Usiku wa Kili Music Awards 2014

Updated on Wednesday

Picha mbalimbali kutoka katika usiku wa Kili Music Awards 2014 wakati wa utoaji wa tuzo uliofanyika Mei 3 ukumbi wa Mlimani City.

BAKE 2014 Award Winners

06 May 2014 | By Wangechi Maina

Following submissions by bloggers and readers; and shortlisting by independent judges to five blogs in 17 categories, here are the winners of the Bloggers Association of Kenya awards for 2014 as voted by you. 

Best Technology Blog: techmoran.com

Best Photography Blog: benkiruthi.com

Best Creative Writing Blog: bikozulu.co.ke

Best Business Blog: bankelele.co.ke

Best Food Blog: pikachakula.com

Best Environmental/ Agricultural Blog: farmingafrika.com

Best Fashion/Beauty/Hair/Style Blog: thisisess.com

Best Politics Blog: brainstorm.co.ke

Best New Blog: wendywahito.com

Best Corporate Blog: ihub.co.ke

Best Topical Blog: mummytales.com

Best Sports Blog(a tie): michezoafrika.com and futaa.com

Best Entertainment/Lifestyle Blog: ghafla.co.ke

Best Travel Blog: safari254.com

Best Health Blog: wambuiwaithaka.com

Best County Blog: county411.com

Best Kenyan Blog of the Year: bikozulu.co.ke

story courtesy of-http://www.kenyabuzz.com/lifestyle/bake-2014-award-winners#.U2x7UPmSx2s

CAPITAL FM RELEASES NEW “NISHIKE” VIDEO; AS “ATWOLI” RANTS

#NISHIKE GONE WRONG

Kenya’s top showbiz boy’s band Sauti Sol has definitely got everyone talking about their new “Nishike” video. The buzz around the video has been so immense on social media, trending under the hashtag #NISHIKE. Well it seems everyone has their opinion and wants to jump into the popularity of the video.

But a recent video posted on YouTube shows ‘Atwoli” had something to say about the video right after the Labor Day celebrations. The video; of a guy imitating Atwoli of The COTU; rants hard about the video and makes for a funny clip that will leave you laughing hard.

But if you thought that is funny, Capital FM has done a video of the same song under the hashtag #NISIHIKEGONEWRONG. The  video of  a ‘heavy’ guy singing to the song without a shirt while a girl with a huge derriere dances right beside him; goes for a  funny video. It is definitely trending and it is a must watch! Send us your thoughts…

By Embukane Vincent Libosso.

WILL REGGAE REBOUND AFTER THE VYBZ KARTEL COURT VERDICT?

#DANCEHALL RADAR

I

nside the full-packed court; the verdict came like a  hard-knocking hammer. A jury of 11 earlier in April this year found 38-year old Vybz Kartel, whose real name is Adidja Palmer, guilty of the death of an associate in March.

A case that was followed internationally and locally fervently; saw American rapper Busta Rhymes fly in on the day of the verdict; from New York to give comfort to the Kartel family. Outside the court; police had a hard time controlling the charging crowd that kept on chanting “free World Boss” on Kingston streets.

But what even came hard for his loyal fans apart from the life imprisonment sentence; is that further; the clause read, ‘he won’t be eligible for parole for 35 years.’ Clive “Lizard” Williams was killed after being asked to Kartel’s home to discuss two missing illegal hand guns. The trial lasted a good 65 days and was one of the longest court cases in the history of the Caribbean island, having started in November.

Not new to prison hustles; the dancehall star was previously arrested in 2011 on drug charges but later dropped. He was later found with illegal firearms.

“World Boss” illustrious of Vybz Kartel biggest success in music and business, he released chart-topping hits such as Clarks, Ramping shop and Summer Time. His success in music led him to launching lines of shoes, alcohol and condoms.

He became the first dancehall star to star in his own reality TV-show: Teacha’s Pet. But with all the success, he has not been short of controversy. He has been accused of using skin bleaching chemicals to appear lighter. Kartel was also involved in a lyrical war of words with fellow dancehall star Mavado, with the pair exchanging several diss track. Their war went physical amongst their supporters: Gaza and Gully camps; wit deaths reported. They later called truce in 2007.

