Stealing the thunder: Celebs outclassed

The celebrity scene is inundated by current stars who have eclipsed others to rise to superstardom, write CAROLINE NYANGA and TONY MOCHAMA

Last week, Abbas was at war with Jua Cali, saying he (Abbas) should have been the one flowing with gangsta rapper, The Game, and not Jua Cali, a ‘mere genge’ rapper.

Nonini

Then a month later, Jua Cali was the grand finale in a concert that featured Jamaican ragga star Mr Vegas. To date Jua, who has since moved on up to the Hurligham, has also landed big contracts that saw him bank over Sh3 million last year alone. This from a dude four years ago was flown to Mombasa for the first timeby Bruce Odhiambo, had never been in an aircraft. His story is simple — he came, he sang (rapped) and conquered.

2 - Abbas vs Bamboo

They started out as pioneer rappers K-South alongside K- Shaka. The two seemed to cope so well such that after the release of their albums Nairoberry and Nairobizm. Their hit track Nyama Ya Ngombe under Samawati — was on everyone’s lips. "Tunapenda zote, nyama ya ngombe, ugali, kachumbari na ndio watu wasi kondeee!" (This song ought to be made our national anthem, seeing that two million Kenyans will be facing famine in 2009.

They later had differences with their label Samawati. And they released a diss song directed at Susan Kibukosya of Samawati. They decided to work on different solo projects. Bamboo’s releases of Compe and Kabinti in 2005 took him to the very top of the local charts. Amid his scandals Bamboo chose to leave for America.

Like many who go to the USA, he soon got side-tracked into the chinky hustle, like curio-dealing, and forgot the dream.

But not Abbas! Even as folk said he was finished without Bamboo, he kept a low profile, and finished a very creative album and video. Now he was ready to unleash fire! That was Mo’ Fire (with CLD) and Na-like Chapa. He became real big and was dubbed the best local rapper cum lyricist in the East African region. With a few local awards coming his way, Abbas continues to make headlines thanks to his controversial lifestyle and candid disses directed at fellow artistes.Getting hitched to Baby G in two different weddingsbrought out the fact that Abbas is a martial G.

Angela Angwenyi vs Sanapei Tande

While Coca-Cola was busy minting out Sema stars, including Sana, Angela Angwenyi was singing on a stage in K2 during the K2 Kenya Nites, hoping to win the popularity contest. And she did.

Nikki

The year 2007 went very well for Nikki, and after surviving a nasty accident late in the year, she still went ahead to do the MTV "Making the Video" with Shell .

Wahu, meanwhile, seemed to have disappeared and left the music-making to her hubby, Nameless Kamonski. Then last year came, and like a pop-up from Yahoo, Wahu made one of the strongest comebacks into the music scene with her hit Sweet Love. She made a ‘Shell’ video with Uganda’s Bobi Wine before stealing the show at the Velodrome in Abuja, Nigeria, by winning Kenya’s first ever continental MTV award. This mama, at the start of this year, is certainly the sweet queen of the music scene.

Mariga vs Oliech

‘Oliech, Odinga, Obama!’ that has been the battle cry when the Prime Minister of Kenya goes for Harambee Stars’ matches as Dennis menaces defences (although whether Obama, or the bulls of Bonny Khalwale, will ever see Kasarani is another story).

Oliech plays for Auxerre in France and has taken his big chance to make cheddar to buy bling, Chrysler and a house for his mother in upmarket Westlands.

Oliech, Jelimo

Stl vs Ida

US-based Kenyan singer Ida Onyango was the new sweet young thing when she was nominated for Kisima Awards in 2005 and 2006. Although her songs were not so popular with the local fans she managed to capture the hearts of many with her scintillating dancing styles, creativity and twang! But not for long! STL, another SYT Kenyan based abroad (Norway) came in unobserved and managed to be even better than the bootylicious Ida. STL started her coup dÈ grace with her collabo with local rapper Kantai called Happy winning her local hearts. And awards! With the release of Taking it Back featuring Michelle. She is continues to make it big both locally and internationally, and was set to hit Kisima with her ‘Dreamer’ single before the award show simmered out last year. Her colleague Ida, it seems, decided to become play baby mama to one half of the Longomba brothers in the US. We have not heard any new releases from her since. In the meantime STL continues to rock.

Mejja vs Kenrazzy

With Kenrazzy’s — release in 2007 it became evident that he could be the next big thing. His supposed similarity of voice to that of Jua Cali made him more popular, and before he knew it his poetic song became a favourite among local music lovers. But just as our Kenrazzy was beginning to taste the sweetness of celebville — this dude called Mejja came in a major way and overtook him with Jana Kuliendaje? This became a national anthem among local music lovers (and walevis). He followed it up with Round Hii and a few other well recieved collabos. He has become the next big thing. And crazy Mejja has made Kenrazzy seem a little minor.