse Picks]". Pulselive.co.ke. Pulse. Retrieved 10 May 2024.
- ^ Kivuva, Mark. "Wakadinali dominate Spotify Wrapped 2023". KBC. KBC. Retrieved 13 May 2024.
- ^ Boombuzz Kenya. "Wakadinali and Ssaru Shine at The UnKut Hip Hop Awards, 2020". Boomplay. Boomplay. Retrieved 13 May 2024.
- ^ Maganga, Charles. "Khaligraph Jones, Bien, And Other Kenyan Artists Bag Nominations At The 2023 Soundcity MVP Awards". NOTJUSTOK. Retrieved 10 May 2024.
- ^ Kisera, Maryanne. "Kenyan Artists Score Big In Soundcity MVP Awards 2023 Nominations". KENYANVIBE. KENYANVIBEO. Retrieved 13 May 2024.
- ^ Choge, Peter. "2022 Pulse Music Video Awards in Kenya: All the nominees". Music Africa. Music Africa. Retrieved 13 May 2024.
- ^ Chebet, Molly. "PMVA 2023: Pulse Music Video Awards set to dazzle Nairobi". The Standard. The Standard. Retrieved 13 May 2024.
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