Africa Creates: Mtaani Musical Round Table

Africa Creates

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

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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

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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: