Kleptomaniax reminisce

By Stevens Muendo

A galaxy of celebs and hundreds of die-hard fans patiently waited for the great announcement that Thursday evening at Club Galileos.

And what an ending this was going to be for one of Kenya’s celebrated rapping trio. For months before this controversial turn-around, Kleptomaianx had been in studio, trying to resuscitate their music career.

With Ulopa, their new midas touch producer — who seems to be breathing a fresh lease of life to every artiste he touches — Klepto was assumed to have landed a deal that would see them bounce back to epitome after a four year debacle.

By announcing their break-up during the gloomy album launch, critics argued that Collo, Roba and Nyash — who form the Kleptomaniax — were just pulling a prank, a showbiz gimmick calculated at creating buzz for the eminent bounce-back. The debate is still on and I must admit, I stand with the doubting lot.

Why would such a talented group — which is still a major force to reckon with — break-up, or claim to split for that matter. Especially, months after their stint which was followed by a celebrated and promising come-together? Have there been hidden wars among Nyash, Collo and Roba thus explaining their concentration on solo careers? Did Nyash’s relocation to the United States break the back of the group or…was it just the right time to throw in the towel? The questions linger on in the minds of heartbroken fans.

I have always believed that Kleptomanix never entered the music scene for fame nor glory, but rather to provoke and prove to showbiz ‘wannabes’ that rapping can be just another ‘game’.

At the start of Kenyan contemporary showbiz 10 years ago, Klepto, the friends who met at Nairobi School (Patch) released their debut hit single Haree. The club banger, produced at Ogopa DJs — where all the top artistes such as Nameless and Wahu had started recording — reinvented local music and opened doors for other artistes who were soon riding on Klepto’s rap style and beat for recognition.

Then the drama began! Kleptomaniax, with their diss track Tuendelee fed the growing tension between new comers, old timers and the Eastlanders. However, the battle for supremacy between Collo and Abass with each claiming to be reigning King of Rap is the more recent of their beefs.

"We have been here for 10 year. Maali tumefika, haters, hamuezi make…" Collo spit on Thursday, as the group took fans through a reminiscent trip during their final album launch spitting the bars of the old favourite rhyme jipeni ka miaka nane to a great applause of the Tuendelee line.

Was in the house

"Kleptomaniax are the ABC’s of Kenyan rap. They are the ultimate philosophers. Haters, hamwezi make," Ulopa joined in and as if to stamp his authority in this seeming showbiz realignment got down with his new hip-hop single (Haters) Snap to This.

Leading Showbiz names, Nameless, Nonini and Jaguar were in the house, toasting to the Kleptomaniax success and to the mark it has left in the local music industry.

"It is all about making it in this showbiz sh**. Kanye and Jay Z made it. Collo became the King of Rap. Thank you for the offer. But since 1999, I make my own money…" Collo rhymed on rapping the lines of his new single, which features award winning Botswana rapper Scar.

Big Pin — also from the class of ‘99 and aligned to the South C side in the hood-to-hood showbiz battles then — was in the house too to witness this historic moment.

Dressed in an oversize yellow graffiti printed T-shirt, Big Pin took to the stage and worked the crowd with his new release (Unatamaa — Tushawaiva), which features Ulopa (whom he referred as your Beast from the East).

The new songs in Kleptomaniax new album are a brilliant studio artwork and most of them are laced with provoking, wittily crafted theme songs. In the sexual slanted Kufieka single, Collo and Robba raps: "If you get a cute girl, fieka her, Nataka ku-make doo kabla ni-make forty, ghetto creep dance, ukipata opportunity fieka tu…"

The trio argues time has come for them to move to the next level yet they are not disclosing their next move, leaving enough room for speculations! And as Collo moves to the United states, it will be interesting to see if he will get back with Nyash and if so, what will be Robba’s next move. Can Klepto still sing"tuendelee ama tusiendelee", or will it be the time for the haters to hit back at them, with more groups such as the second generation P-Unit trio spoiling for a fight in their new song, Tuko Juu tu Sana (Game Yako Iko Down). Or were they — literally speaking —just Kleptomaniacs?