Local musicians don’t get the needed support and airplay they deserve. One can only imagine how hard hip-hop artists have it then. I recently had a chat with Trabolee, an upcoming hip-hop artist about the life of a Kenyan rapper and what keeps him moving forward.

Why do you rap?

I just don’t rap, I make art. I feel the stuff I make can be played at any point in time and still be relevant plus it’s always an awesome feeling to just create something from nothing.

What’s the journey been like so far?

It’s been interesting and spiritual in some way. I have evolved as a person thanks to the experiences I have had, obstacles included, you can have all the knowledge in your mind but only experiences can truly transform you. For example just selling mixtapes in the streets helped me learn how to interact with people and unlock some parts of my introverted nature…also performing.

Is it full time?

It’s not full time but its most of the time.

What’s the biggest problem with Kenyan rap today?

The biggest problem could be there’s no distinctive genre called “Kenyan rap.” All there is, is perspectives of how “Kenyan Rap” should sound, but then again maybe that’s a good thing coz it allows the artist to tap into that diversity rather than being confined to one specific sound. We can always find order in chaos.

What was your first album called?

My first album was a collaborative album called “Occult Lore” with Juke Myster,we teamed up and formed Skullvilla.

This is your what album?

This is my first solo album, but my 2nd album in general.

Who’s your favourite rapper?

I have so many but I’ll just say the first name that pops in my head… Genetic Disorder aka Johnny Blaq.

Wackest rapper

Hahaha I don’t listen to wack rappers…but there’s this dude called SplitSound I think he’s headed there.

Are you performing any time soon?

I’m looking for a way I can create an intimate show, with a small number of people so you can actually listen to the music and get feedback right on the spot and also make it more interactive.

Keep up with Trabolee on Soundcloud, Facebook, Youtube.