The once big boys and girls of showbiz are no longer rocking stages and are lacking swagger. CAROLINE NYANGA finds out what went wrong as fans await for more hits
CMB Prezzo
The once king of bling bling seems to have lost his swagger. He was spotted at Rezorus without his bouncer Oti and his cousin Ray.
Gone also was his jewellery and expensive outfits. In fact, fans partying during the Up Town Thursday could be seen murmuring in disbelief. The El Presidente who burst into the music scene in 2004 with the hit Naleta Action featuring Nazizi looked rather too ordinary for his flossing lifestyle. Prezzo, the once unofficial de facto fashion role model during his heydays is looking ‘shabby’ by his high standards.
Back then when he ruled the roost with hits like Lets Get Down, Mahangaiko, Viletafanya featuring Jua Cali and Nonini, Leo ni Leo, Mimi na Wewe and finally chartbusting Mafans he was sharply dressed. CMB Prezzo’s name was on everyone’s lips across East Africa. And to cement
CMB PREZZO |
He was the first local artiste to don Gucci from head to toe.
To live up to his name as the King of Bling, Prezzo hired a helicopter from Wilson Airport for Sh80,000 to Carnivore to attend the 2004 Chaguo La Teeniez Awards. Back then most stars rode in matatus for the awards and Prezzo changed the scene. With Prezzo pulling such stunts, he soon hooked up with Nikki (Sheila Mwanyigha) who broke her engagement to beau Simon Roston. Other celebs tried to outwit each other when attending the awards ceremony.
He was also the first artiste to hire a limousine during 2005 Chaguo La Teeniez Awards attracting huge media attention. And awards for his style came flowing. The couple was crowned the Best Dressed Couple. However, it was his much-awaited video for the track Prezzo released in 2006, which cost Sh500,000 that made the other stars’ envy him. The clip, directed by Tedd Josiah of Blu Zebra, boasted of Caucasian women, cigars and expensive champagne. But critics argued that the video was a waste of money by East Africa standards.
Controversy soon arose. He allegedly shot in the air at a parking of a city mall sending many passers-by scampering as cops rushed to the scene. He was soon linked with a string of women including flight attendant Akisa.
However, his fortunes dwindled after he collapsed and was admitted to a top Nairobi hospital. And last year he married his long time girlfriend Daisy Kiplagat in a flashy Victorian wedding.
Since then he has not been seen in action. What happened?
Prezzo however maintains he is back and it is only a matter of time before he can prove his critics wrong.
Mercy Myra
There is no female vocalist in Kenya who can match Mercy Myra. The talented diva might have sung Afro-fusion flavoured R&B before time was ripe for such deep music. The country was still
Mercy Myra |
It was her first hit Sitaki produced by Samawati Studios that shot her to the limelight. She also featured K-South Flava (Abbas and Bamboo) in 1998 before releasing a solo album Tabasamu in 2001. This was followed with Nyisri Malong’o in 2003 which won Kisima Award for Best R&B Artiste of the Year. She was crownd Female Artiste of the Year in 2004.
This saw her tour abroad performing in various parts of the world including the 2004 Zanzibar International Film Festival and Festival Mundial in Tilburg. Mercy Myra was also part of the Divas of The Nile group that featured four Kenyan female musicians Suzzana Owiyo, Achieng Abura and Princess Jully.
However, she moved to the United States in 2005 after hooking up with Attitude with whom they have a child and consequently faded out of limelight. But despite this she won an award for Best Female Artiste category at the Msanii Awards, honouring US-based Kenyan musicians this year. At the moment Mercy says she is busy working on some new songs besides staging shows in various parts of the US. " I recently staged a show at an open mic at Juiceez Atlanta and at Adonis International," she says.
Nyashinski ( Kleptomaniacs)
Their debut album M4E catapulted their music career into great height winning them several awards. The songs Twendelee, Swing, Mi Bado Niko just to name a few were chartbusters. In
Nyashinski |
Others who are in the list include Bamzi, Bamboo, Kenyanna, Mahatma, Jo-el and Ambassada who swept to fame in 2003 with his massively successful inspirational single, Watoto Inkane, which advocated for children’s rights.
Nasty Thomas
The one half of Deux Vultures who released hits like Monalisa, Adhiambo C, Kinyaunyau, Mfupi and Teremka together with Mustapha is no longer seen in showbiz. Nasty married his Dubai-based flight attendant girlfriend Josephine and bid showbiz goodbye. But it seems that all is not well in the marital home. Rumours are flying that Nasty and Josephine temporary split due to
| Nasty Thomas |
Our sources reveal that Nasty was not kicked out because he was not contributing much to family’s financial budget.
