Kenyan Albums That Stay On Rotation

Conversations with people has made me realise that people will listen to an album once, hype it and then NEVER listen to the album again.

To me, that is not a good album.

MY OPINION.

To me, albums that are considered classics are those with listening value over and over again, pushed boundaries, defines an era, had influence on the people among other things.

And I think we need to push Kenyan artists to move from dropping singles to actually releasing full length projects.

I asked on Instagram what albums people thought would be considered classics (without including compilation albums like Ogopa 1 etc) and got the following responses:

  • Ismarwa – Gidi Gidi Maji Maji
  • Siku Njema – Ukoo Flani
  • Necessary Noize I and II
  • Pulpit kwa Street – Juliani
  • Scratch to Reveal/82 – Just a Band
  • Baisikeli – Valerie Kimani
  • Jeshi ya Katululu – Sewer Sydaa
  • Mtaa Mentality – Juliani
  • Fenamenal – Fena Gitu
  • Twende Twende – Eric Wainaina

And in no particular order, Kenyan albums that I replay over and over.

Some new, some old, ALL VIBES.

  • Winyo – Benga Blues
  • Kevin Samuel Mbugua – Queen of Hearts (I have the actual CD since the music is not on streaming)
  • Jivu – Hayawi Hayawi
  • Kwame Rigii – Cama Wendo
  • Kato Change, SURAJ, Winyo – Sazile EP (Yes it is new. Yes it is 4 songs but I cannot get enough. So So Good)
  • Valerie Kimani – Baisikeli
  • Mutoriah – Dive In
  • Eric Wainaina – Sawa Sawa, Love and Protest
  • Ayrosh – Murasta, Fire EP

If I was to talk about compilations, I’d speak about Waithaka Ent, EA Wave etc

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MY Top 10 Kenyan Slow Jams

Firstly, because people like to say things – this is MY list. Please make your own list with songs you like.

Don Ngatia – Solitude

Mwewe – Sema

Ayrosh – Wendo

Phy – Taboo (Taabu)

Ukweli ft Karun – Roses

Kwame Rígíi – Reke Ngwende

Jivu – Nakupenda Bado (this was hard to choose because this album is a minefield of dope slow jams)

Wendy Kay-Maybe

Valerie Kimani – Nguga ĩĩ 

Karun – Need U The Most ft. Joseph Kiwango (Prod. By Nu Fvnk)

Secondly, these are songs I listen to TILL TODAY. I wanted to give shine to songs that REMAIN on rotation.

Notable mentions