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| Genge | |
|---|---|
| Stylistic origins | Hip hop,dancehall,Traditional African music,Reggaeton |
| Cultural origins | 1990s,Nairobi, Kenya |
| Typical instruments | Rapping, Vocals,Keyboard,Sampler |
| Derivative forms | Kenyan hip hop |
| Subgenres | |
| Ghipuka, Gengetone | |
| Regional scenes | |
| Kenya | |
| Part ofa series on the |
| Culture of Kenya |
|---|
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Genge music is a genre ofhip-hop music influenced bydancehall, originating fromNairobi,Kenya in the 1990s.[1] The term "Genge" was coined by producerClemo and popularized by Kenyan rappersJua Cali andNonini atCalif Records. The genre is commonly performed inSheng, a mixture Swahili, English and various local dialects. The word "Genge" itself comes fromSheng slang, meaning "a group or a mass of people."
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As Kenyan urban music became more popular, Kenyan artists and music fans were missing a common name for their music, and many names were suggested. Among them wereBoomba music,kapuka, and gemba. Around this time,[when?] Kenyan rapperNonini started a campaign to popularize the term "genge" to refer to Kenyan urban music and also specifically to music by artists on Calif Records.
Calif-style genge was founded by Clement "Clemo" Rapudo ofCalif Records and originated in California Estate,Nairobi. It was popularized by rappers Nonini, with his songManzi wa Nairobi, andJua Cali, with the songsNgeli ya Genge,Nipe Asali, andRuka.
Due to a disagreement on the definition of Kenyan urban music, the name genge is now more commonly used to describe music from Calif Records. However, genge is easily identified by its rapping style and conversational rhythm format that make a song sound like a casual discussion in Sheng.
The most notable genge artists are Nonini,P-Unit, Jua Cali,Influx Swagga, Flexx,Jimw@t,Rat-a-Tat, Alpha Msanii, Lady S (deceased),Kleptomaniax, andPili Pili, among others. Nonini was continuously the most popular artist on Calif Records between the years 2002 and 2004; Nonini is the self-titled Godfather of Genge.
Genge has given rise to other subgenres, such as theGhipuka, popularized byKenrazy andGengetone. The main line has also developed, for instance with America-based producer Keggah adapting genge into a form that has proved popular among Kenyans.
In June 2018, an Umoja-based boy band called Ethic Entertainment came out with their debut song "Lamba Lolo," garnering over 4 million views on YouTube. Other boy bands like Boondocks Gang, Ochungulo Family, Sailors Gang, Wakali Wao, Angry Panda, Wakadinali, Vintage Clan, and Rico Gang produced songs that created the subgenreGengetone.
Genge songs generally talk about struggles in the ghetto, with most songs taking on a storytelling format where the main singer is reliving or sharing an event they witnessed with their friends and the lesson the event has taught them. These events often, but not always, revolve around sex, drugs, women, or interactions with people in positions of power over them.
Some of the most popular genge tracks include:
| Artist | Title |
|---|---|
| Nonini | Manzi wa Nairobi |
| Moyoni | |
| Kadhaa | |
| We Kamu | |
| Jua Cali | Ruka |
| Bongo La Biashara | |
| Ngeli Ya Genge | |
| Kiasi | |
| Bidii Yangu | |
| Kwaheri | |
| Pilipili | Morale (featuring Rat-a-tat) |
| Kamata Dame | |
| Jimw@t | Under 18, Sitoi Kitu Kidogo |
