Star struck: What happened?

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

Mercy Myra

listening to Kapuka, Genge and hip-hop. She also shot herself in the arm when she relocated to USA with her rapper hubby Attitude. Now we rarely think of her musical genius although she rocked from 1996 as lead vocalist with Calabash Band for a year. She left and joined Destinee Band and Black Ice in 1997 before going solo.

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

Nasty Thomas

domestic quarrels. He left their Dubai home for Kenya to cool things off. Nasty is nowaday’s seen in the company of CMB Prezzo looking dull. He does not wear his flashy outfits anymore.

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.

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.