Camp Mulla was analternative hip hop group originating from and based inNairobi, Kenya.[1] The group rose to prominence with the release of their single "Party Don't Stop" on 31 August 2010, with that and their subsequent works earning them a nomination for Best International Act (Africa) at the2012 BET Awards. Following the release of their debut studio album,Funky Town, the group's lead singer Karun and rapper Taio both left the group to pursue higher education and solo careers. In September 2017 the main four members announced their reunion at The Wave performance at the Waterfront, Ng'ong racecourse, but soon after disbanded again. The group's musical style, fashion sense and origins have drawn comparisons toThe Black Eyed Peas,[2] while they have also been criticised for making "bubblegum music".[3]
After releasing a series of experimental projects, manager Mykie Tooni and rappers Shappaman (then known as Young Kass) and Taio (then known as Taio Tripper) co-founded the group in mid-2009, with Karun (then Miss Karun) and Kus Ma (then K'Cous) joining later. Initially distributing their music online viaReverbNation,SoundCloud andSoundClick for digital download, their song "Low" was the first to gain radio airplay, having been introduced by radio presenterEve D'Souza onCapital FM when it debuted on radio in 2009.[4]
On 31 August 2010, Camp Mulla released their first single, "Party Don't Stop", to generally positive critical acclaim, peaking at number 2 on Capital FM's "Hits Not Homework" playlist and number 13 on Homeboyz Radio's "HitList".[5] This and other songs that followed earned them several awards, including the "Teeniez' Group or Collabo" and "Teeniez' Nu Artist" awards at the 2012 Chaguo La Teeniez Awards held on 20 April 2012.[6][7][8] Camp Mulla made their first public appearance on 12 February 2011 atCollo's Valentine's Day concert, where he revealed the music video for his new song "Chini ya Maji". They then served as the opening act for Nigerian R&B duoP-Square at a live performance atThe Carnivore on 26 February 2011,[9] and opened forNigerian acts such asNaeto C andFlavour at Naija 9te (or Naija Nite) in October 2011. The group was billed to perform at theBig Brother Africa 7 opening ceremony alongsideJ. Cole,Davido, Aemo E'Face, P-Square, Naeto C and Flavour on 6 May 2012,[10][11][12] but did not make the show due to delays in their travelling documentation.[13] However, they went on to perform on the program's first eviction show on 13 May 2012. Camp Mulla also performed at the grand finale of the fifth season ofTusker Project Fame in 2012.[14]
Camp Mulla was nominated for Best International Act (Africa) at the2012 BET Awards—becoming the first Kenyans ever to be nominated for a BET award in the process—alongsideLira,Mokobé andIce Prince,[15][16][17] but lost out to eventual winnersSarkodie andWizkid. On 29 September 2012, the group released their debut studio album,Funky Town.
In May 2013, Sub Sahara announced that lead singer Karun was leaving to pursue a solo career and further studies in the United States, with rapper Thee MC Africa also leaving to pursue a solo career.[18] Tiri Murai (knownmononymously as Tiri), another Kenyan singer and Kus Ma's girlfriend, was brought in to replace Karun in June 2013 after performing live with the group at theMTV Africa All Stars concert inDurban, South Africa the previous month.[19] On 22 August 2013, Kus Ma released a solo mixtape entitledJ's and Purple,[20] while Tiri followed up with a mixtape of her own,Nefertiri, on 8 March 2014.[21] On 20 April 2015, coinciding with the4/20 celebrations, Shappaman released anextended play entitledWild Life on Tape.[22] He followed that up with a mixtape entitledLove Wild on 2 March 2016.[23]
On 10 September 2017, Camp Mulla announced their return from hiatus with a performance featuring t at The Wave concert at theNgong Racecourse inNairobi.[24] The group is reportedly set to release their second studio album, with a date yet to be officially confirmed.[25]
A majority of Camp Mulla's songs incorporatehip hop andcontemporary R&B. They call their musical style "2-5-Flow" or "254Low" (pronounced "two five flow"), which is a play onKenya'scalling code+254.[26]
