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Artist Profile: Kenyan Artist
Artist Producer: Ulopa Ngoma
Artist Management: Fakii Liwali - abXtrakt Promotions
In The Beginning
In the late 90’s, a generation of ‘local artistes’ emerged on the scene and set the Kenyan entertainment scene aflame, giving Kenyans something to cheer about. The hip-hop influenced music style was craftily attuned to the Kenyan urban lifestyle, and made local fans, especially the young at heart, shift their loyalty from western music to local productions. Among these artistes, a number stood out from the rest.
Enter Kleptomaniax
With a clear agenda, as boldly represented in their name, a corruption of the English word Kleptomaniacs (habitual thieves), this hyper-energetic all male rap trio set out ‘to steal the hearts of their fans’. Their music interest started when they were still in high school (Nairobi School), where they wrote songs and competed with fellow students and schools in variety shows, etc, slowly establishing themselves among their peers!
Collo / D.E.P
Full Names: Collins Majale
Stage Name: Collo / Depicto / D.E.P.
Age: 25 years
Currently:
Hobbies: Creative (lyrics), partying out with friends, watching out and getting
caught by ‘paparazzi’ cameras
Best Moments: On the rave, performing on Stage, creating music, script writing
Group Role: ‘vocal’ and ‘visual’ rep of the group, extremist
Development
Picked by Ogopa DJ’s while still in school, Kleptomaniax made history by being the first ever Kenyan artistes to release a song while still in school!
• Their debut single, ‘Freak It’ , released in 2002 was a huge hit, especially in the streets and in the club, giving them authentic street credibility.
• Their sophomore single, ‘Maniax Anthem’, released in 2003 further affirmed and cemented their position and potential in the market, and was especially well received on radio.
• Their third single ‘Haree’, released in 2003, was a lyrical journey of the party scene, and was very highly received in all circles, and affirmed their reign as one of the finest musical groups in Kenya.
• Their fourth single, arguably one of Kenya’s most influential and best received songs, ‘Tuendelee’, was released in 2004 on a background of naysayers in the industry who took advantage of their long hiatus (as they prepared for their album) to attack their lyrical prowess). Though not intended that way, this HUGE hit song was taken as a hit back to these naysayers, AND NOTHING MORE WAS SAID!
Packaging
As the years went by since their entry into the market, Fakii Liwali ( Manager) molded the group and its style, into what Kleptomaniax is today; A BRAND!
Kleptomaniax have been profiled as an all-male, Urban Kenyan hip-hop trio consisting of individual personalities, who together represent the full embodiment of the Kenyan Urban Youth. They are talented, musical and showbiz–skewed. Kleptomaniax are popular across the age, race and sex brackets. They posses good stage presence, good (photogenic) looks, are well natured, disciplined, outgoing, press friendly, cultured. They have been known to have an edge and charisma and energy. They ooze aspiration, are in tow with the upscale / up-market urban youth while maintaining an appeal to the middle and lower class youth.
Kleptomaniax has an award (nominations and winning) history with them, and their material has always managed to cross the race, age and sex barriers. This group has always been known to possess an exemplary on-stage performance, delivery and lyrical content, and their lyrics are always as challenging as they are entertaining.
Achievements
o First Kenyan group to release a successful single while still in High School
o First Group to be Nominated while still in High School: Favorite Male Group, ‘Chaguo la Teenies 2002’
o Won Favorite Male Group, ‘Chaguo la Teenies 2002’
o Nominated Favorite Male Group, 2nd year running, ‘Chaguo la Teenies 2003’
o Won Favorite Male Group, 2nd year running, ‘Chaguo la Teenies 2003’
o Nominated Best Group ‘KISIMA Awards 2004’
o Rated 2nd Most Popular Kenyan Music Video (Tuendelee) by Music TV show, The BEAT, year 2004 Round Up
o Nominated Favorite Male Group, 4th year running, ‘Chaguo la Teenies 2005’
o Nominated at the ‘Kisima 2005 Awards’ in three categories; Best Group, Best Song and Best Rap Song
o Won the Kisima 2005 Award for ‘Best Group’
o FIRST and ONLY Nominees ever in Eastern Africa for ‘Best African Act’ for the MTV Europe Music Awards 2005
o Nominated in the ‘Best Group from East Africa’ category for the KORA Awards 2005
o Rated 2nd Most Popular Local Music Video (Swing) by No. 1 Music TV show, The BEAT, year 2005 Round Up
o Nominated for the ‘Chaguo La Teeniez Awards 2006’ as Favorite Group
o Nominated Kili Award Tanzania 2005
o Collo Featured in the hit song “Hii Ngoma” by Nikki that was nominated for the Channel O Music Video Awards. The song also won Best collaboration in the 2006 Kisima awards
o The Group has been involved in numerous charity works with The Red cross “jaza Lorry campaign, Nyumabi children’s home amongst others.
