Nairobi Grooves ends October with a selection of music that captures the range of sounds coming out of Kenya and its wider creative community.
This edition moves between hip-hop, Afropop, R&B, Afrohouse, electronic music and contemporary Kenyan sounds. It also brings together established names, emerging artists and collaborations that connect different parts of the East African music scene.
Genes1s leads the October edition as our cover artist. His six-track EP, Detour, provides a fitting starting point because it shows an artist willing to test his sound without abandoning the foundation that brought him here. The project follows his album Almost There and gives listeners a closer look at his interests beyond the hip-hop and dancehall styles that have shaped much of his earlier work.
The playlist also reflects the different ways Kenyan artists are approaching their music. Bien and Bensoul continue to work within melodic Afropop and R&B, while Toxic Lyrikali and Kapitani bring hip-hop into the conversation. Meanwhile, Mura’s Murata adds another important contribution to Kenya’s growing electronic music catalogue. These releases do not point to one dominant sound. Instead, they show artists developing distinct styles and finding new ways to work with one another.
Cover story: Genes1s takes a detour without losing his direction
Genes1s makes the October cover following the release of Detour, his fifth project and a six-track EP. The project marks a new stage in his music journey. Rather than repeat the sound audiences already know, he uses the EP to explore different musical ideas and work with artists whose music he has admired.
That decision gives Detour its central idea. Genes1s has built his identity around hip-hop and dancehall, but he does not want those styles to limit what he can create. He has explained that he wanted to step away from audience expectations, explore sounds that interest him and still retain his own musical identity. As a result, Detour gives listeners a wider view of his creative range.
The EP opens with Paper Chaser, which stays close to his rap and hip-hop foundation. However, Angusha, featuring Kagwe Mungai, takes a more melodic direction. The collaboration brings together two artists with different musical approaches, allowing Genes1s to explore a sound that sits beyond his familiar rap delivery.
The project also gives him room to work with producers. He collaborates with Ndovu Kuu, as artist and producer on Come Baby and August IV on Twist. These features are not simply additions to the tracklist. They form part of the EP’s wider attempt to explore different creative ideas and bring new voices into his music.
Genes1s also works with different producers across the project. Run handles Paper Chaser, Angusha and International. KD Beatz produces Faya Si Faya, while Ndovu Kuu produces Come Baby and August IV handles Twist. This range of production credits gives the project different musical textures while keeping Genes1s at the centre of its direction.
The closing track, International, points towards ambitions beyond Nairobi. However, Detour does not present growth as a rejection of the past. Instead, Genes1s uses the EP to build on what he has already established. He remains connected to his roots while allowing himself to experiment with other sounds and collaborators.
That makes him a fitting cover artist for this edition. His approach reflects one of the important developments in Kenyan music: artists are becoming more willing to test their creative limits, collaborate across styles and reach audiences beyond the sounds that first introduced them.
The October playlist
This month’s selection brings together 20 tracks from artists working across different parts of the Kenyan and East African music scene. The sequence starts with Genes1s before moving through established voices, new collaborations and releases from artists developing their own musical identities.
- Angusha — Genes1s ft. Kagwe Mungai
- I’ll Be Okay — Bien
- Mariwana — Bensoul ft. Ywaya Tajiri
- Shing — Kapitani x Toxic Lyrikali
- Mbebe — Toxic Lyrikali
- Warrior Sound — Lyrical Joe x Khaligraph Jones
- Somebody’s Daughter — Ywaya Tajiri
- You — King Kaka ft. Ila Nia
- Aibu — Wendy Kimani ft. Zaituni
- Tea — Hadaya Eliana x Tanasha Donna
- Hallelujah — Iyanii
- Yamii — Maandy
- Ndege Hupaa — Muema Blessed ft. Onyach Pala
- Cain — Clark Keeng
- Itisha Maji — Tuku Kantu
- Water — Mumo Beats ft. Keemlyf & Sean MMG
- Mahiga — Ayrosh
- Fragments — Nikki Wakaba
- Solo — 4Mr Frank White
- Ningwendete — Shad Mziki
What stands out in this edition?
Established artists are still testing their sound
Bien and Bensoul bring familiar melodic approaches to the playlist, but their releases also show how established artists continue to explore new ideas. Bien’s “I’ll Be Okay” arrives ahead of his album Alusa Continua, while Bensoul’s Flight 420 adds another chapter to his catalogue.
