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  • 2016 KOT Hip Hop Awards Winners

    KOT (Kenyans On Twitter) Hip Hop Awards is an initiative by Billy Casso. It recognizes talented hip hop musicians and industry professionals in Kenya. Boting is done exclusively on Twitter. The results for the first one are below: [UPDATE: unfortunately the Twitter account hosting the vote was suspended, so the results are lost.] BEST MALE…

  • Boosting your Youtube Views count

    Reblogged from CD BABY. YouTube is the number one search engine for music. Because of this, many musicians have turned to video to promote themselves and their work. Plus, videos on YouTube are an income stream for musician thanks to ad revenue share — especially when there’s a lot of views. If you’re planning on…

  • Video: “Benefactor” by Akothee

    Akothee finally releases her music video for “Benefactor”. She says this about project: “When a woman is successful everyone in the society has a different translation about her success story, what the world says shouldn’t limit your hustle but make it better after all life will never be easy just because you have a BENEFECTOR…

  • Listen: “Cham Gi Wangi” by Wuod Fibi

    “Cham Gi Wangi” by ohangla singer/producer Wuod Fibi is about the dangers of love that’s brewed on social media.

  • How Wyre Vs Makadem Concert Went Down At Alliance Francaise

    Kenyan musicians Wyre and Makadem got to square it out at the much-anticipated concert at Alliance Francaise de Nairobi. Revelers were entertained with a mix of Bengabeats and Reggae. The reggae fans seemed to be slightly more but Makadem was able to prove why Benga still stands its ground. While Makadem makes traditional Luo music…

  • Listen to Tatu’s Debut single, “Songea”

    Tatu is a Mombasa-based artist and is a sister to the celebrated Nyota Ndogo. Listen to her debut single “Songea” on Soundcloud.   SONG LYRICS VERSE 1 Yale maneno ya wahenga, nayakariri, Ya kwamba kila shetani ana m’buyu wake na wewe ndio wangu, Lugha za moyo zinanena, bila tafsiri Tambua umepandisha kwa sana thamani ya…

  • Get to Know Nairobi-based music collective, Cosmic Homies [Interview]

    This Article first appeared on OKAYAFRICA.COM The four member music & art collective first met and formed in Kenya with the aim of challenging traditional and current stereotypes through their self-described “electro-organic” sound. They’ve had major success in the past as two of its members—rapper/singer/DJ/producer TAIO and singer/producer Runkah—were both in Camp Mulla, a hugely…

  • “Owamanyi” by Eddy Kenzo [Official Video]

    Watch “Owamanyi” video by Uganda’s Eddy Kenzo.

  • Davido – “How Long” feat. Tinashe [Video]

    Nigerian singer Davido has released his long-awaited collaboration with American R&B/pop singer Tinashe. The song is called “How Long”, and arrived with the music video posted below. Davido is releasing his Son of Mercy EP today, 14th October.

  • LXG to Record with Ghanaian Top Acts

    By Jonilar LXG, one of the high-rated Sierra Leonean music groups is set to record with some big names in Ghana’s music industry before the end of 2016. The group which has been nominated for this year’s MTV Base Africa Music Awards for the ‘Listener’s Choice’ category is currently in the country for a possible…

  • Noti Flow presents “SHE DONT KNOW” video feat. Raj

    Watch Noti Flow‘s “She Don’t Know” visuals featuring Raj. The quality video directed by Nezzo complements the talented duo lyrics perfectly.

  • Introducing Afreeka, the Italy-based Kenyan Reggae duo

      Kenyan Italy-based Reggae music duo Afreeka, have performed together since 1999. Though originally they went by the name Big Matata, they chose the name AFREEKA in 2007 after a series of performances on a tour in Italy. Afreeka is greatly influenced by Jamaican artists and also great African musicians. They opened for, and raised…

  • Hip hop with a Purpose: Hustlajay back with 3 new songs

    Hustlajay, with his Africa is Now foundation is working on bridging the gap between hip hop and awareness to social issues. Aipate previously ran an article about his documentary in which he featured immediate former Chief Justice of Kenya Dr Willy Mutunga. The documentary was both so inspiring as enlightening. Recently, Hustlajay went to Tanzanian…

  • LXG, the music group from Sierra Leone, Nominated for MTV Africa Music Awards

    By Jonilar Mutiple awards winning Sierra Leonean music trio LXG has had its first ever MTV Mamas nomination in the category of ‘Listener’s Choice’  at the 2016 MTV Africa Music Awards nominations announced on Sunday 2nd September, 2016 at the Lagos Leg of the Road to MAMA at the Hard Rock Café. The group which…

  • Hustlajay: Kenyan Internet Service Providers should reduce data prices to support Talent

    Kenyan emcee Hustlajay has voiced his opinion on why Tanzanian music industry is beating Kenya and he cites lower data tariffs as a major boost for the distribution of Bongo musicians’ content. He is just from a trip to Tanzania’s Arusha town and met a number of fellow creatives. “Internet is Expensive in Kenya unlike…

  • “Egwueji” video by Kaydex

    Watch video for ‘Egwueji’ by Kaydex. Kaydex is an upcoming Nigerian artist signed under KH Records. The track was produced by Fliptyce.

  • Listen: “We Life” by Reanno and Tage (a.k.a. High Voltage Clan)

    Listen to “We Life” by Reanno (Christopher Macharia) and Tage (Francis Waweru), the two young artists who form the group High voltage Clan. Get the song on Mdundo here. Also check out High Voltage Clan‘s Facebook page.  

  • Mdundo and KeCoBo’s Copyright Awareness Survey Findings are out

    In March 2016, Kenya Copyright Board (KeCoBo) collaborated with Mdundo to conduct a survey on copyright awareness among musicians. The research questions were sent via Email and SMS to all the musicians who are registered on the Mdundo platform and 253 out of 9000 responded. To know some background information of these musicians, some issues…

  • How Many Music Streams Does It Take to Earn Ksh 100?

    An article by Paul Resnikoff and reblogged from Digital Music News [For the purpose of the article, am using an average currency rate… $1 equaling Ksh. 100] What does streaming music pay in 2016? That’s becoming an increasingly tricky question. But here’s the latest breakdown from an artist royalty report. It takes 776 streams on…

  • Video: “Kuliko Jana” by Sauti Sol feat. RedFourth Chorus

    Sauti Sol have released the official video for their song “Kuliko Jana”, featuring RedFourth Chorus. The single is from from their last album, Live And Die in Afrika.

  • Watch: “Coming Home” video by Iital

    Lat last year, we introduced iiital through his “Fly Away“ video. Well. more content keeps coming from the musician. Watch iital’s new video for the song “Coming Home”.

  • Introducing Kenyan hip hop duo BBRT

    Originally posted on All Around Africa!: It’s been a minute since we last did an article about Kenyan music. For no apparent reason, we find ourselves highlighting more acts around Africa to the expense of Kenyans. My bad. But we can’t really shoulder all that blame, you see, as much as we we would like…

  • Here is “Pass Me The Lighter” by Kisumu’s Louie

    Anthony Baraka better known by his stage name as Louie B is a Kenyan Rapper, Songwriter and a Performer. He started his professional music career back in 2014 and he excels in the music genres of Hip Hop, Rap and Pop. The rising star who has worked with acts like Pablo the MasterForce, Femcee Ammateller,… via…

  • Fast Company predicted ‘5 Ways Streaming Music Will Change In 2016’

    The article is taken from an 205 article on Fast Company blog But 2015 was insane. It started off with, of all things, Jay-Z buying and relaunching his own streaming music service, Tidal. Grooveshark shut down. Apple launched Apple Music. YouTube announced YouTube Music. Spotify put its acquisition of the Echo Nest to good use with…

  • The Changing Role of Jamaican Radio: Sonjah’s Two Cents

    Originally posted on Dance Hall: I started taking note with some anxiety a few years ago, regarding the changing role of radio in Jamaica and the fact that many didn’t seem to understand the major implications for our music business. I attempted to have some discussion on this at the first State of the Music…

  • Just How Well Is Streaming Really Doing?

