The Rong Experience Review (5/10)
The Build-up (6/10)
The Rong Experience was advertised as a pure Wakadinali event, a Rong experience from the Rong Rende.Although other artists like HR the messenger, Katapilla from Afrocentric, KGG(Kitu Gani Geng), Suddoh and Skillo...The show's marketing was minimalistic, like how Wakadinali played it for the musical marketing: Kama wewe ni fan utaskia, kama hautambui pia wao hawakutambui.The social media admin did his best. A few who believed shared the details, and the outreach was fair. Much was not done, though, on mainstream but mafans bado wapo! Hype ya show ilikuwa lakini sio vile inafaa, kuwa Rong, and Wakadinali are the most significant artists in Kenya; much more could have been done.
"They didn't holla at us, and you know them Kilimani niggaz vibe to that gangster shit."
Venue (6/10)
The show was at Kastemil gardens, Seasons Kasarani. The accessibility of the venue was okay,watu wa magari mnaenda straight tu,sisi wa kuswitch matatu unashukia Seasons unatembea hata si mbali.TikoHub did a fantastic job monitoring the entrance. The venue's space was spectacular, the freedom was immense, and it was perfect for a Wakadinali concert. The set-up, though, was Underwhelming, with a Dj set and a down-average podium accessible to EVERYONE. Kastemil is a suitable venue for outdoor venue as the security is fathomable. The odd thing is the venue had seats which kinda dampen the mood by force,juu mlevi akishaketi chini hapo mtaonana tomorrow.
Vendors/Drinks
There was a variety of everything for everyone. Pricing is relative, so judgement varies too, but there was everything everywhere at once.
Mc and Sound (4/10)
For the group that produced "Mc still MCA," Tony Mwirigi did not understand the crowd. I respect the man, his craft and influence, but that was very shoddy MCeeing for a Wakadinali event. The experience was not Rong at all; It felt like I was in Club Image Thika, which Tony frequents, and he was playing random music. We came for Wakadinali; please play Wakadinali. For the sound technicians, the Mics were off, but the speakers were clear. This beats the purpose of a live performance. When Domani was singing "Blow Me Kisses", You couldn't hear a thing. Generally, the sound was poor. Tonny Mwirigi was not helping the situation at all.
Performances (4/10)
Now here is what I don't understand, was there a definite performance schedule? Did they rehearse? Were they aware of what would happen once they were at the venue?
As their first show since the release of Ndani Ya Cockpit 3,I expected them to perfom the album.Most of the baddies in miniskirts were actually there for NYC3,one of them voiced her dissapointments to me.Haitaki Hasira is a timeless Album they could have also perfomed ,but no,lets hear the DJ ask "wapi nduru" for the hundredth time.
The DJ rocked with popular songs, but the set-up was basic. If anything, I don't think it was Wakadinali's fault or front, they came to perform, and the promoters and organisers could have done better. The MC engaged with the audience for some time, but everyone was everywhere simultaneously. The Line up was solid, but the fluidity of the flow of the performance was questionable.
I will dive into a few of the performances that happened.
Kitu Gani Geng (KGG) (6/10)
These guys came fully aware of what they had to do. They were given a chance to rap, and they did exactly that. Their stage presence was felt, bringing many people into the performance mode.KGG performed their hit song FT Mr Mawada Sewersydda. Overall they were good.
Dyana Cods (5/10)
The Rong Lady didn't disappoint in her portrayal of the title. She came in dressed in a handkerchief and tights. Team mafisi had a field day, I tell you. They performed Riswa with Sewersydda and then Gagula Agugu with the GOAT Domani Munga Mkadinali...The Introduction of the artists was not in any way systematic,msee tu verse inafika anatokea.I am not kashifuing them performing, but if the primary acts perform with the curtain raisers, sasa hapo tunafanya nini. Dyana has her songs that she should have performed and joined WAKADINALI later on in the collabos. I love her grind.
HR the Messenger (7/10)
Mr High Rennaisance didn't come to play; first, he gave a shoutout of support to Boutross; Bouti has been in the headlines of late for all the right reasons, including a major international Hitsong, Angela.HR's performance of Trap Kanisa brought the crowd in bewilderment..."Naugeza trap kanisa..." is a song in which he features Boutross. Next up, he performed Nayo nayo ft Sewersydda. Go Stream Nocturnals the album on all DSPs.HR did his set perfectly,mafans wanasing along "HR si ngoma zako huwa wamezilenga...." To top it off, Gwantana ft Scar Mkadinali is the man himself. That was a killer jam, and again Scar came out to kill his verse.
Katapila/ AfroCentric (6/10)
Afrocentric is a duo of Katapila and Hassan, mad rappers repping Kibera Number 8. Versatility ya hawa vijana utatii.Perfomance was on point, except for sound kidogo kidogo kuleta shida. Katapilla killed it,na msanii ni kama anamanga fit. Since enzi za Khali Cartel, they have been putting in the work. Afrocentric had beef with kina Bouti(ADF) back then in 2018/9, but they have outgrown that as artists now, I am sure. A lot happened during the performances, but people on stage enjoyed themselves.
Sewersydda Mkadinali (7/10)
Sewersydda saved the face of Wakadinali; he tried to but didn't fully manage. He was the most active of the trio, trying to keep the crowd up. His performance on all the songs was excellent, but the distance between the sound and artists cut across, but it was most visible in his.
Sewersydda was lively, and stage present na alirusha mamali kadhaa zikaroria mbaya sana. The show's setup was bungled. They should have performed a lot of songs that they did not.His Album "Healing of a nation" has songs like extremist,patrol that he has done alone.A 1 hour individual perfomance by Sewersydda would be stupendous.Imagine the scenes if he perfomed Jeshi Ya Katululu.
Domani Munga Ramadhan (4/10)
Domani Munga was the most requested artist of the night. Cries of "whuzu ,whuzu,whuzu,whuzu....rented the air as soon as he was seen lingering on stage.
Scar Mkadinali (5/10)
The reason I bought the ticket was to see Scar Mkadinali. He was the only one remaining for me to complete meeting the whole group, and now I have seen all of them, I can rest in peace. Scar seems to be the only one knowing how to eat the music money, Scardeh, amechange man! Scar unaona pesa ya usanii kwa uso tu.Very underwhelming performance, partly because of the sound but Scar ni Scar tu.Stage management of their shows has been a problem for a while.
Scar was not present ,for the most commercial artist in the group,he ought to do better.Realistically,Scar was the Headliner,he is the most famous in the group,angeshikilia show na he owns it for the fans.
Verdict
Wakadinali are my favourite artists, and I believe they have an enormous ceiling in Kenyan Rap right now, but they are doing things so Kienyeji, man! That show was supposed to be an experience, and unless you were high on acid, you could see the mediocrity in almost every step. I believe Zozanation can do better, man. Next concert, we pull up lakini bana fanyeni kitu and stop embracing mediocrity. Tonny Mwirigi should organise a proper show as if he wants to, Concert half baked kama maharagwe ya jeshi ni za nini.
Otherwise, till next time, "deep down kwa concrete jungle tukizururanga hizi mitaa,wewe ulikuwa wapi?"
Yours critically,
Qritiq.
Comments
Post a Comment