Toxic Lyrikali takes a different route. He appears twice through “Shing”, his collaboration with Kapitani, and Mbebe, lead single off his EP, Abundance. These releases keep his rap style in focus while showing how collaborations can place an artist in different musical settings. The playlist also includes Warrior Sound, which brings together Ghanaian rapper Lyrical Joe and Kenyan rapper Khaligraph Jones. Their collaboration adds a cross-border hip-hop connection to a selection centred on Kenya.
Collaborations remain important
Several tracks on this edition rely on the exchange between artists. You pairs King Kaka with Ila Nia, while Aibu brings Wendy Kimani and Zaituni together. Hadaya Eliana and Tanasha Donna also connect on Tea.
These collaborations bring different voices and audiences into the same records. They also show how artists can work across established careers and emerging profiles without limiting themselves to one genre or audience.
Ywaya Tajiri appears on both Somebody’s Daughter and Mariwana. His presence across the playlist also reflects his growing role as a collaborator within the Kenyan music scene. Meanwhile, Water brings together producer Mumo Beats, Keemlyf and Sean MMG, adding another collaborative record to the selection.
New projects give artists room to experiment
This edition also draws from several larger releases. Genes1s leads with Detour, while Bensoul’s Flight 420 and Toxic Lyrikali’s Abundance offer more music to explore beyond the selected tracks.
Iyanii’s Kijana wa Ingo album features Hallelujah, which brings a gospel-influenced approach into his catalogue. Maandy’s four-track Write EP supplies Yamii. Both records give listeners a chance to explore the wider projects rather than judge the artists through a single release.
DJ Mura’s Murata is another important project to explore this month. The ten-track debut album draws from Kenyan Afrohouse and electronic music, with influences from local styles such as Benga, Mugithi and Ohangla. It also brings together collaborators including Bensoul, Ywaya Tajiri, Ayrosh and Tina Ardor. Mura takes charge of the album’s production and mixing, giving the project a clear creative direction.
Artist to watch
DJ Mura
DJ Mura earns a place on this month’s list following the release of Murata, his debut solo album. The Nairobi-based DJ and producer has spent years developing a sound that connects Afrohouse and electronic production with Kenyan musical influences. His work draws from styles such as Benga, Mugithi and Ohangla, giving his electronic records a strong local identity.
On Murata, Mura brings together several artists from the Kenyan music scene while taking charge of the album’s production and mixing. The project features collaborators including Bensoul, Ywaya Tajiri, Ayrosh and Tina Ardor. It also builds on his earlier collaborative work, including Likizo with Big Nyagz and the Nyumbani project with Ally Fresh.
Mura’s work is worth following because he continues to develop a Kenyan approach to electronic music. Rather than simply follow sounds coming from elsewhere, he draws from local rhythms, languages and collaborators to shape his own direction.
More projects to explore
Beyond the selected tracks, these releases offer more listening from artists featured in this edition:
- Genes1s — Detour: A six-track EP that explores different sounds and collaborations while retaining his hip-hop foundation.
- Bensoul — Flight 420: An album that adds to his catalogue of melodic records and collaborations.
- Toxic Lyrikali — Abundance: A five-track EP that gives listeners more of his current rap output.
- Iyanii — Kijana wa Ingo: An 18-track album featuring Hallelujah.
- Maandy — Write: A four-track EP featuring Yamii.
- DJ Mura — Murata: A ten-track debut solo album rooted in Kenyan Afrohouse and electronic music.
What October tells us about the Kenyan music scene
October’s releases show artists working across different sounds without necessarily leaving their musical foundations behind. Genes1s explores melodic records and new collaborations on Detour. Mura builds an electronic project around Kenyan rhythms and musicians. Meanwhile, Bien, Bensoul, Iyanii and Maandy continue to develop their catalogues through distinct approaches to songwriting and production.
The collaborations also deserve attention. Kenyan artists are connecting with one another across genres, while records such as Warrior Sound show how those exchanges can extend beyond national borders. These connections matter because they create room for artists to reach new listeners and introduce audiences to different musical scenes.
The October edition of Nairobi Grooves brings these developments into one selection. It does not attempt to define Nairobi through a single genre. Instead, it highlights the artists, projects and collaborations shaping the listening experience right now. Genes1s leads the edition because Detour captures that willingness to explore, take creative risks and keep moving without losing one’s identity.
Listen to Nairobi Grooves: October 2026 and explore the records shaping this month’s sound.