Despite being held on remand since 2011; the demand from radio stations and fans for new music has been so high that Vybz Kartel continued to record songs from his cell. Using his smart-phone voice note feature, he released singles which were later compiled into a song album. Sadly; Kartel has made the statement officially that he will no longer be recording while serving time although new songs will be released which were earlier recorded.

Fellow artists, meanwhile, have largely remained supportive despite the brutal charges against him. Busta Rhymes and veteran reggae singer Junior Reid were among those who attended Kartel’s trial. Drake has been photographed wearing a "Free Worl’ Boss" T-shirt and has echoed that support in interviews.

Kartel’s estranged ex-protégé Popcaan, a featured artist on Kartel's “Clarks” before finding success on his own with 2011’s "Party Shot," was among those who expressed disappointment with the verdict. "I'm very sad. I don't wish jail for anyone, and especially not Vybz Kartel," Popcaan told Rolling Stone. "Vybz Kartel played and still plays a vital role in the music." The same sentiment was echoed by Mr. Vegas when he called in to comment to the discussion in a radio station.

Regarded as a “Don” or “area leader” at his Portmore home are, Kartel is not just a good writer and lyricists but “he knows how to delve into the mindset of his audience,” remarked Zip FM’s DJ Sparks. The loss of his work visa kept him from travelling to the U.S. and other key markets at the height of his career, but while that limited the singer's financial opportunities; it only cemented his status as an underground icon. "He kind of became the guy where, internationally, everyone knows that’s the artist to shout out if you want to sound like you know what’s really going on in the streets," Glazer says.

In Jamaica, ubiquitous graffiti proclaiming allegiance to "Gaza" — an alias of the Portmore community where Kartel grew up — attests to his almost folk hero-like sway over the island’s poor youth. "He really is the spokesperson for everybody who is marginalized,” Dawson says of Kartel’s place in Jamaican music. "[Kartel’s] power doesn’t come from gun songs or sex songs; it comes from people who identify with him because they realize he is speaking on their behalf."

He accused his protégés whom he had mentored and given rise to fame while he was head of Gaza; of betrayal. He termed Papi and Tommy Lee as having betrayed him while he was in jail- “I want the fans to know that I am physically okay. I have never been stabbed, kicked, punched or beaten and I did not try to commit suicide,” he confirmed in the letter. “Jail is undoubtedly, unquestionably the worst place to be on this planet called Earth, but as it relates to my encounters with the correctional officers at the institution, I have no complaints. Despite being denied bail recently, and being betrayed by Popcaan and Tommy Lee whilst going through the darkest hour of my existence, I am unparalleled in my determination to remain positive,” Kartel said. “I do a lot of reading and writing and usually try to exercise."

 Riding on the wave of Kartel is Alkaline- the new dancehall star who sings like and almost looks like Vybz. Many are referring the eye-ball tattooed star as the new Kartel. New artists like Chronixx too seem to ride in the opposite wave, when he sang “…even when the whole Jamaica ah bleach; mi nuh follow nobody...” he is one of the few artists termed as “hard and conscious to his roots.”

During his incarceration, Kartel published a book called “Voice of Jamaican Ghetto”- a reflection of the Jamaican society. He now joins the likes of Buju Banton, who is currently serving time in a U.S prison, Busy Signal who was freed over a year ago and Flippa Mafia; who stands accused of running an international drug ring.

On an interview, Mavado asked Jamaicans and the rest of the world “to pray for Vybz Kartel and the rest of the artistes...” maybe in your quiet time; you can say a prayer for the music.

By Embukane Vincent Libosso.

Image Is Everything - More And More Dancehall Artistes Use Their Bodies As Canvas

Curtis Campbell, Gleaner Writer

In the 1990s, tattooing was just as taboo in dancehall as was skin bleaching. That is now a thing of the past as recording artistes are pushing boundaries, using some of the most precious parts of their skin as a canvas.

