Dennis Kaggia, alias DNA, shot to fame circa 2007 after releasing Banjuka. In those days, Jomino Records was the go-to record label. Every song that was produced by Steve Waruta a.k.a Stevoh – the founder of the stable – was an instant hit.
As expected, DNA got more studio time since he was the face of the record label and one of theirs biggest signings. He remixed Banjuka a couple of times and earned the name ‘one-hit wonder’. This was way before he worked with P-Unit on Una and showed local music fans that he had more to offer.
In 2009, DNA ditched Jomino Records. His exit opened the door to one of the biggest exoduses ever witnessed by local music stables since the likes of Kenrazy, Visita, Kaya, G-Kon, DNG also followed suit.
Interestingly, most of these artists, including DNA, joined Grandpa Records. The company that was founded by Yusuf Noah, alias Refigah, soon became one of the biggest production powerhouses in East Africa. I’m sure most of you can still sing along to Chapa/Fimbo Ya Pili.
DNA worked on a number of projects with Grandpa Records and released another club banger dubbed Maswali Ya Polisi. He, however, left the record label after a one-year stint. DNA remained mum about his exit for about a year until he went on radio in 2014 and dissed the record label.
Fans believe that this could be one of the missteps that cost DNA his music career as he has been unable to reclaim his place as one of Kenya’s most sought-after musicians since then. Moving across record labels at the peak of his music career could have been one of his biggest undoings.
At some point, after leaving Jomino Records, DNA told to anyone who cared to listen that he had ditched secular music for gospel. He even released a song with Kambua and Issac Kahura dubbed Mtoto Wa Sonko. But that too, didn’t last.
He went on a music break for close to two years and reappeared in 2012 and announced that he would no longer be doing gospel music only since he did not want to be put in a box. He also unveiled his new partnership with Refigah and Grandpa Records. After working with the stable for one one year, he was out of the door again.
Fans had forgotten about DNA until he released he dissed DJ Pinye in a whack song titled Kapinye. The song which was released in December last year left many wondering if someone held a gun to DNA’s head while he was recording it. It was so bad. It was yet another failed attempt by DNA at making a musical comeback.
A few days ago, I came across a new song by DNA dubbed Ok Alright on YouTube. Although the song is not that bad, I could not help that the beat was similar to that of Fimbo Ya Pili. Maybe I’m just a lame hater, listen to the song below and tell us what you think.