2015 In Review: Top 5 Most Hyped Album Launches In Kenya (Photos)
There are just a few hours left till 2015 vanishes! Several artists launched their albums this year but a few made their album launch stand out. Below is a list of top 5 most hyped album launches in Kenya for the year 2015
5. Wyre
Even though the ‘Love Child’ Wyre’s album launch was not characterized by much flimflam it sure fits this list. Wyre dropped his 3rd album, “Lion” in August live on Homeboyz Radio hosted by G-money and John Rabar. The 18-track album features both local and international collabos namely; Bad Gyal Cecile, JB Maina, Khaligraph Jones, Morgan Heritage, SKALES, Johnny Vigeti, Lectronica Circle, Benjamin Kabaseke and Illestr8.
4. Octopizzo
Kibera’s finest rapper’s album launch was heralded by the hullaballoo about who the king of hip-hop is in Kenya. Hailed as the most hyped album launch, Octopizzo dropped “Long Distance Paper Chasers (LDPC)” before a sizeable crowd at KICC grounds in August. The album launch attracted some of the big names in showbiz, among them, Eric Omondi, Jalang’o, Chipukeezy, Obinna, Owago Onyiro, and a host of top deejays. At one point, the album was ranked 2nd most downloaded album on iTunes after Dr Dre’s “Compton” album!
3. Daddy Owen
12th of July was the date, Carnivore Grounds was the venue as Gospel’s finest, Daddy Owen, launch his 5th album! This was also a celebration of his 10th anniversary as a Gospel minister. Dubbed “the Xtended Party”, the event was graced by celebrities across the divide, among them, Eric Omondi, David the Student , Nameless, Jaguar, Danco, Jimmy Gait, Size 8, DJ Mo, DJ Sadiq, Allan Aaron among others. “Vanity” is Daddy Owen’s 5th album after “Saluti”, “System ya Kapungala”, “Son of Man” and “Haijaishi”.
2. Sauti Sol
It has indeed been a great year for the afro-pop singers.
Sauti Sol’s 3rd studio album, “Live and Die in Afrika” was released online on the 21st November 2015, and was available to Sauti Sol fans globally for free download within 48 hours as an early Christmas present. The album was released under their imprint label Sauti Sol Entertainment as a self-produced work by Sauti Sol for Sauti Sol. A total of 400,000 downloads were made during the free album download period.
1. Papa Dennis
The mother of all album launch in 2015 goes to Gospel star, Papa Dennis! The fast-rising musician takes the cherry on the cake first, for being the first ever artist in the music scene to churn out an album in just 1 and a half years of joining the industry! Most Kenyan artists have been in the game for eons but never have they produced a single album!
After a highly successful and consistent run throughout the year, Papa Dennis launched his “Wonder” album amid pomp and colour in his hometown, Matunda, where he was discovered by Maliza Umaskini founder, Sadat Muhindi. The album features collabo with Nigerian star, Korede Bello, Daddy Owen, and Rigan Sarkozy.
The album launch was aired live on Citizen TV and attended by former PM Raila Odinga, who was the guest of honour followed by exhilarating performances from Daddy Owen, Esther Wahome, Gloria Muliro among others.
Let’s wait and see who will be dropping their albums in 2016!
