The Rise of Kenyan Hip Hop : Mashifta

Apr 19, 2012

carlthatruth ⋅ Features, Rise Of Kenyan Hip Hop ⋅ Comments

My friends and I always argue when it comes to who is Kenya’s best Lyricist, we always end up with this list of artists Kitu Sewer the Poet, Kama, Vigetti and Abbas Kubaff . He is one of the most underrated rather unpublished artists in Kenya but He is one of the best Lyricsist in the world. Kitu Sewer the Poet and G Wiji make up Mashifta. One of Kenya’s best to ever do it. From the sprawling slums of Dandora came Mashifta who captured modern day Nairobi’s corrupt system of Bribery, Immorality and greedy politicians.

Their first biggest hit was Majambazi* a grimy commentary on Kenyan society calling it a system of thieves (*Majambazi – Kenyan Translation for Thugs ) they then came back with a smash hit Pesa, Pombe Siasa na wanawake. A song teaching society on how material wealth, women and politics lead many to their demise knowingly or unknowingly its best to have everything in moderation and avoid the temptations of everyday life

Their first album was “Mashifta classics”: which featured Majambazi and Pesa Pombe. Their second album was an amazing cd titled V2 Zinazofanza Uende!? with its disillusionment with current socio/politico/economic Kenyan situation and its offering for Kenyan youth, and magazeti maradio matv with its harsh criticism of our media.

After that they slowly faded away from our t.v screens and radio stations as Kenyan Media does not appreciate conscious music and songs that touch on actual reality, true life as it is. They however did not dissappear forever as Kitu Sewer the Poet, has released a slew of singkes featuring G Wiji, Mc Mutant, Moroko and other artists. These are the people we give credit for schooling artists, such as Kalahari, Wenyeji, Wakamba Wawilii, and Juliani, as their style is evident in all of these rappers.

It’s next to impossible to picture Kenyan Hip Hop without Mashifta.  Reason being there is no one else who caught the attention of the nation with smash hits that directly pointed fingers at the culprits of our society.  Case in Point Majambazi and Pesa Pombe timeless Kenyan Hip Hop classics that were anthems to our generation. There is no one else capable of saying lines such as “usiargue na mjinga hauwezi jua difference / hata ukimuambia keep right bado atakeep left” and “usione nyuki kwa maua ukaona amepoteza ukali” or “kufurahisha dunia ni kama kufanya panya ihug ndovu ni ngumu“.

Click Here to Download Mashifta Classics + Volume 2 by Mashifta *

Unfortunately the tracks were collected from various sources and most of the files had lost their proper name tags before we got them but the bright side is this is the only place in the world you will download mixtapes by Kitu Sewer the Poet, or Mashifta, the better half a loaf than no bread typa thing so ENJOY !!

 

WHERE ARE THEY NOW?

Kitu Sewer the Poet, is still doing his music here is the link to his Facebook as for Gwiji I am not quite sure. First is BLUNDER a song featuring Kitu Sewer the Poet, and a few other Kenyan Rap Heavy Weights Abbas Kubaff and Moroko Kalahari and another song titled Ulevi by Kitu Swer that I found on YouTube uploaded Feb 16 2012.