Prof wit wakazi
Hasheem and the fan
Bamboo
Bamboo and Wakazi hangin with fans
This weekend East Africans and other bongo music lovers living in Atlanta, USA had a show that is guaranteed to linger in their minds for a few month if not years to come. Rarely do you get a line up of artists as they did on the evening of September 11, a day that is already historic in its own way let alone that it was Eid. Of course the headliner of the event was the Heavyweight MC, Profesa Jay, but the series of events made the night become more epic.
After DJ Tony Tach and DJ Rich Maka finished blazing the crowd with a mix of East African Flava, Old School Jams and the current hits here in the US, the show was set to start.
There was no better way to start a show other than with a Crooner from Tanzania, now residing in Washington D.C area, Mr. AJ Ubao. Between his singing ability and rose flowers treatment for the ladies, the crowd was getting warmed up. He performed songs like “Feel the Music “ and “Wewe”
Right after AJ Ubao’s smooth session, the ladies were represented by none other than Kenya’s Own Miss Justelh. She had the fellas going crazy with a mix of cut edge raps, dancing moves and Singing ability. This unique talent had the crowd buzzin when she invited a gentleman to join her on stage on some dance moves on the song “Lose Control”.
Darda King was Next. The self-proclaimed “Mfalme” did not waste no time to get the crowd moving with his sing along catchy songs mixed with witty rhymes. The crowd went crazy when he finished of with what I consider his classic song, “Mdundiko” which is a studio version of a style of music played in the streets of Dar Es Salaam. He finished of by introducing the next act, Wakazi.
Wakazi “Swaggabovu” aka Muuza Vitu aka Dracula The Bilingual Beast. This up and coming MC didn’t waste no time to make his presence felt by first his “Eid Mubarak” wishes, and also “R.I.P” shouts to 9/11 victims as it was its 9th year anniversary. After that it was straight to business, with DJ Rich Maka on the set, Wakazi started of with a hot freestyle before the DJ dropped his song “Bangin” in which he shows you why he is called the Bilingual Beast. After that it was yet another freestyle followed by “Take you for a Ride” a track which was feature in his mixtape “ Mixtape Ya Ukweli Vol. 1”. The last song was ‘The Only Reason” which he dedicated it to the Ladies. To top off his performance, he shouted out all the previous performers, Profesa Jay who was about to come to the stage, Bamboo (Kenyan MC) who was in the crowd, and Hasheem Thabeet, calling them all winners as he was about to freestyle his verse “Winners”. He left while shouting his now signature, “Chicago word Up, Stakishari Ukonga stand Up” citing where he is at right now and where he is from respectively.
And then it was time for the main event. To make matters even more exciting, Profesa Jay, was introduced to the Stage by none other than Hasheem Thabeet. Hasheem started by thanking the community for embracing him so far in his career and also for showing support for the event and promised that it will be an annual event and he will definitely come back every year. After that he urged everyone in the crowd to give a round of applause for Profesa Jay as he made his way to the stage.
To start the show Jay commanded the crowd to move closer as the real party was about to start. He set if off with a crowd pleaser “Hapo Vipi” which encourages listeners participation in replying “Hapo Sawa”. It was hit after hit, banger after banger and the crowd kept begging for more. “Chemsha Bongo”, “Niamini”, “Ndio Mzee”, “Piga Makofi” and the list goes on. When it was time for “Zali la Mentali”, Profesa invited a pretty young lady to come and assist him on the song. Jay spotted Bamboo aka The African Bantu in the crowd and asked him to join him to the stage, where Bamb did a crazy freestyle that had the crowd going wild. After that Jay went back in starting of with “Nakuita Njoo” ironically a collabo with another Kenyan group Kleptomaniacs. The Highlight of the night came a few minutes before the heavyweight MC was about to finish. The beat of “Hakuna Noma” came in and he asked Bamboo and Wakazi to join him on stage again. Bamboo went in, Wakazi right after leaving Profesa to kill it off. It was crazy line after crazy line, swagger on top of swagger, and the chemistry was so crazy as if the scene was rehearsed or planned. After another song, Jay thanked the crowd and left leaving crazy noises and round of applauses only this time he didn’t have to tell them as he did in the song “Piga Makofi”, but rather was a natural reaction of music fans’ appreciation after witnessing a great show.ith
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