"He has been selling cars from Dubai. In fact, he sold two or three cars here and I think he was supporting his wife," said the source.
As Nasty is busy working on his marriage, Mustapha is releasing new tracks including Ogopa Anthem, Hey Baby featuring his beau Marya and Mtaani.com featuring Avril. It is rumoured that Mustapha got tired of waiting for Nasty who after marriage went to Dubai. A source reveals that Mustapha lost so many shows and decided to carry the name of Deux Vultures.
"He is doing fine and we doubt the group will hold," said our source.
But Nasty says he is back. "I can’t tell exactly when the album will be ready but I can say I completed working on a number with RK ."
Longombas
The two brothers, Christian and Lovi, took the local music scene by storm in 2003 when they released Dondosa. Other hits included Chukua, Vuta Pumzi and the controversial Makofi which Tanzanian rapper Prof Jay accused them of stealing.
| Longombas |
Vuta Pumzi an HIV/ Aids awareness song won them four awards during the 2007 Kisima awards held at Carnivore and a Channel O award for the Best African Group in 2006. But even as their fame continued to rise, Lovi hooked up with Ida leaving Christian alone. The end result was a baby girl for Lovi. Meanwhile, the seemingly heartbroken Christian ventured on releasing Kioo which flopped.
Today the two have only managed to release a single titled My Queen almost two years since they left for the US.
But they insist that they are working on new projects. "We are doing great in terms on music besides venturing into movies."
Ida Onyango
Although she has been singing and recording since the age of 10, the US-based Kenyan artiste in Turlock City, Northern California is not seen on the music radar. The songbird who did a cameo in Bruce Willis movie Tears of the Sun playing the role of Lasana — a rape victim — also featured in the soap opera Days of Ours Lives for a month.
In 2004 she took a break from acting and recorded her debut album Tired before touring Kenya the following year for the first time. While here she recorded Don’t Stop with Homeboyz, What’s Going On With Kanjii of Kijiji Records and Stand Up with Ennovator. Upon returning to the US she released two albums Nairobi and Party.
It was during this time that she joined Longombas and Kleptomanics on a 22-city tour of the USA. She won Kisima award for Best Boomba Female with track Don’t Stop in 2006 while Make it Hot was nominated for 2007 Channel O awards.
During the time she hooked up with one of the Longomba twins, Lovi who was equally smitten by her charms. The two made headlines ‘wedding’ in Mombasa before Ida left for States. Lovi soon followed her as she was already pregnant — leaving the other twin Christian who joined them later. Finally their elder brother Ritchie and wife joined the twins. In fact Richie’s wife left a job at a prestigious African airline and has never come back. But Ida still thinks she has what it takes to entertain.
" I am working on my fourth album with Badman Productions and is one of my best. You can listen to some of my stuff at www.myspace.com/idaonyango," she says.
| Karma |
Karma
She stunned many two years ago when she walked home with two Kisima awards for New Artiste and Best Collaboration for the song Tatizo. But then shortly after she went with the wind. To date we have not heard anything new that she is working on. Only time will tell.
Flexx
He flexed his muscle into the music scene. Unlike most artistes he preferred to sit back and study his fans preferences. He collaborated with Jua Cali in Nyundo and later released Dame Amezibeba and Namba Yako among others. He later last year travelled to Germany for vacation. Word has it that Flexx is now married and is up to something real big. " I am not in a position to reveal anything at the moment because I believe in surprises. Just watch this space!"he told Pulse.
XYZee
Do you remember the artistes who brought you the famous hit Panda. Well, they were none other than Alex and Santos better known as XYZee. Some of their club bangers included Tafuta Tafuta and Kinyama just to name a few. That was almost five years ago. Alex left for USA while Santos is always seen everywhere with his cousin, councillor Mongolo
Stranger
He has since become a stranger in the music scene. He emerged into the limelight with his hit song Stranger in 2004 while still a student in a local University. Word has it that he saw the light while others suggest that he may have quit the game due to dwindled fortunes.
Indi-g-nas
His song Ujuzi, a comic hip-hop that compared strange bed-fellows Raila and Kamotho was a force to reckon with in 2003. Another hit Niaje followed in 2004. Like Flexx, Indi-g-nas said he was going abroad. Seven years later nothing has come from him.
Kantai
They call him Chris too the Kantana (pronounced Kentera). Well, Gangsta rapper Chris Kantai’s first album Quest was well received.
And he capped it with single, Kantai which catapulted him to stardom. But that was all. Kantai fell for skirt and alcohol. We wish him the best considering he has the potential.
Manga
After releasing Dunda, Fever and Fresh with Habib he made a disappearing act. But Manga quickly defends himself saying he has been busy working on an album with Ulopa.
