Bobby Mapesa; Why I dissed Nonini and P Unit in my latest track Tuzidi

 Bobby Mapesa

BY CAROLINE NYANGA

The release of Bobby Mapesa’s latest song Tuzidi featuring rapper Calvo Mistari – has elicited a lot of mixed reactions among local fans besides igniting beef between him and Godfather of Genge Rapper Nonini and P –Unit.

The song whose part goes: ‘Nilifyeka Mgenge kwa Mtoto Mzuri akazaa, ile Unit saa hii ime beat has seemingly ignited beef between Mapesa, Nonini and Frasha formerly of P- Unit.

Upon listening to the song Nonini during one of his interviews dismissed the it as a passing cloud and a ploy for Mapesa to seek publicity using his name owing to fact that he is finished both musically and financially.

“Bro unajiita mapesa na unashindwa kulipa rent.. na kwenda route 11. Tia bidii ndio tuongee,” he said.  (Brother you call yourself money (claiming to be loaded) yet you can hardly pay your house rent besides being fond of boarding matatus). It is time you aimed at putting more effort in a bid to look for money in order for us to have a decent conversation).

Meanwhile, rapper Frasha posted a message on his social media wall insinuating that although Mapesa was one of the best rappers locally he remains poor.

“If there were rappers I would wish to come back to life they would be the late Tupac Amaru Shakur, Notorious BIG and the poor Bobby Mapesa,” he lamented.

Speaking to SDE Bobby Mapesa who has been dubbed one of the illest rappers locally says he has no regrets.

According to him whatever he sang is nothing but the truth.

 “I was just speaking facts, and that line: ‘Nilifyeka Mgenge kwa Mtoto Mzuri akazaa, ile Unit saa hii ime beat,’ was perfect for that beat, and it’s not a secret,’ he says. 

So does this mean he has something against Nonini?

Nothing, save for the fact that Nonini should give me my royalties for Mtoto Mzuri remix track.

“I was the executive producer of the song and I paid for studio time. I don’t know why he wouldn’t pay for it. Maybe he was just being shady about it. It almost cost me my relationship with the studio I was in. I had to pay from my pocket, but we shared the cost of making the video,” he says.

Mapesa adds that Nonini being a Prisk (Performers Rights Society of Kenya) official, which means he is a leader should know how much artistes deserve to be paid.

 

“If he is responsible and has good intentions with the authority that’s bestowed upon him, he should already have called me and said: ‘Bobby, here’s your money for Mtoto Mzuri.”

A  disappointed Bobby says artists should not be holding any position in those offices since they may have hidden agendas.

“I feel bad saying this, but our industry is selfish. Everybody is looking out for their own interests and artistes are not getting along. Still, I just need my royalties and my respect because I got Nonini back to relevance at the time. Which song has he released that has surpassed Mtoto Mzuri?

Let’s be real, he should come and look for me; his other songs are just average. This time I will be a lot smarter,” he adds insinuating that Nonini would not probably be willing to work with him due to the fact that he  seriously outdid Nonini in that song that spread across the country like bushfire owing to its remix version making many people believe it was Mapesa’s. 

On allegations by Nonini that he claims to be good yet he cannot pay his house rent; Mapesa simply dismisses his claims as a storm in a tea cup. “If you have an issue with somebody, you don’t beef on Twitter. Have you seen me beefing on Twitter?

I go for interviews and speak my truth; that’s how men should resolve their issues. I was just minding my own business and, all of a sudden, I see on Twitter: “Bobby Mapesa is broke”. That’s hitting below the belt and that’s getting into my personal stuff. How do you start investigating how I pay my rent?

He should instead be talking about my song, is it good or bad? I was shocked. The last time I saw him was when we did Mtoto Mzuri. He should just leave me alone or this might get worse than it is,” he says. 

About P-Unit not being relevant anymore; Mapesa explains that despite the trio having a good platform and were on high rotation on television and radio, with the help of their Godfather Nonini they somehow failed to impress. 

“They are lucky they have women who support them, but I have no problem with them. I don’t want to emphasize on them; I only have an issue with Nonini because of my royalties. It’s all about the money,” he concludes