Artist-Producer Duos That Don't Miss
Over the last years,producer-rapper partnerships have become one of the most respected stunts in hip-hop. In the mind of a Kenyan hip-hop fan, the artist is often praised for doing the weight lifting and producers thrown into oblivion. They tend to forget that good records come at the convergence point of the rapper-producer symbiosis. Kenyans talk when it's Playboi Carti and Pi'erre Bourne, Chief Keef and Young Chop, Kendrik Lamar and Sounwave,21 Savage and Metro Boomin, which is not a bad thing. Today we highlight the best of this experiment with 4 rapper-producer pairs that birthed pure gold.
Boutross and CAP
The Carpenter and Boutross are at their peak as they continue churning out iconic SHRAP tunes. CAP's lay'd back production style complements Boutross's rap style, allowing him to go nasty more often. "Yea Yea Yea" is a collaborative effort of the two and remains Boutross's biggest song ever. "Ganji' comes off the Carpenter-produced 2021 album "All Caps," and the feeling one gets is summed up with Boutross's line, "ushaishikwa balls na chili, vile inawasha kwa wingi." Salute.
Wakadinali and AFRVKA
If you were looking for the unseen poster child of the "Victims of Madness" album by Wakadinali, scrutinize no further than the producer AFRVKA. He produced the hardcore "Morio Anzenza," whose video ushered in the "Rong Rende" dynasty, and as if that were not enough, he experimented with the traditional Kenyan kapuka beat to deliver Wakadinali and Sirbuoy their biggest song to date in "Geri Inengi" which will continue to slap to infinity.
Buruklyn Boyz and Mason
Some see them as gangsta rappers, but Buruklyn Boyz is mainstream in every sense of the word. "Dream ya Kutoka Kwa Block," the second-highest ranking Buruklyn Boyz song on YouTube, is the most inspiring song title in the history of Kenyan music and a good example of how perfect the collaboration of Mason and Buruklyn Boyz can be. "Taliban" is their other combined effort en route to becoming critically acclaimed.
Nyashinski and Cedo
With a universal production style, Cedo has seen his dope beats go to waste in the hands of the so-called "gospel artists" of the 2010s until Nyash showed up. Cedo and Nyashinski united on the hit "Aminia," whose wordplay got everyone scratching their heads. Think, “N’lipanda matatu na Trey na siuzi mayai”. That was dope. "Goals" is so mature. WORD!
