Genge music, or simply Genge, is a genre of hip hop music

Hip hop music

Hip hop music, also called hip-hop, rap music or hip-hop music, is a musical genre consisting of a stylized rhythmic music that commonly accompanies rapping, a rhythmic and rhyming speech that is chanted...

 that had its beginnings in Nairobi

Nairobi

Nairobi is the capital and largest city of Kenya. The city and its surrounding area also forms the Nairobi County. The name "Nairobi" comes from the Maasai phrase Enkare Nyirobi, which translates to "the place of cool waters". However, it is popularly known as the "Green City in the Sun" and is...

, Kenya

Kenya

Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...

. The name was coined by Clemo

Clemo

Clement Rapudo, better known as Clemo, is a music producer and co-founder of Calif Records based in California estate in Nairobi, Kenya....

 and popularized by Kenyan rappers Jua Cali

Jua Cali

Paul Julius Nunda, better known by his stage name Jua Cali , is a Kenyan hip hop rapper. In 2000 together with producer Clemo they founded Calif Records where Jua Cali has stayed since. Jua Cali performs in Kiswahili and Sheng in a popular Kenyan style of rapping called genge.-Early life :Jua Cali...

 and Nonini

Nonini

Nonini , whose real name is Hubert Nakitare, is a Kenyan hip hop artist.- Biography :Nonini originally signed to Calif Records, but later joined Homeboyz Productions...

 who started off at Calif Records

Calif Records

Calif Records is a Kenyan record label based in Nairobi's California estate. Its known to be home to Genge, a genre of music popular with young people. It was founded in 2000 by record executive & producer Clement "Clemo" Rapudo together with his childhood friend Paul Nunda a.k.a. Juacali...

. It is a style that incorporates hip hop, dancehall and traditional African music styles. It is commonly sung in Sheng (slang), Swahili or local dialects. The term Genge is a sheng

Sheng

Sheng can refer to:* Sheng * Beijing opera#Sheng, the main role in Beijing opera* Sheng , a slang dialect of the Swahili language* Province , an administrative division of China, called sheng in Mandarin...

 word for "a group or a mass of people".

Origins and characteristics

As Kenyan urban music became more and more popular, Kenyan artists and music fans wanted to have a common name for their music and lots of names were suggested; among them were Boomba music

Boomba music

Boomba music, also referred to as Kapuka , is a form of hip pop music popular in Kenya. It incorporates hip hop, reggae and African traditional musical styles. The lyrics are in Swahili, Sheng or local dialects...

, Kapuka, Gemba among others. Around this time Nonini

Nonini

Nonini , whose real name is Hubert Nakitare, is a Kenyan hip hop artist.- Biography :Nonini originally signed to Calif Records, but later joined Homeboyz Productions...

 started a campaign to popularize the term "genge" to refer to Kenyan urban music, but also specifically music by artists on Calif Records.

Calif-style Genge was originated by producer Clement "Clemo" Rapudo of Calif Records

Calif Records

Calif Records is a Kenyan record label based in Nairobi's California estate. Its known to be home to Genge, a genre of music popular with young people. It was founded in 2000 by record executive & producer Clement "Clemo" Rapudo together with his childhood friend Paul Nunda a.k.a. Juacali...

 located in California Estate, Nairobi

Nairobi

Nairobi is the capital and largest city of Kenya. The city and its surrounding area also forms the Nairobi County. The name "Nairobi" comes from the Maasai phrase Enkare Nyirobi, which translates to "the place of cool waters". However, it is popularly known as the "Green City in the Sun" and is...

. It was popularized by rappers, Nonini with his song "Manzi wa Nairobi" and Jua Cali

Jua Cali

Paul Julius Nunda, better known by his stage name Jua Cali , is a Kenyan hip hop rapper. In 2000 together with producer Clemo they founded Calif Records where Jua Cali has stayed since. Jua Cali performs in Kiswahili and Sheng in a popular Kenyan style of rapping called genge.-Early life :Jua Cali...

 with the songs "Nipe Asali","Ruka". Due to disagreement on the identity Kenyan urban music, the name Genge is now more commonly used to describe music from Calif Records.

The most notable genge artists are Nonini, Jua Cali, Flexx, Jimw@t

Jimw@t

James "Jim" Wathigo Mburu, , better known by his stage name Jimwat, , is a Kenyan genge rapper.-Personal life:...

 , Rat-a-tat, the late Lady S, Pili Pili among others. Nonini was the most popular artist on the Calif Records stable between the year 2002 and 2004 when he left for Homeboyz

Homeboyz

Homeboyz is a 2007 young adult fiction novel written by California teacher Alan Lawrence Sitomer. It is the third book of the Hoopster trilogy. The book won the Top Ten Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers award from the American Library Association in 2008.-Summary:The events of Homeboyz takes...

 Entertainment. He has since fallen out of favor with most genge artists and mainly producer, Clemo. Jua Cali

Jua Cali

Paul Julius Nunda, better known by his stage name Jua Cali , is a Kenyan hip hop rapper. In 2000 together with producer Clemo they founded Calif Records where Jua Cali has stayed since. Jua Cali performs in Kiswahili and Sheng in a popular Kenyan style of rapping called genge.-Early life :Jua Cali...

, who stuck on with Calif Records, is the defacto king of Genge; he is presently riding high on his latest song, Kwaheri - a collaboration with the glamorous Sanaipei.

Some of the most popular genge tracks include:

Artist	Title
Nonini Nonini Nonini , whose real name is Hubert Nakitare, is a Kenyan hip hop artist.- Biography :Nonini originally signed to Calif Records, but later joined Homeboyz Productions...	Manzi wa Nairobi
	We Kamu
Jua Cali Jua Cali Paul Julius Nunda, better known by his stage name Jua Cali , is a Kenyan hip hop rapper. In 2000 together with producer Clemo they founded Calif Records where Jua Cali has stayed since. Jua Cali performs in Kiswahili and Sheng in a popular Kenyan style of rapping called genge.-Early life :Jua Cali...	Ruka
	Kiasi
	Bidii Yangu
Flexx	Nyundo
Pilipili Pilipili Peter Gatonye , known better for his stage name Pilipili is a musician/singer from Kenya. At the beginning of his career, he collaborated with another musician, Gun B. Their best known song was "Nampenda". He has also sang a song with Ratatat. The song was called Morale.He is an award winner in...	Morale (featuring Rat-a-tat)
	Kamata Dame
Jimw@t Jimw@t James "Jim" Wathigo Mburu, , better known by his stage name Jimwat, , is a Kenyan genge rapper.-Personal life:...	Under 18