Since inception, Hip Hop has been about the underclass struggle and nowhere has it been more evident than in Africa. The story of African Hip Hop begins in the burgeoning urban centers in the late 1980s, when the pioneers of African Hip Hop adapted and transformed it from its Americanness to fit the unique social and cultural contexts that make Africa unique. Multilingualism, African music tradition and fusion with indigenous genres were the building blocks that would later become the defining pillars of African Hip Hop.
As Hip Hop continued to evolve across Africa, themes of social commentary were merged with more traditional and nationalistic elements to give rise to country specific subgenres. Tanzania, for example, became a Hip Hop hub because the pioneering artists rapped entirely in Swahili. Artists such as Positive Black Soul from Senegal and Prophets of Da City from South Africa embraced the social commentary that came with Hip Hop while highlighting the unique challenges of being a young black person in Africa. Themes including neocolonialism, the struggle against apartheid, the state of the economy and African pride were prevalent in early African Hip Hop. This wave of hip hoppers would go on to spread across Africa giving birth to genres like Hiplife in Ghana, Bongoflava in Tanzania, Lugaflow in Uganda and Genge in Kenya.
Kenyan Hip Hop
The Kenyan Hip Hop scene is a vibrant and ever-changing one, marked by regular moments of transformation. These shifts, which have occurred every few years, bring with them new voices, fresh sounds, and wider perspectives that firm the genre’s foundations and shape its future. From the beginning when the groundbreaking entry of artists such as the socially conscious Kalamashaka, who paved the way for a new generation of Kenyan music artists; to the times when the electrifying energy of the late E-Sir, who passed away at the young age of 21, stretching further to the future when a fresh and cool wave is heralded by the quartet popularly known as Camp Mulla, Kenyan Hip Hop has weathered the storms and come out stronger, and dare I say better, for it.
2024 saw one such pivotal moment. The Kenyan Hip Hop game was ready for disruption. At a time when Nairobi’s airwaves were filled with soulful melodies and the rhythmic, sample-heavy dancehall vibes of Gengetone, Kenyan hip hop was bubbling under getting ready to infuse some into the music scene. Then, Toxic Lyrikali announced himself to the world. A master storyteller, weaving guttural narratives that resonate deeply with most urban Kenyan youth. Toxic Lyrikali merely adds rhyme and rhythm to authentic reflections of lived experiences. He strikes a delicate balance between gritty realism and compelling entertainment, making his music accessible to a broad audience without compromising its integrity.
Toxic Lyrikali
For those of us born in the 90’s, maybe you remember that WWE Stone Cold Steve Austin glass shatter. That’s a fitting analogy for how Toxic Lyrikali burst onto the scene. He demanded attention and made everyone take notice. His lyrics paint a vivid and realistic picture of life in Kayole, one of Nairobi’s sprawling neighborhoods. His music brims with tales of the harsh realities, the daily struggles, and the ever-present hustle of living in Kayole and Nairobi’s Eastlands neighborhoods and estates in extension. It is not all doom and gloom though; Toxic Lyrikali also captures the dreams, aspirations, and unwavering spirit of the youth who call Kayole home. Through his record label Mboka Doba, h has been able to nurture a collective that brings together dancers, photographers, artists and more. At Mboka Doba, loosely translated from Sheng’ for ‘money from music’, creatives of various talents get a chance to earn a living.
In an interview on Ghetto Radio, Toxic Lyrikali shared glimpses into his journey and the inspirations behind his career as a musician . He spoke about his childhood dreams of becoming a footballer, his passion for the sport, evident at an early age. It was during his high school years when he began drifting away from the dreams of being on a pitch, pulled instead towards becoming a musician. He dedicated himself fully to music, improving his skills, developing his unique style and flow, and pouring his heart and soul into his craft. Despite his growing fame, Toxic Lyrikali remains firmly rooted in Kayole, a testament to his connection to his community. He has been upfront that he is a product of his upbringing, evident in his lyrics, his videos and even his performances. When performing on stage he has a crowd of close buddies with him, taking the phrase that he has his whole neighborhood on his back to a visceral level.
Amplifying the Voice of the Streets
While his musical journey began in 2022, it was in 2024 that Toxic Lyrikali’s star truly began to ascend. His single “Thugnificent” became a slow burning sensation, fuelled by the viral power of TikTok. Content creators flocked to the track, creating a wave of user-generated videos that amplified its reach exponentially. The buzz on TikTok quickly translated to YouTube, where the official music video amassed over a million views in a short time. In the Kenyan music scene, hitting a million (unsponsored) views on Youtube is still a big deal, akin to going platinum in other markets, dare I say. But Toxic Lyrikali wasn’t a one-hit wonder. He capitalized on the momentum, releasing a string of follow-up singles, including “Cartman” and “Chinje.” Chinje, released towards the end of 2024, further entrenched his position as a force to pay attention to. The track exploded, garnering over three million views on YouTube and introducing the hip hopper to a whole new fan base. At the same time the violent nature and tone of the lyrics an video, in which the artist brandishes a machete, drew a lot of criticism.
Toxic Lyrikali’s insistence to tell his story as it is, is a major reason attributed to his fast rise in the Kenyan music scene. In an industry often driven by pomp and glamour, he has chosen to remain down to earth, true only to his own path. His music videos, absent of expensive sets and elaborate productions, are filmed in the streets of Kayole where he grew up, often with a close-knit crew of friends surrounding him. This raw aesthetic, much like with Gengetone artists that came before him, resonates deeply with Nairobi’s youth, who see in him a voice for their struggles and aspirations, a conduit for their stories, often overlooked by the mainstream media.
In an industry where trends change rapidly and popularity can be fleeting, Toxic Lyrikali possesses the staying qualities that infer a long and/or prosperous career. His relentless drive, powerful storytelling, deep connection to his background and unwavering commitment to authenticity are proof that the Kenyan artist is more than just a fading viral sensation.
