Bon Eye news Archives - Ghafla! Kenya

Eric Musyoka, the iconic producer who took Kenyan music to greater heights

Posted on May 27, 2020May 27, 2020 by David Kingsley

It’s hard to talk about Kenyan music without mentioning the name of Decimal Records CEO Eric Musyoka, popularly known as Musyox. He has been very instrumental in shaping the Kenyan sound.

Also read: Stop looking for content from new-age musicians!

In the early to mid 2000s when Calif Records and Ogopa Deejays were beefing, the award-winning producer, who is now 38, was working at Homeboyz Entertianment.

While at the stable which is owned by the Rabar family, Musyoka produced songs for the musicians like; Prezzo, TID, Mr Lenny, Nameless, AY, Wyre, Peter Miles, Nikki, Nonini, just to name a few.

He then took a break and went for further studies at the SAE Institute in the US in 2006. Upon his return, he formed Decimal Records and signed P-Unit.

If you ask me, I will tell you that the group that was made up Frasha, Bon Eye and Gabu is one of Musyoka’s greatest achievements to this day. He literally propelled them to greater heights.

What most people do not know is that the three started off as Nonini’s dancers and back-up singers and by 2010 they had won several awards including a MTV Africa Music Award (MAMA). Take a moment and let that sink in.

At Decimal, Musyoka has also worked with Just A Band, Juliani, Daddy Owen, Sauti Sol, Elani, Octopizzo and many more. Put simply, there is a high chance that he has produced a jam for your favourite Kenyan artist.

When all is said and done, he will be remembered for nurturing talents and taking Kenyan music to the continental stage because he started producing music at a time when most artists were just focusing on their local audiences.

Musyoka is one of the producers who changed the game by ensuring our music could transcend our borders and this led to artists getting so many shows outside the country.

He’s a legend in his own right and it saddens me that most people will realize this after he hangs up his boots because as they say, you never miss something until it’s gone.

Watch one of his most popular jams dubbed Furahi Day by Nonini and Nameless below.

‘Drinx Na Mayenx’ hit makers are back with ‘Bonge’ and we love it (Video)

Posted on August 26, 2019 by David Kingsley

The trio that treated treated us to Drinx na Mayenx earlier this year has dropped another jam and we are really feeling it. Like, really!

Also read: New-age musicians are giving established artists nightmares!

The new song dubbed Bonge by Brian Nadra, Bon Eye and Konkodi is sheer proof that The Decimators, as they are fondly known, didn’t come to play.

Bonge is a Swahili word that means ‘a lump’. It signifies abundance of something. Yaani, something that will never run out.

In the context of this song, it means pretty much the same thing. It’s an assurance from The Decimators that they will treat us to hits.

Although all the three artists came through with some good lyrics on this jam, I really feel like Konkodi outshone the rest.

Bon Eye, Brian Nadra and Konkodi

Apart from his great flow, there’s just something about his part that will make you hit the replay button at least a couple of times.

Like there’s a part where he says, “Kuja na ripple I am the new wave, skinny ninja iko bonge, yes ni Konkodi but buda keep change.”

If this is not greatness that I don’t know what is, I really don’t.

Brian Nadra also did a great job. His voice helped in mellowing this song.

Although the video concept is simple, I feel it works for this song so much so that you’ll even forget about it.

The song was produced by Musyoka and directed by Kevin Provoke.

Watch Bonge below and tell us what you think. Oh, and remember to get some good earphones because this jam slaps really hard!

Which P-Unit member has been most successful after they split up?

Posted on May 24, 2019May 24, 2019 by David Kingsley

I recently came across across a fire mix tape by P-Unit and it got me thinking, what if the group was still together? Would they still be relevant today? Would anyone bother to listen to them? Who has been the most successful?

You could argue that Bon Eye, Frasha and Buganya – the trio who make up the group – are still together since they occasionally release songs as P-Unit but deep down you also know that the group is long dead.

I’ve always been a huge fan of P-Unit, probably their biggest fan in Kenya. From the days of Si Lazima, Kushoto Kulia, You Guy, to the most recent single dubbed Fire. I just love their music!

They treated Kenyans to several hits before they decided to go separate ways in 2015. After 14 years in the game, P-Unit members had decided that they wanted to pursue solo careers.

At the time, it seemed like a bitter pill to swallow. However, when they started releasing their solo songs, I realized it wasn’t such a bad idea.

Since 2015, Gabu has released songs such as Dirunk, Wabe, Be Nice, Simple Lover, No Spine, Mastory just to name a few.

In 2017, he teamed up with Steven Ogechi, CMB Prezzo and a couple of other guys to establish Kompakt Records which is among the most revered record labels in Kenya today.

Gabu.

Frasha, on the other hand, has featured in dope collabos such as Shigidi, Dandia, Wale Wabaya, Uongo, Kuthibu, just to name a few.

In 2017, he contested for a Member of County (MCA) seat in Athi River, Machakos County but lost.

Bon Eye stayed away from music sometime after the group split up. However, he had a change of heart in 2017 and decided to help Eric Musyoka run Decimal Records.

Since the group slit up, he has released Bad Boy featuring Avril and featured in hits such as Drinx Na Mayenx, Appetite and Wamlambez.

As you can tell, each of the group members has been doing his own thing since the group split up and this begs the question, who is the most successful?

To be honest it does not really matter. In as much as we want the old P-Unit back maybe they figured out that the only way they would continue to be relevant was by splitting up and it has worked for them.

As such, we should celebrate Bon Eye, Gabu and Frasha equally for the roles they’ve played and continue to play in shaping up the local music industry.

P-Unit

On the path to success! Former shisha seller who was spotted by P Unit’s Bon Eye releases first solo. And it’s dope

Posted on July 13, 2018July 13, 2018 by Martin Oduor

Noah Nganga alias Konkodi is on the right path to success if his first single release ‘Get Down’ is anything to go by. Konkodi is rapper Bon Eye’s protégé.

A former shisha seller, Konkodi was spotted by Bon Eye in a local club. Legendary music producer Eric Musyoka and Bon Eye took Konkodi under their care and nurtured his talent.

Konkodi signed to Decimal Records last year, he debuted as a rapper when he was featured in Bon Eye’s ‘Appetite’ alongside Tanzania’s Joh Makini and Grammy Award winning Kenyan musician Owuor Arunga.

Inspired by Marvin Gaye

Konkodi’s new song ‘Get Down’ is a feel good song which is heavily inspired by Marvin Gaye’s ‘Sexual Healing’. The song was produced by Musyoka, Konkodi wrote the lyrics himself, both in English and sheng.

“Nothing good comes easy. It has been such a good journey I am very grateful for it. We have some heat packed this year I cannot wait to show you guys what we have been working on,” said Konkodi while speaking on his new single.

Watch the song in the video below: