I don't remember what I was doing in 2005.
I don't remember what I was doing in 2004.
Honestly, I don't remember that that far back and good therapy.
Yeah, welcome. To the my memories are being
blocked, so I have blocked memories that I need to unlock
this. Yo, what's up?
And welcome to episode 58 of the 30% Podcast.
I go by the name AFAM and I am joined by my amazing Co host
Sam. And.
This is the first episode of the 2020 Witch.
Fire. We made it afam I.
Want to start? We.
Made it. By saying this amazing joke,
Sam, what did #48 and 49 say to #50 after it had the mirror?
Well, sorry, say that again, what is number?
What after what? What did #48 and 49 say to #50
after it had a mirror? They were all set seated at the
table. What did #48 say to #49?
You know what's annoying? As I know this joke, but I've
forgotten about it. I've forgotten the answer.
It said. I don't know, I don't know, I
don't know what. What?
What did #48 say to #40? Came up with.
Oh, all right. So then, OK.
Go ahead. I came up with it on the spot.
Oh gosh, I feel like told Joe. OK, I thought.
I felt this. I'm just gonna say they said 58
episode 58. Anyway, guys listen on that
sombre. Some would say no.
You guys can listen to this podcast on YouTube.
Yes, we're still on YouTube in the new year.
You can listen to us on Spotify, you can listen to us on Apple
Podcast, and you can also find us on Google Podcast as well as
Anchor Podcast. You can also find us on all the
social media platforms that you guys love to frequent such as
TikTok, such as Instagram, such as threads such as X.
And if you are business minded, yeah yeah, you can also find us
being business, business majorical on LinkedIn.
Yes, I created a word called. Business Majorical.
Yeah, yeah. I feel like the first year I
find a name for a newspaper or an article.
The. If I'm his cooking this new
year, his cooking. The first, the, the, the, the,
the last thing that I've almost forgot.
You can also find us in real life IRL.
IRL, IRL. Yeah, we live IRL.
That's where we mostly reside. That's what I must do.
Happy New Year, man. How are you?
Happy New year man. Happy new Year.
I'm fine man.
I've I've, I'm I'm easing easing slowly into into the year like
it's been so slow. I usually.
Yeah. My, my default is like, I'm
almost always on, like go mode. But this year I've been like,
OK, like let me, I'm. I'm just not We're going to
relax on purpose. Like, it's so weird.
I don't know why I'm doing this at the beginning of the year,
but weirdly enough I've been very productive which is making
me rethink, rethink my whole strategy for the rest of my
life. So yeah, that's, I mean I have
goals bro. I have goals just like you do.
I have goals and and we have to achieve them so.
Factoids. Yeah, yeah, yeah.
So that's like factoids, only nice.
I'm happy to hear. I'm happy to hear.
That you've heard from that to, yeah.
Yeah. I'm happy to hear you've had the
productive year so far. Literally productive.
It's been production. It's been produced.
Yeah, same. Literally the same.
I've just been. I've just been making a lot of.
Music man, how are you? You sound.
You sound, you sound a little bit under under the weather.
It sound a little bit sick. Yeah.
A little bit. For all those listening you can
hear, my voice is. Not the greatest sinus, It's
just a lot of sinus coming from your mic.
Yeah, I've been unwell since the year began.
Yikes. Just have like a little flu here
and there, a flu here and there. That doesn't make sense.
Anyway. Yes, I have a flu, so it's but
I'm in the recovery stages. I'm in the for me how my flu
progresses. I have a scratchy throat and
then the next days I'll just be under the weather with the usual
symptoms, just the fatigue, malaise, the, the clogged nose,
ETC. Then when it's starting to tail
off I develop a cough. That's the always the last.
The Remnant. Colleagues, me?
Yeah, is is me having a cough? Yeah.
So right now I'm in the cough stage and it sucks.
You know, I feel because I've I've been in the cough stage.
I had a flu maybe second week of December and I'm still in the
cough stage. My worst, my worst, my worst, my
worst stage of of that flu is the scratchy throat.
I hate it having a sore throat. It's the worst.
It's like when you're when when I get it, I'm like I now I I
wish I would just be well like it's just.
Yeah. It's so irritating and there's
not much you can do about it. Exactly what you mean.
Yeah, yeah, you're powerless. Because at that point, you know
the wheels are already in the ocean.
You're getting sick. But, Sam, what did you get up to
for New Year's, man? How did you usher in 2024?
The New Year's I didn't. I didn't I I I thought I was
just going to be at home chilling but a couple of people
invited me out so we went out. It was I mean it was it was
interesting it was a was a club like setting.
I bro I really don't understand what people go to do.
Like it's it's this noise you can't you can't hear each other
you're just literally going there to dance and consume
beverages. I just that's that's the point
like yelling at each other trying to say things that would
be easier said farther away from the speaker.
It was interesting just going out and and seeing you know
people were outside, people were being mixy, being social.
That was cool. It was cool.
It was it was a good night for me that the importance was being
with the people I was and just chilling.
It's not necessarily the the environment and going out and
you know I don't, I don't usually do that.
So, so that was that was cool the did you?
See any fireworks? Did I see there were fireworks?
But I didn't like rush because people were rushing out to see
them. I don't know, man.
I don't know. Fireworks don't really excite
me. So I sound like such a It was
cool and people seem to like them so and it was very loud and
noisy. So yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
I'm sorry. I'm being that guy.
My bad. Do you need next time to find
out the things? That Sam really doesn't care
about. Yeah.
How was that? Was yours?
Is that how? For me it was it was cool.
I I linked up with a bunch of my friends.
The new year is a good time to be social.
It is. It is, yeah.
We went to, we went to the mall. Yeah, the mall, the rooftop they
have, they had like an event. I think it was called when the
clock strikes, and yeah, it was. Very under nose.
It was very under nose. Yeah, it was decent.
It was a decent experience. I was just happy to be with my
friends, just like you. At least it was open because
like you know, I prefer like the open like an OK I don't, I don't
like. The yeah, that was the
difference I think yeah mine mine was like those those those
are roofs over 8 and it was that was maybe that took away from
the experience anyway. Maybe, yeah.
So. So yeah, it was dope.
Jumped the year. I ended up getting home like at
7:30 AM, And yeah, man, I probably got my cold from that
night. Made some bad decisions.
Yeah, not bad decisions, but like just being outside in the
cold. Whatever you did, I mean, if you
got a cold from that, there's there's definitely a bad, a bad
decision that was made there. Whether you made it on purpose
or not, there was a bad decision that was made.
I wouldn't say it's a bad. Oh my bad.
It's life you in in life, you experience things and then
things happen, right? It's cause and effect.
Cause. Anyway, so yeah, so that's what
I did. And yeah man, I guess the year
really starts for real, like this week, which is cool.
So bro this and. Everybody's getting back on
that. Right.
Yeah, Yeah, Yeah, man. Life continues Christmas
decorations. Come down. 2024 MAN 2004 was 20
years ago. Sam, we're old.
That is true. That is true.
Where were you in 2004? What are you up to?
I was a little. A wee little lad.
Young lad in class 4. You're a youngin, as they say I
was in. Class 4 Papal and my teacher was
called Mrs. Corros. I remember her shout.
Out shout out to her, man. Wherever you are, I hope you're
doing well, man, bro. Shout out to this is.
You're part of the story. The story, of course, of the
boy. Listen when.
I'll be. Recounting.
You know how? Like people recount, like the
people who are really in inspirational and influential
into their life stories. Yeah, yeah, yeah.
She's there. She's part of it.
I don't remember what I was doing in 2005.
I don't remember what I was doing in 2004.
Honestly, I don't remember that that far back and good therapy.
Sam, yeah, welcome to. The my my memories are being
blocked. So I have blocked memories that
I need to unlock the state trade for.
Maybe that's my New Year's resolution.
Listen, what's your New Years? What?
What are you?
I am glad you asked that, Sam.
Thank you. So last year one of my New
Year's resolutions, I remember we had them on the podcast was
to go out more be just go out for more events and stuff.
I think. I think I did that like to some
extent, but I think I want to carry that on to this year.
I want to be more outside as well.
You want to make it a normal thing.
Yeah, I really struggle to, like, go for events and be like
entirely the social, social butterfly that is probably just
waiting to come out inside of me, you know?
I mean, I feel like I have a social butterfly that I've
suppressed all. These years So Coon Yeah, you're
a what's what's the stage before butterfly.
You're a. Chrysalis no whatever it's
called. That sounds cool.
I'm talking about like the warm. Isn't that like a warm?
Wow, some you don't want me to sound cool.
No. Listen guys, this is your
friends Will. Tell you the truth, my friends
will be rude with you. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
Sorry. Go ahead.
But anyway, yeah, so I want to. I want to do more going on, but
I have another New Year's resolution, which I want to
stick to. Let's hear it.
I want to attempt to listen to an album or an EP, essentially a
project every day of the year. I so this I got this idea every.
Day. Every day.
Yeah, every single day.
So I got this idea from Hafare because he posted so Hafare as
you guys know, Breaking Hearts podcast.
So he posted on his social media, like all the albums he
listened to. And I was like, bro, they were
like in the hundreds or some something like that.
And I was like, this is insane. I was like, how do you listen to
all that music? And yeah, I want to push myself
to listen to more music. One thing about me is, contrary
to popular belief, me being a music producer and music.
Thing in my life you're not, really.
I don't listen much, Music did. Spotify give you as.
Much music, as you would think, did.
Spotify give you the adventurous.
What did they what did they give you?
I can't remember what what they gave me, but like it's
definitely not adventurous. Well, maybe because of the
TikTok series it would see as though I'm.
Adventurous. I mean, you were in general.
General. You did a lot.
Of But in general, I don't consume as much money as I the
money as much music as I should. Don't we?
Yeah. So.
So I've started and the two projects I've listened to are I
listened to. I finally listened to the Red
Moon in Venus project by Kali Uchis which by the way is so
beautifully arranged and. Curated.
It's curated so well. Shout out to all the producers
who are part of that Sam and I were bopping to.
No, there's some. There's some.
I mean you. Can.
Don't, Oliver. Yeah, it's You can tell when the
music is well done. Yeah, you can tell when music is
well done, well produced. It's written well.
It just sticks in your mind and fam.
There's some good joints on there, some really good joints.
But obviously my favorite song is like, and I think think this
is everybody's favorite songs, Just Moonlight.
That's an amazing song, especially when she starts
talking about when she starts, like, one thing I love about
Kali, which is, is how she just seamlessly switches from
speaking in Spanish and then just, yeah.
And then in like, it's just so seamless.
So I've never looked. Yeah, definitely up.
You put you put her on to me. I've not really listened.
I've heard her name everywhere, but I've not really listened to
her music. I might need to do a little bit
of a dive. So yeah, I've listened to.
I listened to that because I only started this resolution two
days ago. Yeah, I listened to that.
And then I listened to, I finally got around to listening
to The Submissive Project by Dustin Conrad.
I haven't figured out how I'm going to like decide what I
listen to. So I just, it's just like,
especially it's I'm going to go by things I've been putting off
because like those two projects I put off, I was like, I'm going
to listen to this. But then I never found time to
and and and the reason why I'm doing this is I want to panned
my palate. I feel like I'm very one track
minded. I feel like I'm very limited in
my influence. I like what I like and I stick
to that. I want to change that.
So that's my New Year's resolution.
How about yours, Sam? Now that's dope.
That's dope. Yeah, I my mine would be.
I want to work with more artists.
I feel like this 2023 I did a lot of more commercial type
things and like and like what do you call them?
You're getting to the back. Ads and and yeah but now I I
want to get back into into like like and I want to make it a
point to work in studio with artists and that's like I want
to link up with everyone because I I I'm very versatile in terms
of production like I do everything so I would like to
get a whole bunch of artists and about and I'd like to discover
like you know like when you find that one artist that you you
lock in with and it's like yeah yeah yeah.
So I'm I'm currently on in the search doing doing our send,
send your CVS to send your CVS to.
Let me tell you bro, it's a, it's a.
It's a tedious process finding an artist to deal with because
you're building from when they're raw.
Very, yeah. But I enjoy that though.
I enjoy it. I enjoy like, like, like helping
figure out. All right, no, don't do this.
This up to them. For the listeners who can't see
us, some just did a jig of excitement.
I did a jig of excitement. That's a good way to put it.
But yeah, no, I really want to lock in with artists.
Like very new artists, very niche artists.
And then also like I want to build my resume with with a,
with a, with a big, big players. So it's going to take a lot of
work. It's going to take a lot of
because I have to get out of my shell.
I think that's been my issues. I've just been in my shell a lot
in terms of reaching out to people.
So I have to like actively get out of that and reach out to
every single person whether whether, whether you're dubbed
or not out. I'm not saying like that whether
it's reciprocated or not, I don't think that's the major
issue. I think it's reaching out that's
that's that's going to do. So yeah, man.
Listen, if you do listen to this podcast and you make music, you
might get reached out to buy me from me, Buy me, buy me sounds
better. So yeah, yeah, yeah, that's
that's part of my goal. I really just, I want to.
I want to make more music, man. Like I want to have more music
out. So.
Here's, here's to that, bro. I really do hope.
I really hope that's successful for you and you get to work.
Yeah. Be a producing artist.
Be a producer. Possible.
Yeah, be a producer. Speaking of being a producer,
Speaking of this past week, yeah, my, my, my year also
started a little bit with a bang because, you know, the whole
Cocoa Butter song has been blowing up.
For my butter, yeah. Yeah, that one.
Anyway, So, so yeah, we scheduled a shoot, the video and
everything. And that was exciting, was
exciting. You do producer.
Did you do the you know the producer cameo?
The guys when they show when your tag hits and then you're
rubbing your hands. It's in slow MO licking,
fortunately and fortunately. I did.
Oh you did a cameo. Oh yes.
I'm. Gonna be to see you looking
like. Capacity.
I hope it's not. Connie.
Connie, I'm going to. I'm going.
To Sam. I don't know if I'll be able to
watch that video. Sam, I don't know if I'll be
able to watch. No, don't worry, I'll watch it
for. You and you'll replace the part
where Oh no, look. Look, that specific part where
FM is going, Yeah, yeah, yeah, it's me.
Yeah. So I'm gonna be, I'm, they're
gonna include me in the end where my tag goes.
So, like, yeah, yeah, yeah, it's gonna be cringey for sure.
And I'm going to. Change very much.
And I'm so sorry to cringe in advance a bit.
Of cringe is good. A bit of cringe, but anyway.
So the reason why I bring it up is because so that song really
plays on the past, you know, it's a, it's a song that sounds
like you know, the kapuka of days gone past and everything.
And and I feel like in to some extent that's why a lot of
people have resonated with it. Right.
And Sam, we had this conversation before the podcast.
We were trying to talk about like the things that we think
are going to be very influential in the music industry or are
going to be really big points of conversation in the music
industry over the years. We wanted to project that.
And for me, I want to say urban Tone is is the thing, at least
for the next two quarters. That's what's going to be like
the thing that's really booming in the music industry and yeah,
I don't know what, what do you, what do you.
I mean, it's it's interesting. What?
Do you think it's it's interesting, It's it's like
Genghatton took a break and then it decided it went and hit it.
What what? What do people say when they're
when? Like after, after.
Yeah, after you. Just took a hiatus, no?
No, no. Yeah.
Well, yeah. After after relationship, what
do people do to to? Get themselves back.
Like the guys go to the gym and start working on on themselves.
So Gangiton. Gangiton did that.
It's it's Gangiton broke up with the music industry for a while
and then it started and then now it's coming back as urban tone
cut hair. It's a little bit more you know.
Anyways it would be interesting. That's a silly analogy.
It's. A little bit more familiar.
Yeah. It'll be interesting to see that
I I'm, I'm, I mean I'm looking forward to I'm I'm always for.
For the older Kenyan music to make a resurgence or like new
life, you know, new life for for stuff that we have been and
we'll see that a lot. Like a lot of at least towards
the end of last year, we saw a lot of of the Uberton songs,
like sample older Kenyan music, older Kenyan songs, older Kenyan
acts. So that's cool.
I I like to see that. I do predict that that might
raise a few issues, but I feel like those would be good issues
to solve because that will help us forge new ways of going about
the business. But that's the business side.
We'll get to that. We'll get to that.
The music should be exciting. Yeah.
We've seen how people have ripped off just basically cause.
Some issues, yeah. But.
The music is great. The music is, yeah, it's it's
without a doubt it definitely it's.
It's cool because it's playing on, like I said, it's playing on
nostalgia, but then it's giving it.
It's like a new it's it's it's yeah, it's like current.
It's making it more current, which is Which is cool, which is
cool. It'll be interesting to see how
the old school acts. Get on new school with old
school nostalgia. That'll be an interesting
marriage. I would do.
You think that? Do you think the old school acts
will have a role to play outside of their music being used?
I don't. Think like how how did, how did
they respond to Gangiton because I think it will be along that
lane. No, Gangiton, I'm sure they
embraced, they were like, yeah, we were the funnel.
But you see this is different because this is like, OK, we're
actually using samples from your.
I don't know. Did they really embrace it?
I don't think it was embraced as much.
Some did. It wasn't like it was like a
white. DNA, DNA and all those guys,
but. For them it's pretty similar
because for them it's similar because it's it's the sound is
sort of what they're used to, you know, like it's Genghis Tone
as it's still based off Kapuk and all that business.
So it'll be interesting to see if the newer and I guess there's
a divide between now and just the Urban Tone School and just
the rest of the industry, just to see how the rest of the
industry treated, especially since this is like, it almost
feels like it's a resurgence. Like, all right, we're trying
again, sort of so interesting to see if they treated differently
than they treated the Ganga tone.
That is, actually, that's a really good observation.
I feel like this new resurgence of of Ganga tone as urban tone
is more playful. Yeah, it's less not.
It's not graphic. What's the word?
Provocative. It's more like it's more it's
it's more fun and more playful and it's less like it's like
TikTok challenges and this and that.
So it's more like. And that might work.
Yeah, that might work well for it.
That might also be its detriment, again because TikTok
plays a big part, especially with the younger ones doing it.
Little minor, all the all the kids like TikTok plays a huge
part in in in it. So as as as well as we are, as
well as the older acts and the older audience is able to adapt
to the TikTok vibe that might indicate partly how we how well
we're able to receive the music so.
So some of the names, some of the names I'm seeing that are
really big in this Abanton space.
Urban tone. I don't know why, maybe I'm old,
but like these names are so interesting.
Like why BW Smith? That's what they said when when
all the yeah, that's I mean Tipsy G Hip Hop had that that.
Era Scooby. Yeah, it sounds like.
It's like, where did these guys come up?
Sean? MMG.
Like I don't know where they came up with their names, but
there is hip. Hop had that area where I mean
that that that era where where names started being like, but
honestly if you look at their names it's interesting just
watching how names have changed over time.
Like that's a cool little study you could do like hip Hop went
from all the MCMC this MCMC, then it evolved and then became
the Leos then after that it. Now they had their their run
Scooby error which is interesting.
So and now I don't know what they're doing now.
Actually, but yeah, we've gone through some some interesting
so. OK.
So, Sam. Yeah, The question is why is
Abantone really gaining traction within the hearts, within the
young hearts of the kids? Because honestly, I feel like
the the biggest demographic that's really consuming this
music is the younger generation. Like, why are they so drawn to
this new genre that's not really new?
I think it's really. Playing on the nostalgia from
back in the. Day it's just off the top.
I know there's many reasons off the top of my head.
I feel like it's it's music it's it's a good time right?
So that's obviously it's a good time but it's also theirs.
Like it's it's been done by people around that same age
group with that same mindset mentality and everything.
So it's it's it's resonates more than I mean we listened to the
older old school and it's also a good time obviously because
that's what they keep playing. But it's a different sort of
mind that was that was a different type of mind created
that. So now this is like it's party
music and it's their party music so that that that makes it more
palatable. There's there's aspects of
nostalgia where you're taking a bit of what they enjoy with
other music and then and it just it feels, it feels.
I feel like the younger generation have a lot of FOMO,
like they really wish, like especially the kids who are now
like starting to go out to parties, starting to club and
everything. Like they're like, damn, like I
wish I was outside in the day when like, you know, all the
like classics were like popping off.
And it's not just Kenyan music, because a lot of them are also
sound. Like all the dance hall, the
dance hall joints of of, of. Stuff and everything.
So I feel like, I feel like a lot of these kids will really,
really want to find a way to resonate with what was back in
the day. Like the music that was
consumed. Right?
And I feel like it's genius. Like it's like, wow, like, OK,
how can we bring elements of things that worked?
They already worked because they're taking elements from
songs that were already hit songs and then kind of re
imagining it into something that would be.
And inserting. Yeah, inserting today's culture
into it. Exactly, exactly.
And bro, it's, I think it's so huge, man.
Like you look at some of these urban tone songs that are coming
out and you look at the times, the timelines.
Like Sean MMG released a song Now could die a month ago and
it's already on 1.2 million views on YouTube ran Scooby
released Tic Tac like 3 months or so ago.
It's I think it's about to get to 1,000,000 views.
There's attention on YouTube as well.
There's attention on. Yeah, but there's there's
definitely a buzz. Sound Craft.
Sound Craft released that. What is it called?
Tik Toka featuring Godi Tenor and Tipsy G and Carpi.
That song came out two months ago.
It's already on 3.7 million views on YouTube.
So obviously there is an energy that's just very tangible right
now with Abantone and especially these new kids.
Like they have the streets like Unlock.
It's definitely it's it's. I love to see where it is.
I do hope that now The thing is, I do hope that they learn from,
because again, the music industry is a music industry and
the music business is a music business, right?
So I do hope they learn from the mistakes that I won't say
Gengeton made. Well, they're already making one
big mistake, which is sampling things with that.
I don't know if people are clearing things, so that's a
mistake, but like. Yeah, Because back then, yeah.
It's it's going well. It's it's going to be
problematic. It is so some of these kids are
going to need to I just you need to be smart.
I don't. I I honestly don't feel.
I don't feel like our industry is going to get keep samples.
I don't think there's artists are going to be like no don't
choose my song. But maybe there might, there
might be some Divas. Around advise these kids what
I'd advise these kids is So what you do is because the sampling
of the music is is undeniably dope right.
As a producer, you know like even me I'm looking at this
urban to movement and I'm like I want a piece of that but like So
what I would advise them is although as a producer this is
also a double edged swords. But if we just talk about it as
an artist, yeah do it. But maybe when it comes to like
monetizing like in terms of YouTube and streaming, you know
you you're going to have to have that conversation with the guys
who you're sampling and they'll want a large percentage of the
pie. Then.
That's great. The only place you can really
capitalize is performance, but even then that might be.
It's going to be tricky. Yeah.
It's going to be problematic because I know.
I because I know there are cases where like, even artists like,
have stopped performing songs that they sampled because that
would also lead to, well, you're performing songs that were, I
don't know, it's hot, it's it's weird.
It's also, I think it's also going this, this period is also
going to show us how many of the older acts have their business
right? Because I mean, you could, you
could go crazy and all these kids or something myself.
And then you realize that, oh snap, I don't have no rights.
I don't need to be talking about it.
I don't know. I just want to ask like,
especially like now the the songs that are sampled from old
Kenyan classics. I want to ask the artist to just
be just be a little bit open to WhatsApp.
Yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah.
If you if you have to reach out to these kids like strike at
like deals where you'll be like, OK, fine, let's revenue share
and let's split whatever, like let's be open to.
To what's happening and the kids.
Because at the end of the day, it's progressing.
It is the kids. The kids are going to.
Shining a light to your music. You know, yeah, the and the kids
are going to have to be OK with what they're given.
Especially since you're taking, you're taking, you have to like
like unless you want to create from scratch.
But the whole Ubuntu movement, there's the big, a big element
of it is, is is you know, borrowing.
So listen, the sampling game is a sampling game.
If you know what what people who sample have to give up in terms
of of rights, then it's that's just the music business and how
it works. So you're going to have to just
be smart about it. And this would be a good time to
learn about that aspect of the business, You know, like the
aspect of when you take from someone else.
Because we don't do that here. Here.
You just, you take it and you hope that no one, no one
stumbles onto the song and you're living your life looking
over your shoulder like that for the rest of your life.
Like, that's craziness, but it's the producers curse.
I guess So, yeah. I mean, it's just a good
opportunity to learn about that aspect, get lawyers, figure,
like figure it out. We shouldn't be an industry that
does the bare minimum and is OK with it.
Like, let's figure all this stuff out and figure out how how
that can work for us. Yeah.
Yeah, I don't know. For for me, if I was managing
one of these artists, it would just be about like one.
I'd I'd, I'd know it's coming some somewhere down the line.
Somebody's going to ask? Yep, Yep, Yep.
But you need to just set up that line.
Of yeah, it's better to be on the offensive than defend.
Yeah, just like, be more proactive, like ask if you need
to. Yep.
And because I don't want this urban tone wave to stop, bro,
It's it's it's dope, man, what these kids are doing.
Like I I'm seeing the energy and it's dope.
I just, I worry about the business side of it.
And I but like, I think, I think let's look at the bigger picture
here. Like, you know, like the bigger
picture is we could actually like get to a place where Kenyan
music is, you know, on the limelight again.
In that regard, although the Kenyan music is already in a
limelight. I'm just talking about in this
genre of music, it's all the. Acts should, should, should, be,
I would say just they should be more graceful with it because
they also stand to benefit, I feel.
Yeah, obviously I want the older acts to get their just dues for
for the music, definitely, of course.
I mean, yeah, they shouldn't, of course.
Of course I'm. Just saying like be at least
open to having a conversation. If not, we're just also just
also speculating. Maybe those conversations are
already. Going being had the scenes,
maybe, maybe people are on top of, on top of their business.
Hopefully. Let's just hope everyone is on
top of their business, everybody involved.
But yeah, I think Urban Tone is my prediction for at least the
first two halves of the year. Yeah, that's what's going to be
the big thing. Do we have any other predictions
do you have? Any do I have any other
predictions? In the music industry.
Man, I don't know. I don't.
I don't know if I have predictions as much as I I'm
just really excited to see what we've built on progress.
I feel like towards that like last year there was a lot of
building and a lot of things that that clicked into place.
I'd like I wouldn't want that should be like a 2023 thing, you
know. Like I'd like it to be this the
the turn of the key, you know and and like moving the car
into. Like, do you think we'll have
more activations and whatever's, like whatever's what a?
Podcast very specific there AFAM.
Very specific. Listen, yeah.
Anyway, do you think we'll have more like products like we saw
with colours and collaborations with Spotify?
Do you think like this is not just with Spotify, Do you think
we'll have more of that type of thing?
And if so, maybe I can ask, what would you like to see
highlighted this year in the music industry?
I OK now this is my I I feel like I do need to preface this
with this is my opinion and this is just how I've seen things.
I would like to see the popular music scene have a little bit of
direction in terms of in terms of like the goal again, again
not to overuse the example, but we saw we see how Nigeria, West
Africa and Nigeria really made Afrobeats work for them in a
way. And just like they've been
putting them and it's from way back then, it's not like a two
week, three thing like I mean two weeks, sorry, two week,
three-week thing that just happened.
Like like grammar is a product of what whiskey and Davido were
doing in 2010, you know, So it's it's like a concerted effort of
of just making those decisions and and so I'd like to see that
work for us here. It'd be nice to see a marriage
between some of the niche products like again, like, like
like I'm not, I don't mean niche in a bad way.
Like Spotify and then the rest of the market, what Spotify put
on and then the rest of the market.
And just like that marriage to see how well, how, how much more
of a stride we can take together than of course there's going to
be individual individualism and and and pushing yourself
individual as the niche and also individually as artists, and
that's expected. That's normal.
That's even needed but it was also just good to see youth how
that progress works. Yeah.
And I I my my thing is I really just don't hope, I I really
sorry don't don't want last year and the different things that
have happened to individuals and as a whole to be a 2023 or 2023.
And we're looking back at at this room 20272028 and we're
like O23 was a good year and then we're just back to.
Do do you think we'll have that moment?
Where do you think we'll have like a Tyler Water moment where
we have an artist that? Wouldn't that be interesting to
see? Sensation.
Yeah, yeah, I. Because, like, OK, so I just
done some bare minimum research and I can see Tyler the Water
song is released under Epic, which is Sony.
Yeah. So do you think we'll see some
of the big three take interest in maybe maybe let's say, and
ask for lack of an example, a Kenyan act like karoon for
example. Do you think we could see like
something like that happen and a song from a Kenyan like reach,
like international acclaim, like one of those?
And if so, do you have any, like predictions?
I have a bold prediction. Who might go up to that level?
Man, do I think that's that's a huge thing to to speculate on
bold predictions. That's a huge thing to
speculate. This is about giving bold
predictions. Yeah, which I do think.
I think it's honestly, I I I think it's possible.
First off, Tyler, listen, Tyler. Tyler was signed off her.
She was signed off her first hit.
What's it called? Getting late I think so she was
signed off that. So this is like I said it's
progress of build and that was a couple of years back so it's
progress being built. So we do.
My thing is we do need to start and it starts with the work,
man. Like it starts with the music
like putting out quality music that people yeah that people can
resonate with. Of course you can't ignore the
the, the, the, the, the age, which is a TikTok age and
everything. So yeah, and it would be really
cool to see. Let me not lie, I would want to
see. I don't know who would.
If anyone were to make it, I would think it would either be
urban tone. Oh, sorry.
It might be an urban tone artist or it would be yeah, that now
from that group of of Zinnia Caroon, you know that's that's
RMB. And Spotify already has laid the
groundwork for that to happen. So.
This gonna happen one of these days.
What's your prediction? Like a you have a bold
prediction, boldly predict the people, the people who are
already in pole position in my opinion to like be extremely
palatable to the to the western audience.
For example, because my my question was about like Kina
Tyler would be like TG Black and Zoe Kangorcha.
I think both of those are acts are already like straddling both
worlds and could potentially, if they release music consistently
this year, could potentially put themselves in a position where
like a big a big label or whatever is interested in
amplifying that. Zeno of course like is already
has already proven that she can do that as well.
So even zinnias water moment is is is due water moment karoon as
well. Yeah, water.
That's what we're calling they're.
Calling it the. Water moment.
OK, now there's also Libianca, for example.
Like with people I. Mean we've sort of seen that
with with Sophie and Zao sort of ish, you know?
But, but, but this is the thing. I don't know if Sofia and Zao
has inked a deal with anyone. Probably.
There's people fishing. There has to be.
I'm sure, I'm sure there's
emails coming in. That's a good one though.
Sophie and Zou as well. And then now it'll be interested
to see more organic collaborations happen because we
know how the water not know what the marquee collaboration.
Yeah, it's it's in my mind like, yeah, we know how that marquee
collaboration happened. That was more like the universe,
but like, let's see, more intentional.
Exactly intentional. And that's what I'm talking
about. That's that's what I was trying
to say, like it would just be good to see more planning.
More planning so. So I think Sam, I think a bold
prediction is we may see an artist become an international
sensation soon. I'm just wondering who it might
be. So this is just the two routes
will be you know, from the R&B sector or like the Libyanca,
somebody who is like hopping more on like the Afro beats
whatever, somebody who's new, who's fresh, but like offering
something that's like, you know, this very, very Kenyan.
So I don't know what that will be.
Authentically it's in it's It would be good if it's kind of
like, I don't think I was thinking about this over the the
the, the holidays. I don't think it's a coincidence
that Marky went viral with a woman.
I mean Sofia singing Kikuyu on it.
Like I don't think it's it's a coin like we talk about when we
talk about Kenyan sound. I think an important part of
Kenyan sound is Kenyan culture and we see like she went viral
speaking Kikuyu and I I don't think it's a coincidence, it's
just I feel like it's something for the industry to think about.
I'm not saying that everyone needs to go back in and speak
their mother tongue, but there's the aspect of culture which
needs to be infused into the music and I think that helps so.
Yeah. All right.
Let's see. I mean, both two things can be
true as well. So hopefully even just however
it happens, I think 50 and Zhao blowing up, Zhenya blowing up
last year, like the whole Spotify thing.
I think this is all precursory information.
That's. Connected.
To someone like blowing up in a massive way like Brad Tyler,
Brad Tyler is like international.
Libianca became international, the likes of Amari.
Interest. I think.
They all came out from that, from that.
Yeah. I think, I think we are, we are,
we are. I think we are on the precipice
of. Precipice like that.
Precipice is not a real word. Precipice A.
Real. Word, and I think it is, and I
feel like 2024. I think that my bold prediction
is that we're gonna be able to like, really pinpoint who that
artist may be or who those artists.
May multiple there could be multiple too we don't know Kenya
is not multiple. Yeah Kenya is not a isn't Kenya
is not a it's Kenya is not a stranger to the international
stage. So like we've in other areas,
like there's we've, we've made waves.
So it's very, very, very reasonable that we could in
music too. It just takes intentionality,
that's what it takes, and hard work.
It does good. Old hard work.
Good old hard work. OK.
So in the news, OK, guys, just want to put this out there.
So the music industry, usually the, the wider or general music
industry will take a hiatus in January, so as opposed to like
in December. So in January is when the wider
music industry kind of takes a pause and people really start
like, you know, coming out of the woodworks like towards the
end of January, February. So there's very little that's
going on right now in the music industry.
There's stuff going on of course, but like it's slow, it's
a slow time. So I just want to preface that.
So in terms of the news, I I guess we can talk about this
like in brief. So there's two articles that
caught my attention. One was major splitting with his
manager Shiko. So yeah, I I read this article
on Nairobi news. It seems like he's he's parting
ways with his manager and he released a statement where he
says Shiko is no longer my manager.
We have decided to part ways, but Makwadjani Ajab, I have
nothing but respect for her. Shukran Wagenge, God bless.
And it's interesting because I think Major is working towards
an album. Yeah, he has been.
He's been working towards an album for a minute now.
He he told us, he told us the album was good, was coming,
didn't say where is it and is this a set back now?
I. Hope it's coming.
I hope this is not a set. Back.
That's another problem. So I hope.
I hope there's no fire in his camp at the moment.
I don't know how if. Major knows that people are
really waiting for his joint. I don't know if he knows
sometimes. Sometimes artists could be in
the studio the whole time. They're not really aware of
what's going outside. Like Major has been the past
couple of years, he's been on fire and we're like, all right
and you know how you know how people are, are in this side of
the world? It's like it's always albums,
it's EPS and albums. It's never singles.
We're never satisfied with singles.
We want you to release an album, so it's like.
On this side of the world, yeah, we want albums and stuff.
So I I don't know. Listen.
An album oriented market. Pathways that happens.
Yeah, so. And hope.
Hope he links up with someone who is forward thinking, yeah?
Hopefully he does, yeah. The other news I saw that was
interesting was, but I I mean we we've kind of touched on this
already about how Bensol and Viri are.
You know, so this is the year. Angling.
Yeah. The angling at departure from
sole generation and it most likely is going to happen this
year. The interesting thing I saw
about this whole topic was that they said that.
So sole generation kind of said or hinted at, yeah, the fact
that the teams that are currently around Bensol and Viri
might stick with them, Bensol and that's good, that's good.
That's good. That's good.
So they just changed the names, not the teams.
Like more community. I mean continuity.
Sorry, you were saying. No, I'm saying yeah, no, that's
that's so it's it's just the it's a major, major name the
label that's changing it's really good.
Again, it'll be interesting to see to see how they function
without the the leadership and guidance that makes it sound so
serious, the leadership and guidance of of sole generation
itself as as an entity. I don't know me, I'm super
excited. It was.
I think for me, I've just been excited to be to have been part
of that story even as little as it is.
Like in the beginning and just back when they were starting up
and figuring a lot of these things out.
Of course when you left they just blew up some so that's part
of it. But it's it's it's cool to see.
Yeah man that's I really I really hope it's.
I hope that after if they leave and when they leave, if they
leave that there'll be a clear explosion in their careers
rather than a lull. And just like a oh man like can
we sit down and figure things out now da da da like and we
start seeing them less because they have been a staple in the
pop side of of of the industry. So it'll be really, it'll be sad
to lose that, especially all the momentum that they've been
building, you know, with fans and shows and tours that they've
been doing. Also, they won't lose that, they
won't lose that, they won't lose that.
They'll be fine. They'll be fine.
The whole point of them being so Jen was artist development, and
now they're ready to spread. The.
Wings and fly, Yeah, they've developed enough.
So now it's it's time for them to stand on their own two legs
and let's see, let's see what what we can expect from both
Bensol and Viri. And so Jen will be fine.
They're already setting up this whole new thing with the press
play and having the new generation of artists that they
want to push, so. Again, yeah.
And this is also an indicator of of, of if.
So Jen really has it because can they do, can they do what
they've done with this two, this two, Yeah.
Can they do it? Can they do it again?
That's, that's the question. That's all on our minds.
That's yeah, yeah. And I think they can so.
I all. Optimistic.
Yeah, so. So, Sam, so there's really, no,
I don't know. Did you listen to anything new,
per SE that caught you? Yeah, there was no, I was.
I've been laughing the past two weekends because the guys at
Spotify have not, because we usually get most of our new
music from who has been chosen on this spot.
But they're on holiday mode for real.
I feel like they have not updated that playlist for
nothing so. Anyone I can remember who's
released music in the past? So I don't know.
Yeah I I haven't, I haven't been.
I haven't it's we need we need we need other outlets also just
to figure out the music. So I don't know if you've heard.
Have you heard anything? Have I heard anything that that
caught my attention this past like, week?
No, I don't. I don't think I've heard any new
music. I mean, I saw the Sabi Wu, I saw
the Sabi Wu video that he did, but the Nyamaza song.
But you know that that came out already.
They're really crushed. It's just.
That they did the video. We need new music.
Release music.
We. Shout out to Kina Sabi Wu and
that's that. That video is.
Hard. And if you're listening and you
did release music and we are completely skipping it, please.
Yeah, unfortunately. Light up our Instagram and our
socials. But listen, I think we should
just play, you know, we should do, we should just play because
we talked about all this urban tone stuff.
Yeah, I I would like to play like an urban tone song, kind of
just to give people an insight into what we're talking about,
especially people who are not necessarily in the Kenyans
listening space. So me, I want to play my
favorite song, which is Tic Tac by Ron Scooby.
I thought you were about to play cocoa butter first.
No. Well, I well, the reason I've
said no so vehemently is I feel cringy about doing self promo.
I don't know self. Promo.
Yeah, yeah. I feel like that's cringy.
It's not that I love that song, of course, man.
It's my song. It's your platform.
It's my it is. But like, I want to play Run
Scooby. I just like that song.
Tic Tac. Yeah, listen, here is Tic Tac by
Run Scooby. Good
only goes fire baby Mama Shia weekend that there you are here
for the weekend body Shia fire like gas on the go down on the
like a hip every man down when I press on the give me that thing
when you pull up on the weekend weekend.
That was Tic Tac by Ran. Scooby, shout out to him.
Shout out to the whole Abanton movement.
We have our eyes on you guys, our eyes and ears.
Yeah, The whole industry has the eyes on your.
Yeah, on us, on ourselves. We.
Have the eyes on ourselves. Don't worry about it.
Please don't do it.
Don't do that bad. Not this New Year.
Not you making me seem cringy this new Year on purpose.
Relax. Calm down.
So you're putting the blame on me?
Yes, I did that. Yes, I do know.
You do know that when someone says something and there's a
it's podcasting 11 and you pause, it allows for the brain
to think things within that pause.
And if I said something that's completely outlandish and you
didn't support me, it's going to be cringe, especially for myself
and you know it. OK, so you're doing that on
purpose and now you're making me over explain myself and now it's
even worse. I still.
Do that intentionally. I just didn't know how to
respond to that. What was I supposed to say?
Just it's fine. OK.
Anyway, you guys didn't sign up to hear some and I.
Bicker over the podcast. That's not what this platform is
for. It's really not.
It's for the music industry and the music it is.
It is. And we appreciate every single
person who is part of it. Oh, oh, sorry.
Exactly, exactly. And shout out to you guys, man.
Like I was telling some before the podcast.
Like even when we when I we were shooting the video for Cocoa
Butter, there were two people who you know came up and they're
like, yo, listen to the I listened to the podcast.
That's cool, isn't it? Had the conversation.
It's weird and we sound. We sound so green and vanilla
and we say that, but it's cool. My it's definitely.
I don't care how vanilla I sound.
It's not. It's cool when someone comes.
Up to you and say never get Yeah, yeah.
I don't know if I'll ever get used to it.
Like being recognized from the podcast.
Like it's it's it's surreal and we're very thankful man.
Like it's it's like, I don't know.
I don't even know how to describe.
It we need to act like, we need to act like we've been here
before our phone. We need to act like, yeah, so
that's cool, man. I mean, shout out to all of of
you, so yeah, well, I'm. Not gonna me.
I'm not gonna lie to you people. But like you've been here
before? Nah.
Nah, I'm not. But you listen shout out to you
guys for rocking with the 30% port boys and listen, we're
going into our second year man. I'm super excited.
This is the part where we we say we have such big plans laid out
in the oh, Yep. Big plans, but most very, very
big plans. So anyway, huge no.
But we're definitely. Going to be interviewing Obama
guys. Definitely.
He's going to tell us about about he's.
Going to be asking him the tough questions, like how do you come
up with your yearly playlist? Yep.
And why are there no Kenyans on there?
Maybe. Maybe that's the key.
Maybe we need to. Figure out your question.
And he's Kenyan, so he should have a Kenyan on there, right?
But I hope you guys have seen through that that's a music
industry marketing to. Pain, bro.
Big box. He needs to make his money.
Like like he's not getting that government money anymore.
Oh wait, maybe he's. Look at me.
Pocket watching Obama isn't. Making any money.
Look at me, pocket watching Obama.
But yeah, you have to. Give my label me.
I'm saying get my music on Obama's list.
Somehow. Let's do that.
Spam. Spam.
Send. Send.
Send emails to his aides. Send emails to Michelle.
Hit up. Malia.
What is her name? Is that his name?
Malia. Malia.
That's her name, right?
That's her name. Malia.
I even said his name.
Oh, this is terrible. Can we move on from this please?
Emphasis is in the E OK, the emphasis is the.
Is there an E on I, bro? See you.
Look, you're correcting me. It's an I, but it's Malia
anyway, guys. This.
Was the 30% podcast. Listen, we've been doing this
for a year, but we're no less cringy and no less better.
No better at outdoing the podcast.
So hopefully some things will change.
But guys, listen. That was episode 5058 of the 30%
Podcast. Thank you all for being here
with us. We love being here with you.
We do. We do.
And we'll catch you again on
episode 559. 9.