Kantai: A troubled musical genius with a colourful life

Piece by: Geoffrey Mbuthia
Entertainment

Kenyan rapper Kantai died yesterday morning at St Francis Hospital. Kantai, who made waves in the Kenyan rap scene with Huu Ni Nani had been admitted at the facility for two days.

He had been having breathing complications before he passed away. The cause of death is yet to be established. The rapper had battled with 

In a short 2004-2006, Kantai hit a purple patch releasing hit after hit and showed that he would be a force to reckon with.

As far as Kenya’s music scene goes, few come close in terms of lyrical prowess and mastery of the hip-hop genre. Some of his hits “Kantadda”, “Lifestyle” and “Issues” set him apart in the crowded hip-hop scene in period 2004-2006 when he returned to Kenya from US.

Whatever happened to his music, we will never quite know, but he was one of the illest rappers to ever grace the Kenyan music industry.

The rapper and STL came up with I’m Happy and it turned out to be a mega-hit, but Kantai had in the last couple of years faded into oblivion.

Other great songs released by the departed maestro are:

  • Kantadda
  • Jinga Hii
  • Mo than Jus Friends
  • Heshima
  • What Mo
  • Haterz

May his soul rest in peace.