One fine morning, I found myself sitting across from four young guys with DJ names: Lil Strover, Dowpy, Lil Stevie and Speedy G. Well, they weren’t DJs, so you know I was hanging out with musicians.
And what a fun group they were. Along with Njoroge, the founder of Mtaani Entertainment, they shared their musical journeys and frustrations. Corruption, nepotism and lack of access to affordable equipment all hinder the up-and-coming musician, but these guys aren’t about to let that stop their dreams.
Apart from music, they all had skateboarding in common. This was the first I’d heard of skateboarding in Kenya, but they certainly looked the part. Except for Njoroge; he was the one person around the table (apart from myself) who looked like he’d never been on a skateboard, which just goes to prove how deceiving looks can be, at least in his case.
Well, here are the brief facts about these boys. Check them out on their various sites and listen to their sounds:
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Stage Name: Speedy G
Real Name: Asim Mughal
Genre: Hip-Hop
Profession: Computer Science student at USIU /Music Producer/Rapper
Sounds like: Eminem
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/speedyg254
Twitter: https://twitter.com/SpeedyG_Kenya
Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/speedy-g
Reverbnation: http://www.reverbnation.com/speedyg
Stage Name: Lil Strover SP
Real Name: Flinton Palmer Strover
Genre: Hip Hop
Profession: 1st year High school student at Highway Secondary school
Sounds Like: Young lil Wayne
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lilstrover.sp?fref=ts
Twitter: https://twitter.com/LILSTROVER
Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/user3936398
Reverbnation: http://www.reverbnation.com/lilstroversp
[/one_half]
[one_half_last]
Stage Name: Lil Steve
Real Name: Kevin Muathe
Genre: Hip Hop
Profession ICT student
Sounds Like: ASAP Rocky/Weezy
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Stevie/199176500264396
Twitter: https://twitter.com/steevyana
Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/little-stiv
Reverbnation: http://www.reverbnation.com/stevie12
Interview on KTN (local TV show): http://youtu.be/byewUVublFA
Stage Name: Dowpy
Real Name: Alvin Alex Odera
Genre: Hiphop/rap
Profession: Student, music artist
Sounds like: Wale, Big Sean
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/al.d.derao?fref=ts
Twitter: @Aldowpy
Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/dowpyal
Reverbnation: http://www.reverbnation.com/thedeucez
[/one_half_last]
Check out Lil Stiv and Dowpy’s music video for the track Life I Never Had.
Listen to my entire interview with the crew below: