Here are 15 new artists who surprised everyone and took 2016 by storm

 Nyashinski, Luo Dollar, Kaymo and stiga, Cashy and Demakufu [Photo: Courtesy]

As the music curtains close this year, one name remains on the lips of Pulsers; Nyashinski.

He had been away in the United States for years and his showbiz obituary had seemingly been written a long time ago and the last nail driven into his showbiz coffin.

Then, from the dark cloud he emerged to everyone’s shock.

Never before has a Kenyan artiste made such a big statement with two successful chart-topping and Internet-breaking singles like he has done with Now You Know and Mungu Pekee.

This guy even went ahead to win a double during the Pulse Music Video Awards (PMVAs) to seal it all.

Besides Nyashinski, 2016 also proved phenomenal and a breakthrough year for the showstopper lady boss Akothee who caught everyone flatfooted with smash collabos with almost every big name in Africa.

Whoever thought Akothee would end up the biggest female sound in Kenya this year? And well, there is also Timmy T Dat whose rise is still a story worth watching out for.

But besides these three, there are some fresh talents who rose from the woods to the surprise of everyone:

Vicmass Luodollar

The crown of new acts this year goes to Vicmass Luodollar. The self-tilted Luo rap king is currently riding high on Bank Otuch, the collaboration with Octopizzo, probably one of the biggest collabos of this year.

Once a street urchin, he mesmerizes many with his poetic abilities. His modest tone is unhurried and his words calculated.

Kush Tracey

Although Kush Tracey began rapping a while ago, she is also another star to watch out for. She has dropped hit after hit.

Now riding high with Playboy, she is proving that she is the industry’s ‘baddest” female rapper. While her previous hits such as Hauwezi ni Dandia, Mbesa, and Kamote were worth talking about, with Playboy she did a killer job which was accompanied by an awesome video that never disappointed either.

Kyki

After releasing Kuku Mwitu, a diss track only days after Femi one’s Pilau Njeri, the newest female artiste Kyki has affirmed her presence as one of the promising talents.

Kyki believes she is an underrated underground artiste since 2014. She refutes claims that she was only seeking relevance in the industry by popping out and joining the ongoing beef with other female rappers but instead promised that she is a force to reckon with.

Everlast

The quartet all boys group Everlast dropped a surprise hit Gudi Gudi that everybody is jamming to. Their video saw them curtain raise for international renowned artiste Fuse ODG and Nigeria’s Flavor the other day.

These Busia born boys to men started off as dancers and even won Sakata dancing competition in 2013.

Even with crying foul about being conned by producer Wallace, the group never gave up and have been releasing hits.

 Gudi Gudi gave them their long-awaited breakthrough. They are currently focusing on releasing a series of feel good songs that blend various genres to go into their debut Gudi Gudi album.

Cashy

Making a debut into the music industry less than a month ago on the latest collaboration release Micasa Sucasa with Khaligraph, Cashy is more than her refined looks.

Her lyrical prowess is much more effortless than you would expect for her debut into the rap game.

Will she stay and claim the crown longer than her predecessors or will she take the back seat and fade as fast? Only time will tell.

Band BeCa

The more the merrier and why settle for one when you can have two? Right? Becky and Carol joined their names to come up with their catchy stage name BeCa.

 They released their debut single Toka in September this year and they seem to have a knack for catchy phrases including the execution of their lyrics.

The song has made them new entrants into the girl group to watch in the Kenyan music scene.

The two promise longevity with a new song out and plans of releasing more club bangers in the coming months.

Tokodi

From starting out as a joke when he went for his Tecno On the Stage audition without preparing and acing it to become Kenya’s remaining representative in the final cycle of the show to having lush videos.

If his well thought-out videos are anything to go by then this guy has thought out his way into the industry and he means to make a mark.

He doubles up as an actor as well in the Glee-esque musical series Groove Theory too.

Shukid

Having started out pretty early, being in the game for a while, and taking the necessary strides towards his breakthrough into the mainstream showbiz industry, Shukid has come to be known for his captivating lyrics and more so his voice.

He has had mixtapes and albums out already. In collaboration with fellow artistes he started out ID37 an independent music label. Among the most successful songs that have had massive airplay this year are Day one and Psykotic featuring Rosa.

Songoma

Bands are becoming great successes with each waking day. I guess after seeing that more heads put together can make much more than one, Kenyan talented kids are teaming up to make Kenyan music great again.

Made up of three ex-Sauti Academy Alumni Fess, Mwachari and Abishai, the three made a debut into the scene with Party kwa nduthi early this year which received deserving airplay. They have gone on to put together an EP that is yet to come out soon.  

Kaymo and Stiga

Some may have dismissed the newcomer duo of William Kamore aka Kaymo and Moses Waweru aka Stiga as a one hit wonder group after their popular song thitima.

 The duo believes that you don't have to follow musical rules to the letter since ordinary music does not always sell or go viral!

Thitima took over the airwaves and gospel critics came out guns blazing and condemning the song as being too wayward for the gospel industry.

The two who are threatening the status quo in the gospel scene warns that they are here to stay and bigger projects are cooking.

Recapp When they made their entry into the industry through Five Stones last year, not so many people gave them a thumbs up as one of the groups to watch.

However, the group composed of singers and rappers went ahead to release Ambition this year, a song that caught everyone off guard.

This got the group in the list of one of the surprise groups of 2016 and as it seems, the sky is the limit if their current energy is anything to go by.

Noushka

We had never heard of this name before so no one had thought of her As one of the faces to watch this year.

 But without a warning, the mellow voiced singing beauty released her Mungu Wangu track complete with a breath taking video that had choppers and hostesses.

The video was so good that it was nominated for the Pulse Music Video Awards (PMVAs). And beloved Noushka now stands to be counted among the gospel voices to watch.

MCA Tricky

Comic sensation MCA Tricky is another man on the rise. With his calculated words and wit written all over his face he blows your mind away and leaves your ribs to the mercy of God.

Despite life offering less to laugh about in his early years, he embraced comedy as a vehicle to numb misery of harsh street life. I a span of few months, he has managed to cut a niche for himself as the latest comic sensation who is out to make a difference in local stand-up comedy besides giving hope to the less fortunate.

Pascal Tokodi

Who had ever heard of Pascal Tokodi before he released his single Sitaki. Well, the singer has been around but this year was fruitful for them. After Sitaki, they even went ahead to release African Guy that won him many lady fans.

 For some reasons, this guy has been labelled the new Kenyan ladies' man and would he capitalise on this and keep his singing focus, then clearly this will remain a talent to watch in coming years.

Demakufu

A fairly new entrant into the entertainment scene, Demakufu, a DJ, has become synonymous with matatu culture.

Albeit with different platforms, he has increasingly become popular with a steady audience building online and most importantly, a fan base deeply rooted within those who use public transport every day.

 For the three years that he has been on the scene, Demakufu came from idolizing his mentors to being their competition.