Hard core rapper Steph Kapela shows no signs of slowing down after setting his name as the glorified New Nairobi hip-hop artiste.
He has brought out a different genre of music in Kenya and so far so good. Speaking on a local radio station, the rapper reiterated his frustrations in trying to introduce the new kind of music that has made him so popular now.
In his new song, Exposure, Steph Kapela addresses the fact that gone are the days where artistes just gain exposure. They also want to be paid for their hard work.
The #playkemusic was trending a while back and he says despite the fact that it was there to help artistes, the New Nairobi guys were left behind.
frustrations in term of playkemusic. new Nairobi we didn’t have a good induction but we don’t blame anyone so we are creating the space for ourselves. but slowly by slowly we are getting there.
His new song Exposure is a true depiction of Kenya and his day to day life because he wanted to show the real Kenya and there is nothing wrong with it.
we need to find our own kind of art and stick to it. we do not want to show that we live a life we actually can’t afford.
Being an artiste is not easy especially when he was in the US. He even recalls a day he performed for only two people – a bouncer and a bartender.
My first gig I performed to just the bartender and bouncer in the states. It didn’t make me want to quit. it made me want to prove them wrong that I can scoop a crowd
Steph Kapela is now one of the most celebrated new kid music artistes and his music is picking and taking Kenyan Hip Hop to the next level.