Dancehall artiste Alkaline in 2013 claimed to have tattooed the sclera of his eyes because he wanted attention, that claim has since been refuted by several dancehall artistes including Radijah who accuses the deejay of wearing contact lens.

Radijah has also pushed the boundaries by tattooing an image over his right eye called the Eye of Providence or the all-seeing eye.

The all-seeing eye is sometimes interpreted as representing the eye of God watching over humans. However, conspiracy theorists have argued that the eye is a symbol associated with devil worship and in some instances endorses the existence of the Illuminati.

While Radijah was very vague about the meaning of the tattoo, he does claim it is of great significance to him.

"It is one of the most powerful symbols, some of the most powerful people use it," was all he put across about the controversial tattoo.

The artiste revealed that he is already receiving backlash from critics who subscribe to conspiracy theories.

Those critics, he says, accuse him of selling his soul.

"People have been saying I am the devil and I have sold my soul, while some say it's a good sign because it is a pyramid," Radijah said.

The recording artiste also said his tattoo is necessary because artistes need to have a particular image in order to make their brand unique.

"If you are an artiste and don't have an image, people don't recognise you, no matter how yu song big. A lot of people seh mi shouldn't duh it but a my life and mi know why mi duh it and mi nuh duh it just for music. Mi nah follow Alkaline because him eye don't tattoo for real, mi know dat and him know dat tuh," the 19-year-old artiste said.

Recording artiste Tommy Lee Sparta is no stranger to tattoos. However, recently he went a step further by allowing his artist to inscribe the image of a sizable scorpion on his forehead. His business associate, the director of Guzu Musiq, Keona Williams, says image is everything in the entertainment industry.

"Artistes are products. They are selling to consumers, so your brand has to be unique in order for you to stand out in the marketplace. Tommy Lee's tattoo has never been an issue for business, most international artistes have tattoos. Lil Wayne is a good example of that. Tattoos gives them a type of energy and is a part of their swag (style)," she said.

Williams also rubbished stereotypical perspectives that tattoos are demonic, citing that she has a tattoo of an elephant on her chest, however, that doesn't't make her a bad person.

"The views on tattoos are similar to religion because people will always have their own opinions. You might lose somebody special and you put on a tattoo to remember them, so they are sentimental as well," Williams said.

Unlike Williams and Radijah, overseas-based reggae artiste/businessman, Dr Love, is disgusted by tattoos.

Dr Love says artistes are simply desperate for attention and are not making money or developing a respectable following with their tattooing antics.

"I think tattoos are waste of time. You don't have to put on tattoos to make money, and we don't want other young artistes getting influenced and following just to get a hype because there is nothing else behind it," he said.

The artiste also lashed out against 20-year-old Alkaline who now has multiple tattoos on his body.

"Alkaline is the corruption and we need to chop him down to size before it is too late. People will start losing their eyes following these artistes because they are influential," he said.

Dr Love operates three businesses in the United States, and vows never to employ persons with tattoos.

"If somebody comes to me for a job and he has tattoo, I wouldn't even give him a minute of my time. I don't believe in tattoos and that guy, Radijah, will have a hard time getting a visa with that tattoo. He is following that clown, Alkaline. These artistes will start walking naked to get a hype," he said.

WORK PERMIT PREVENTION

It is uncertain if tattoos have prevented any recording artistes from getting work permits in the United States or other countries. Lil Wayne has performed in Jamaica without any objection from Jamaican authorities and he has multiple tattoos.

American rapper Wiz Khalifa is also booked to perform at this year's Reggae Sumfest and he is covered in tattoos.

Rappers Gucci Mane and The Game have tattoos on their faces, a trend that may speak to the similarities in the cultures associated with hip hop and dancehall.

The boundaries that once separated the two are rapidly being eroded with the examples of artistes like J Amsterdam and Alkaline coming to mind readily.

Amsterdam was the first dancehall artiste to admit to performing oral sex in a song, while Alkaline sang about being stimulated by a woman's tongue in a place other artistes shy away from mentioning.

source-http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20140330/ent/ent1.html