Who is the GOAT? Kenyans rank the country’s top 3 greatest artistes
From Nairobi to Mombasa and everywhere in between, Kenyan fans are buzzing about their favourite artistes. But who’s got the crown? Who’s dominating the charts and stealing hearts?
We dive deep into the drama to uncover Kenya’s top dog in the music game, and by the looks of it, there are only a few names that stand out.
As with everything else in entertainment, the fans are the ultimate judges of success and their voices ring loud and clear when it comes to crowning their favourite artistes.
From the infectious beats of Gengetone to the soulful melodies of Afro-pop, Kenyan musicians have made waves both locally and internationally. But what impression have they made on their own people?
According to one fan site, Kenyans have gone head-to-head with other fellow Kenyans to debate which artist is the greatest of all time.
From a general overview of the choices, more Kenyans seem to be torn between Nyashinski, Khaligraph Jones and Bien.
What’s surprising is that GOAT acts such as Mejja and Otile Brown seem to be overlooked.
However, the battle between Bien and Nyashinski is still going on, with people pointing out the level of skill that both artistes possess.
According to the Fan Favourite post, Kenyans are asked to rank their top three artistes and at the moment, Nyashinski, Bien, and Khaligraph Jones, in that particular order, seem to reign supreme.
With that in mind, let’s take a closer look at these artistes.
Nyashinski
Nyashinski has left his mark on the music industry as one of the greatest of all time, regardless of the decade-long hiatus he once took from music.
Born Nyamari Ongegu, Nyashinski is a Kenyan rapper, singer and songwriter who has made a lasting impact on East African music.
Originally a member of the successful boy band Kleptomaniax, Nyashinski embarked on a solo career after the group disbanded in 2009.
After a decade away from music, during which he pursued various interests including truck driving in the US, Nyashinski made a triumphant return to the music scene in 2016.
His comeback was marked by the hit ‘Now You Know’, which set the stage for a stellar solo career. His 2020 debut album ‘Lucky You’ cemented his reputation as a formidable artist with exceptional lyrical skills and diverse musical styles.
Nyashinski’s personal life also made headlines when he married his longtime partner, Zia Jepkemei Bett, in 2019 and welcomed their first child in 2020. In 2023, the singer released his much-acclaimed song ‘Perfect Design’.
Bien
Bien is a globally recognised Grammy Award-winning songwriter, musician and acclaimed vocalist from Kenya.
He is one-quarter of the globally acclaimed boy band Sauti Sol, which has dominated the charts for over 15 years.
Bien has earned respect across the continent and around the world for his musicianship.
He is best known for his raspy vocals, beautiful songwriting, infectious personality and bald head! Bien’s first solo EP was titled ‘Bald Men Love Better’.
This project spawned the East African summer hit of 2022, ‘Mbwe Mbwe’, one of the most streamed East African songs of 2022 with over 12 million YouTube views. Following the success of ‘Mbwe Mbwe’, Bien has had a string of East African hits including ‘Dimension’ and ‘Inauma’.
With consistent chart-topping East African success throughout 2022, Bien has over 5 million streams on Spotify and 50 million views on TikTok. Bien’s upcoming highly anticipated project ‘Alusa why are you topless’ will follow in early 2023.
Khaligraph Jones
Born Brian Ouko Omollo on 12 June 1990, Khaligraph Jones is a renowned Kenyan rapper known for hits such as ‘Mazishi’ and ‘Yego’.
His debut album, Testimony 1990, was released in June 2018, marking a milestone in his career.
Over the years, he’s garnered accolades, including winning “Best Hip Hop Artist” at the 2020 Afrimma Awards and being nominated for prestigious awards like the BET Awards.
Raised in Nairobi’s Kayole neighbourhood, Jones began his musical journey in 2008 and gained international recognition after winning the Channel O Music Video Awards Emcee Africa in 2009.
In addition to his musical achievements, he’s collaborated with brands like Odibets and spearheaded initiatives like the ‘OdiNare’ rap challenge.