The paragraph that I wrote on Rick Ross (category: Muziki Kubaff) got somebody really pissed. Thank u for the input. He commented that the ‘Hustlin’ single is as whack as it gets. Okay well hustlin’/hustle is a word that has been used in a thousand and one hooks by rappers of late. ‘The Boss’ Rick Ross as he declares in the first verse however does justice to its use. The instrumentals in the track are refreshingly street-laced and Ross’s flow is pasted on the beat with super glued beauty. That’s the reason why Jay-Z and Young Jeezy each contribute a verse on the underground remix. Before you judge a rapper it is critical to know where he’s from.

Rick is from
Miami thus hugely influenced by the Dirty South, so one should not expect the crafty lyricism associated with NY but all the same he does not fail to shine with drug-influenced bars such as “I get high and let my chopper smoke”. In normal speak, this means gunfire. In other songs such as ‘Push It’ he philosophies “Who thought that fat girl could grow to be Oprah” in reference to billionaire Oprah Winfrey’s success. Another artistic feature that he uses is taking a word and using it in different contexts within a verse. His street credibility is based on his days as a drug dealer thus his songs are heavily slaced with narcotic slang. As for the few singles that I have heard via the Internet, very few people consider him whack. I believe that an album should be a story as Busta Rhymes was quoted saying and Rick Ross’s new album ‘Port of Miami’ is exactly that. It opened three weeks ago at number one on the U.S Billboard Charts.

From the Observation category, I wondered why everything was hush hush about ex-Pres Moi’s accident kumbe the Range Rover that he used was registered under Hon. William Ruto’s name. The story about how the accident occurred still remains a mystery though!

Do you remember MP Mwenje’s declaration that he will use the CDF (Constituency Development Fund) to compensate the relatives of the victims of the fire at Libra House, Mombasa Rd. I earlier on expressed sinister motives in this declaration in one article only to later learn that due to Mwenje’s shiftiness in management of the CDF of his constituency, its accounts were frozen. The case is dragging on in court. So much for the compensation!!!

Shrubz pt.1

Neighbor: Umeona Silas?

Me: (With a quizzical look) Silas?

Neighbor: (With an equally quizzical look)
E Eeeh, Silas.

Me: Mmmmh, oh! Cyrus!

The next Akon is invested in K-Naan. He is slowly making in-roads to the U.S by featuring in collabos with stars such as M-I of the Dead Prez group (check out the song ’Til’ We Get There’ also featuring the soulful female vocals of Stori James). This young talented male artist with very unique hypnotizing vocals is a Somali refugee. His songs are therefore largely based on the liberation of his people. He made a high quality video of one of his earlier singles in Eastleigh (yeah
Nairobi!). Don’t be fooled, he is way more talented than most of our artists. He can rap and sing with an original African tune. I am sure we’ll see him get there soon-if not through freedom of his country then as an international artist with the clout of Akon.

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Yesterday I saw a very interesting bongo music video on EATV. Picture this:

 A bad singer with a great band on the street and a blind folded lady with his love struck boyfriend. The love struck guy interrupts the horrid singer, grabs the mic, unties the lady’s blindfold and proceeds to serenade her. In the process he draws a crowd and brings the band to life as the astonished lady grooves to the funky tune.

The song is not a conventional bongo tune. It is more RnB flavoured with quality production. Bushoke is the artist and the song title is ‘Ninakugonza’. I am not a Swa master but I think it means having affection towards someone.

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Lloyd Banks of G-Unit is back with a club banger titled “Hands Up”. Lyrical content consists of the usual gangsta ish but the hook and beat is enough to get you to your feet.

50 Cent and his protégé switch up the hook to phrases that you can easily chant to. I am sure G-Unit will continue with it track record of mainstream hits with this one.

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The beautiful and talented Miss Keys has not been sleeping either. She has done a ragga remix with Cham in his Jamaican street-anthem ‘Ghetto Story’. Alicia blends in perfectly to the bumpy bass tune with her vocals. Her lines that talk of a poor girl with a dream, who lives in crack dens and eats rice with honey, keeps the song close to a listener’s heart. Cham also exhales in christening the song with visions of his street life encompassed with stone throwing and a friends death due to gang rivalry. The song is mos def a ragga gem.

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The Kibaki led government of Kenya has a lot to learn. ‘Once bitten twice shy’ does not seem to register in their minds. They usually have a long span of success then just one major mistake from one person de-links them with reality on the socio- economic scene of the mwananchi. From Anglo Leasing to land issues, they never learn.

It is only a week since Senator Obama’s departure and we are back to the dogs. He gave a presidential speech that made me wish he could come back to his and my homeland and get rid of the thugs on top leadership. Immediately after his departure a yellow faced Daktari Alfred Mutua (official government spokesman) dissed the vision that he gave Kenyans. His speech was presidential to me since that was what I would expect from President Kibaki. He captured my vision of a better Kenya. No one in the nation could claim to be in disagreement with what he frankly said was wrong with our country.

Dr. Alfred Mutua said that he was too harsh on us. Personally, I think the controllers of this puppet known as a spokesman are leaders without cause. Our Senate hero could have been more blunt about his former homeland but he chose to be very diplomatic. He was quick to praise the government about its achievements on fighting corruption but also highlighted the double standards often seen on big cases. Very few people have paid for illegal cash cows such as Goldenberg and Anglo-leasing scandals. The culprits should be in jail instead of just being told to resign from their highflying government jobs. Dr. Al also proved his puppet role when he said that terrorism is more in US than Kenya so we should not be black listed by them as a danger to tourists. This is partially true but for the attacks on Kenya from Kikambala to the dark day of Aug 7th 1998, the Kenyan government has convicted no one. Everyone that was captured in connection to these attacks has been released due to lack of evidence. Senator Obama clearly stated that a country will always put its interests first and that is why the US compensated its citizens first before us after Co-op house bombing in ’98. His speech was real and he never sugarcoated open truths which is what our leaders love doing as the following illustrates.

When Pres.Kibaki was in Mombasa last weekend he said that those foreigners that have owned land in Coast form 19 turudi and not used it should be evacuated. This was an irresponsible off the cuff order that led to the residents raiding and marking land that was not theirs. He then virtually took to his heels and came back to the safety of State House without admitting he was wrong. This left his Ministers trying to make him sound right by saying that all the raids were a result of political opponents taking advantage of the President’s ‘mild’ words. Whether this is true or false, who gave them the advantage?

For all their intelligence ODM-Kenya now wants parliament driven constitutional talks. They are El-Stupido to think that they can just oppose the government for opposing’s sake. We want the talks to be ALL INCLUSIVE. They know this, you and I know this but they still insist!

We want a leadership that does not assume that we are fools and until I see one, I still hold my right not to vote.