Monaja has gone from living abroad to adjusting to Nairobi life and then readjusting to the countryside. He cites this culture shock as a significant influence on his unorthodox musical style.
“I think I’ve picked up a lot from the places I’ve grown up in, that’s why my music is very content-oriented and twisted.” His musical influences came early; singing to eighties soul music before he could even walk. Once the lead performer at a Kindergarten musical, he grew to like Hip Hop music after listening to his eldest brother rap to MC hammer’s ‘Pray’.
He grew up in Langata where his love for music blossomed, playing the piano while listening to musical greats like Dabrat, Shaggy, Fugees, Nas, Bone thugs ‘n’ harmony and Lost Boyz. Locally, Eric Wainaina Shades ‘o’ Black and Poxi Presha impressed upon him.
He would later move to the countryside where his yearning for music was severely stifled as all he had to listen to was the radio. It is around this time that K-south Flava blossomed, a group he claims to be his greatest musical influence.
From upper primary onward, he developed a keen interest in writing prose and poetry which gradually morphed into an even deeper interest in Swahili rap in 2003. His first performance was in 2004 and he went on to doing free shows at Florida 2000 and Club Skiliza in 2005, in Nairobi. He took part in various freestyle competitions as a student of The University of Nairobi and later, in 2008, began performing at Wapi (Words and Pictures) forums at the British Council, Upper Hill, Nairobi as well as Kwani? Open mic. In 2009 he won a recording deal with Homeboyz entertainment after winning 3 consecutive rap battles on the Re-up: Hip Hop Halisi (aired on NTV) and he also won the Jukwaani festival rap battle. He officially retired from battle rap and released the Kina Go down Mixtape in 2010 that has received positive reviews for its incisive content and acerbic humour. He released the video to one of the songs of the mixtape called “Kina go down” a “Tri-thematic” a socio-political song.
In addition to his art, Monaja has also dabbled in event management; hosting the event “Nairobi’s Finest” from October 2010 to September 2011. The event was his brainchild and he co-owned it with the manager of the same venue.
Monaja presently is in the process of working on another mixtape to be released in mid 2012 and an album Titled “Safiri Nami” in the last quarter of the same year.
“I think I’ve picked up a lot from the places I’ve grown up in, that’s why my music is very content-oriented and twisted.” His musical influences came early; singing to eighties soul music before he could even walk. Once the lead performer at a Kindergarten musical, he grew to like Hip Hop music after listening to his eldest brother rap to MC hammer’s ‘Pray’.
He grew up in Langata where his love for music blossomed, playing the piano while listening to musical greats like Dabrat, Shaggy, Fugees, Nas, Bone thugs ‘n’ harmony and Lost Boyz. Locally, Eric Wainaina Shades ‘o’ Black and Poxi Presha impressed upon him.
He would later move to the countryside where his yearning for music was severely stifled as all he had to listen to was the radio. It is around this time that K-south Flava blossomed, a group he claims to be his greatest musical influence.
From upper primary onward, he developed a keen interest in writing prose and poetry which gradually morphed into an even deeper interest in Swahili rap in 2003. His first performance was in 2004 and he went on to doing free shows at Florida 2000 and Club Skiliza in 2005, in Nairobi. He took part in various freestyle competitions as a student of The University of Nairobi and later, in 2008, began performing at Wapi (Words and Pictures) forums at the British Council, Upper Hill, Nairobi as well as Kwani? Open mic. In 2009 he won a recording deal with Homeboyz entertainment after winning 3 consecutive rap battles on the Re-up: Hip Hop Halisi (aired on NTV) and he also won the Jukwaani festival rap battle. He officially retired from battle rap and released the Kina Go down Mixtape in 2010 that has received positive reviews for its incisive content and acerbic humour. He released the video to one of the songs of the mixtape called “Kina go down” a “Tri-thematic” a socio-political song.
In addition to his art, Monaja has also dabbled in event management; hosting the event “Nairobi’s Finest” from October 2010 to September 2011. The event was his brainchild and he co-owned it with the manager of the same venue.
Monaja presently is in the process of working on another mixtape to be released in mid 2012 and an album Titled “Safiri Nami” in the last quarter of the same year.
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