    Originally posted on Music Industry Blog: All of the three major record labels announced strong streaming music revenue growth in the 2nd quarter of 2016. On the surface it is a clear cut success story, but as is so often the case with music industry statistics, all is not quite how it seems. The Global…

  • What Frank Ocean’s Bombastic Blond Moment Tells Us About The Future Of Artists And Labels

    Originally posted on Music Industry Blog: When Frank Ocean’s latest album ‘Blond’ dropped, it did so like a nuclear bomb, sending shockwaves throughout the music industry. In one of the audacious release strategies of recent years Ocean and his team at 360 fulfilled the final album contractual commitment to Universal Music by ushering his breaking-the-mold…

  • Luodollar – “Simbe Adek” [Lyrics]

    These lyrics were edited by artist/songwriter, Vicmass Luodollar. INTRO: EEEEH!! KECH KECH Kawuono an gi simbe Adek and i don’t need to rob Peter to pay Paul/ Hahaha- And sani a push things ka dhako manyuol and thats the only reason momiyo okabosecho/ Nyakwar Obiero Pindwa,Nyakwar Siprosa Ndinya,ibiro yie luodollar bende ipenjo? wadhii/ VERSE 1:…

  • All Around Africa : Iba One [Mali]

    Originally posted on All Around Africa!: Somewhere in the North West of our motherland, a country is sandwitched in between Niger and Mauritania. In this Country,the national drink is sweet tea and it’s served three times from the same pot. The first cup is “strong as death”, the second “mild as life” and the third “sweet…

  • Video: “Utanisho” by Octopizzo

    Watch Octopizzo performing his “Utanisho” song.

  • Luodollar back with “Simbe Adek” video

    He brought you “Bank Otuch” and you loved it. Now Vicmass Luodollar is back with a new hit single, with a video to accompany it. “Simbe Adek”, translated from Luo to mean 3 phones, is well-crafted. The music video was shot in the beautiful city of Kisumu.

  • Get your music to blogs, submit to Aipate

    It’s is not easy for musicians, and creatives generally, to promote their content, because the environment is not quite conducive. But don’t worry any more since Aipate is giving any artist the chance to submit his/her own music for possible publication or review on our blog (and other sites as well). Because we live the…

  • Understanding how Youtube views are monetized

    Guest Post from music3point0.com: Many artists and bands think that they’ll automatically make money when their videos are viewed on YouTube, but that’s far from the case. In the last part of my series on streaming royalties and an excerpt from my new Music 4.1 Internet Music Guidebook, you’ll see all of the variables that go…

  • Ali Bex Blasts Tetemesha Awards, Citing Unprofessionalism

    The Tetemesha Awards went down last weekend and Nairobi artist Ali Bex is one of the artists who won. (We are yet to receive the official results, so we can’t really verify the award he won). That notwithstanding, the artist was so much displeased at the lack of professionalism of the organisers that he decided…

  • The Ultimate Top 10 Kenyan Hip Hop Musicians of 2016

    Its almost a year since I published 2015’s ultimate Kenyan Hip Hop acts. Though widely read, a number had issues with my compilation or my method of arriving at it, which is fair, I mean, that is indicative of a fact: most rappers have hardcore fans. I am aware that as a “biggest fan” of…

  • Octopizzo’s “Butere” video out

    Octopizzo shares “Butere” video. This 8-town Ninja keeps getting versatile, probably taking a cue from Drake, who has brought pop into Hip Hop. Watch “Butere” by Octopizzo and comment on it below:

  • Here are the lyrics to “Papa Lolo” by Mose Fan Fan

    LYRICS: A boni, boni banga nga ba belela ndoki ehButu eyindi mokolo ya ba ndoki ba ngalaka, NzambeTongo etani ba kolo nzoto ba memi makambo Ah na leli mama ahNa leli papa ahNa leli mama ahNa leli papa ah Papa Lolo ehBa bwaki yo wapi ehPapa Lolo ehBa bwaki yo wapi eh [Instrumental] Na mokili…

  • Read Kenya’s proposed National Music Bill 2016

    Find out the contents of the proposed Kenya National Music Bill 2016.  

  • Proposed Draft National Music Bill: More Licenses, More Confusion and Yet Another Fund

    Originally posted on IP Kenya: The latest draft of the proposed National Music Bill has been released by the Permanent Presidential Music Commission (PPMC). PPMC requests all stakeholders and interested parties to circulate it widely and email back (to: directorppmc@gmail.com) any contributions, comments, reactions, etc for consideration and possible inclusion. A copy of the draft…

  • Most Kenyan Artists are mindless of what their Audience want

    By Evelyne Okado Kenyan music can generally be said to be good, however, there are a few artists who are too lazy to compose good music. They often sing about booze, women and money; issues that most people don’t really consciously relate to. They appear to live in the moment and are comfortable just because…

  • Top Music Blogs in Kenya

    Besides Aipate, there are other cool Kenyan blogs focusing mainly on music. Here is an (updated) list of some of them: For African music blogs, visit here.

  • Listen: “None Like You” by Serah Mutemi

    Serah Mutemi is a musician and teacher who excels in both fields. She has arisen to be a school Principal while also getting time to sing praise & worship songs. This one, “None like you”, is a beautiful gospel music that you should listen to. Get the song here.

  • “Cheza Mbali (Remix)” by Baby T feat. Cannibal, Kyki,Chwawa, Sugar & Sharama

    A new remix of Baby T‘s “Cheza Mbali” is out. It features Cannibal, Kyki, Chiwawa, Sugar and Sharama. An ATL Entertainment release, the song brings together legends and new skool artists, all who did the track the much-needed justice. Listen below.

  • Breaking The Tabu: How Music Helped Naiyango Get Over Emotional and Psychological Effects of Childhood Rape and Defilement

    Last year, I did an article introducing Naiyango as a Kenyan-born German singer based in Cologne. It was an awesome online chat that led to me sharing her music story and Kenyan background. What I did not know was that, behind that energy and enthusiastic usage of the little Swahili that she remembers, did lie…

  • Kaa La Moto feat. Masauti – “Dear Hip Hop” [Video]

    Kaa La Moto has built a reputation in Kenyan music industry as a musician who sticks to lyricism and the culture of hip-hop. He also focusing on the real issues affecting the society. “Dear Hip Hop” is one of his best offerings yet.

  • 3 Reasons why the Yemi Alade x Sauti Sol collab is amongst the best of this decade

    You’ve probably already watched Africa by Yemi Alade and Sauti Sol and thought that this has got to be amongst the best things to have happened to the continent. I do agree with you, so let’s down … Read full article: 3 Reasons why the Yemmi Alade/ Sauti Sol collabo is amongst the best of…

  • Diamond Platnumz features P Square in “Kidogo” video

    Its finally out. The project you have been waiting for. “Kidogo” by Diamond Platnumz featuring P Square is here.

  • “Dance Kama Dancer” video by Lizbon

    “Dance Kama Dancer” music video by Kenyan music group Lizbon was shot and firected by ATL Entertainment’s Richie G. The group describes itself as a “Bashment crew”. Watch the “Dance Kama Dancer” visuals.

  • Mercy Myra prepares to go on tour to promote new single, “Feels Like Love” feat. Pistyle

    Mery Myra, signed to Nu Royal records based in Atlanta, Gergia, is preparing to go touring to promote her new “It feels like love” single featuring Pistyle. Buy the song on iTunes here.

  • “Nipe Denda Moja” video by Makadem

    Watch Makadem perform his song “Nipe Denda Moja” in new music video.