US-based Kenyan producer fuses Benga into Trap Dance

US-based Kenyan producer and rapper Vinie Chwani (pictured) is trying out a new sound that fuses benga into trap dance. The new ambitious project features producer Kon Beatz.

Chwani says by breaking new ground, he is out to demonstrate that African-born entertainers living in the United States can thrive by selling their artistry and culture.

The project dubbed TrapDance # TRTD, is 21-track fusion of the Kenyan Benga, Hip-hop and dancehall.

Listening to the track, it is evident that the versatile star has tried a new approach to bring out a brand new music sound with an African touch – in a rather hard to breakthrough American entertainment scene.

 “You were just too afraid of our magic,” he said on social media, a comment widely viewed as being directed towards the dominant white stars in US where the Trap genre originated.

The artiste insisted that nobody could claim to own Trap dance as it is simply based on one’s creative mind, personal magic that reveals the beauty of the soul.

Magical piece

“Trap dance is a gift to anyone. My new body of work highlights the way of life, which is what Trap always works to reflect. Mine is a type of dance, sort of a brand new music sound that incorporates hip-hop, benga, trap and dancehall. It is like nothing you have ever heard before,” he told The Standard.

Having started working on the project in 2018, Chwani says he has put a lot of thought and energy into the new release, which is broken into two elements - TrapDance 1 and TrapDance 2.

“The Corona-19 pandemic moment was a blessing in disguise. The lockdown time offered me ample time to reflect and fine tune the project as I gave thought and reason to every piece in the project. I was able to internalise the ideas and synthesize them into a magical piece of art for my fans,” he said.

Among the songs to watch out in the project include the love singles Special Feeling, Live Life and Oh Nana (Mama).

Signed under Klass Music Inc, Chwani, a multi-talented songwriter, composer and producer, has been working with other artistes doing the alternative genre among them Shujaa Beatz, Klass the Rapper and Abbu among others.