I'll be back- Pilipili opens up on hiatus from music

By Vivianne Wandera | 3yrs ago | 7 min read

“Nina morale; Sista si usare; Nina morale; Wacha katambe...” This chorus from Morale would send clubs into a frenzy in the mid-2000s. It was one of the chart-toppers at the time.

Pilipili stormed onto the local music scene in 2004 with Kamata Dame (with Jua Cali) and Morale (with Ratatat). In reality, he had knocked on the entertainment doors earlier, but these two club bangers quickly made him a household name and a darling to the young generation of the decade, cementing his place in the story of Kenyan music.

He inspired a generation but, to his daughter, he is just dad. He says the fire inside him burned brighter by the day because he did not want to disappoint his parents. He wanted to prove to people that one can have a successful career in music and he did more than that. He inspired an entire generation and changed the face of the local music industry.

His debut album Fungua Mlango released in 2005 had hits like Morale, Kuja Nami, Ukimwona and Mpaka Che, that put him at the top of the charts and landed him five Kisima Awards nominations, winning three, and others at Chaguo la Teeniez and Groove awards.

Despite leaving his fans yearning for more hits from him, for now, he says: “Thank you for the love, I will be back. Soon.” He talks about his success, losing a close friend and why Gengetone is here to stay.

Your fans have been asking where you went. What happened to your ‘morale’?

I am humbled. Thank you for the love; once a musician always a musician. I am still on it, though low key. I am now a family man among many other things, and I felt the need to reinvent myself as a musician to suit the changes in the industry. We are in an era in the music industry where people stage scandals to get more clout. Sometimes it’s a matter of sacrifice and it’s been a long-time coming, years since the last release.

Every great musician or artist goes through a phase where they acquire new skills, invest, and try new things here and there. We can all agree that we live in a world where we need several income streams because you can’t depend on one. I am still doing concerts and I have a lot of unreleased music. Music is like any other business, we are investing, and we need clear, calm, systematic thinking to make returns from investments.

I hope this does not sound cliché, but I was to release new music last month and the following months, but I now have to change strategy due to Covid-19. I believe everything happens for a reason and God’s timing is the best. You will get much of me pretty soon. Thank you for your love again.

You got into the music industry in 2000 after finishing your O -levels. Didn’t you feel too young for the industry at the time? How did your parents react?

I started as an amateur rapper/singer during my O-levels. I was 12 years old doing it for the fans in jam sessions. I used to take Tupac, Biggy smalls, Naughty by Nature’s lyrics, combine them and perform them on stage. My father had a stint as a musician and owned a lot of phonograph records.

He had a lot of soul music, oldies country music, and rhumba. My late grandfather was an icon in Mwomboko music; his name was Mwangi wa Ikongo. I guess that’s where I drew my inspiration and passion for music. My younger brother is a disc jockey, DJ Rayza. Music is in my blood. My parents were cool as long as my school grades were excellent. I thank God they were liberal, and eventually, I did not disappoint them.

What was it like being famous at a young age?

I was very grounded and didn’t let it get into my head. For me music was just like any other career, it was not any different. All that was on my mind at that time was that I have to work hard and outdo myself.

What’s the difference between being famous back then and now?

The biggest change is in the different ways available to market your music currently, especially on social media. Back then, we only had the traditional press to market our music but, nowadays, you can get very popular without those, thanks to technology.

You can easily create your niche with no limitation, hence the rise of Gengetone and other queer genres.

Why the name Pilipili?

I am a proud patriotic Kenyan and I needed an official name with Swahili heritage. My childhood nickname was chilli, so I just flipped it to Pilipili to denote very hot musically, hence the blonde shouting hairstyle.

You had ambitions of being a footballer, played for the youth side of Mathare Youths Sports Association and even got picked to go for international trials in Europe. What happened?

Football was my other love. Unfortunately, we were involved in a road accident while coming for our high school midterm break. We lost a couple of students (RIP) and I had injuries on my left leg and had to hang my boots. I still play for fun and fitness whenever I get the chance. Having said that, I am an ardent fan of AFC Leopards and the great Manchester United.

You have made some of Kenya’s biggest hits. What was the inspiration behind your songs?

My music is about real life. I write what comes to my mind. Some songs were inspired by actual events that took place and some were just a product of my creativity.

You were close friends with the late Lady S, with whom you did a song. What do you miss the most about her?

Sharon was like a sister to me. May God rest her soul in eternal peace. We used to encourage each other a lot, and our families were also very close. I was at home when I got a call that she had been involved in an accident on Thika Road.

She was from the German Embassy as she was set to go on a European Schengen tour the next day. I rushed to Gurunanak hospital where she was in ICU and she, later on, succumbed to the injuries. Unfortunately, she left us at the peak of her career. I still miss her and I am glad to have done a classic with her.

The early 2000s are famed for being Kenya music industry’s golden years. Why do you think the music of the time has lived long?

There was an immense passion for music, and many artistes put their blood, sweat and tears into their songs. We were very hungry for this cake and we wanted to prove that we can change people’s mind-sets about career choices given being an artist wasn’t so popular back then.

You opened your recording label, Chilli Inc. Productions. Which artists have you worked with so far?

I have worked with great artists and producers on the local and international stage, some are on the charts right now and some doing well in other fields.

What do you think of Gengetone?

I have a lot of respect for anyone in the creative field who goes through the process. Despite the backlash from some quarters, I love Gengetone. Everyone is at liberty to listen or watch what they like at the appropriate age and determine the good from the bad. This sense of entitlement is what is killing the vibe. We have many other genres that one can always listen to.

The pinpointed contentious issues have been with us; it’s just the level of hypocrisy that’s wanting. I can only advise the artistes in that genre to expand on their creativity level for longer shelf life of their music. The fact that their songs are all over shows that it’s what most people want. No media can risk playing what is not on-demand because of relevance.

What do you like most about making music?

In a nutshell, I love everything about it.

What’s the biggest lesson fatherhood has taught you?

My daughter is the most wonderful gift God has given me. I love being the father of a girl. She gives me strength. She is my source of happiness. She has taught me to be more responsible and that life is about making sacrifices for her.

What lessons have you learnt in life that you would want to pass down to your children?

Love, be honest and respect everyone no matter their status, and that life is what you make it.

Biggest lesson you’ve learnt after being in the music industry for so long?

Be humble and accept positive criticism. Everyone has and will always have an opinion on what you do. Some people will try to demoralise you but you have to keep your head up as you cannot please everyone.

Looking back at your music career, do you think there’s anything you could have done differently?

Not really. I did my best at the given time. That’s all we can do. You do your best and leave the rest to God.

Any regrets?

None whatsoever. How can I ever regret doing something so close to my heart? Something I love so much?