A hitherto little-known Gloria Samuels aka Xtatic broke into the public limelight two months ago when she released the video to her new single, The Prep Track. A month later, she has proved to be the new force to reckon with. SHEILA KIMANI traced her to South Africa.
Shrugging with a mean attitude, Xtatic dons a hip-hop and urban swag, oozing with ambition and confidence. She caps her head with a hoodie before swinging a baseball bat — all set for a rap.
She comes out sexy as she slides into a smooth lyrical flow. Here comes a Kenyan Da Brat. No, she is more of Nicki Minaj; so would one argue as the newcomer freely mixes her blend of ol’ school and new school flow, interwoven with her sexy demeanour. Clearly, she has cut her niche as the new queen of urban Kenyan hip-hop.
The 21-year-old Xtatic is the latest Kenyan music export and has Africa talking since her new video hit the social media two months ago. In fact, her overnight rise to continental stardom got international record labels by shock when Sony Music (Africa) threw in the bait, picking her as their fourth African musician after signing Lira and Toya DeLazy from South Africa — the latter of whom rocked the BBA Stargame house last weekend — and multiple award winning gospel singer Rose Muhando from Tanzania.
Sony Music, the reputable international music giant boasts of signings with celebrated American stars like Beyoncé, Chris Brown, and T-Pain among many others, and being among the newest African on the block, Xtatic finds herself in an enviable showbiz wonderland having struck the mine of endless opportunities.
The prep track
From comparatively miniscule stage performances at the Words and Pictures (Wapi) Sarakasi Dome events — where she sharpened her rapping skills — to being the most talked-about female emcee in Kenya, Xtatic now has fame and fortune knocking on her door.
She comes out as the ultimate Kenyan female urban emcee; with a swagged-up lyrical flow, a unique accent and looks to die for.
Having released various tracks and done collabos with the likes of Marvin B and Bamzigi, Xtatic’s breakthrough came after the release of her latest track, The Prep Track, on the social media YouTube.
Despite the fact that most rap tracks run for more than three minutes, the prep official track is a mere two minutes long.
Apparently, the original YouTube post was just but a trial project whose craze spread through Twitter and Facebook to her shock, compelling her to record an official video.
Through YouTube, DStv’s music channel, Channel O, got to know about her and that’s how she scored a position that has granted her an international musical platform inviting Sony Music Africa to sign a deal with her.