o Collo has worked and has been the voice and face for assorted brands: Zain advert that was shot in India, Voiced Coca-Cola, Safaricom, Zain, Cadbury’s ESP… commercials
o Collo has also been invited by Edimol Africa as a guest artist in the reality T.V show “Big Brother Revolution which has an audience of over 4 million people all over Africa.
o Collo was the lead artist who toured Nigeria on a malaria campaign dubbed Nijja Pikin. Honored in Bonny Island, he also performed in Abuja, Lagos, Port Harcourt, and Rivers. He has also worked with International artists like “Too short” from Nigeria, “Scar” from Botswan
Direction & Product
Following the successes and high points that have been a constant feature of this group, the focus has been to steer Kleptomaniax as a brand, and that is what has been and continues to be the basis of their musical career from here onwards. With coordinated efforts between the group members, producers and management, the group released a full length album in April 2004. Titled “M4E” (Maniax 4Ever). The album is / has;
o Contemporary Urban Music, diverse in style and approach, targeting the young, the elder, black, white, asian, etc, tinged with a touch of hip-hop, R&B, dance, salsa, etc, very carefully and professionally “A&R-ed” to create the IDEAL PRODUCT
o An album so entertaining and interesting, the 'forward' or 'skip' buttons on your CD player will remain untouched!
o Lyrically persuasive, entertaining, thought-provoking and stylish, this album will definitely put some artistes out of work!
o Their strong lyrics and messages, while entertaining, will definitely be a topic for a long time!
o Lyrically on point, you can listen to them acappella!
o Dance oriented: Fun-loving group with a spectacular stage performance and crowd moving effects
o Heavy on rhythm and beat: as is popular with Kenyan music lovers, a clear and working formula and signature of their producers, Ogopa DJ’s
Target Audience
The groups’ album is targeted at both the teens (who have purchasing power for especially audio tapes, will attend promotional events and purchase CD’s and gear, they are easily influenced to create a larger than life Kleptomaniax Brand and they help create the “hype”) as well as the older fans (music buyers in general who will purchase the product if they know about it and it is easily accessible). A study recently showed that the majority (about 76 %) of music products bought in Kenya is in cassettes form.
In 2003, we engaged Kleptomaniax in an unprecedented ‘research’ that saw them planted in shows and concerts in quite a number of urban, per-urban and rural cities and towns in Kenya. It largely hit us that, while they have an affirmed fan base in the urban areas, their popularity in the peri-urban and rural areas has been greatly growing, especially with the increasing reach of commercial Kenyan FM and TV stations.
This led us to release their album in both CD and cassette form, in a bid to reach all
these markets. We embarked on a major ‘sales support’ campaign with key FM & TV
stations, and the group made appearances and was hosted for interviews in a build-up
campaign to the official launch of their album, which was held at the Carnivore Simba
Saloon on Friday, 15th July 2005, a successful and memorable night…Currently
Kleptomaniax were in 2005 enlisted among three groups in the country to endorse ‘Trust’, a brand of condoms by Population Services International. The two year contract features them on radio, TV, billboard/outdoor and print ads.
The group was honored to be among Kenya’s top two acts (alongside Necessary Noize) to be chosen to headline the much hyped MTV Base Live launch party in July 2005 in Nairobi.
The group, on the launch of their album, went on a nation-wide tour, making stops in
Mombasa, Nakuru, Kisumu, Eldoret, Bungoma and Kisii to promote their album.
The group has severally been invited to perform at various venues in Uganda, Tanzania
and Rwanda, including Tanzania’s annual ‘Fiesta’ party, the biggest Summer concert in
August 2005, represented Kenya (alongside Necessary Noize) in Kampala in September
2005 at the first anniversary of UTAKE (Uganda, Tanzania, Kenya), a monthly theme night that celebrates East African music, shows in Mwanza, Arusha, etc, including Kampala’s New Years’ show (2005-2006) at the Sheraton Hotel in Kampala.
The group was privileged to host an after-party for Kenyans in LA, in the USA, after they attended the IRB Rugby Sevens’ series. Leaving the US on a high, the group is set to return for a Thanksgiving Tour in November 2009.
The group has toured U.S.A (22 states), Dubai, the UK and Australia, to say the least, before settling down to introduce a new twist to them in their
sophomore album………..
In 2008 they meet up with Ulopa Ngoma, a fresh multi talented producer who worked hand in hand with the group to come up with the current album N.I.T.T (Now is the time.
Being in the game for years Kleptomaniax matured their skills and advanced to a more mature sound. Ulopa, the current producer is a Kibukosya. The same family name that co-composed the Kenyan national anthem. Yet still young and fresh out the box, Ulopa has an ear second to none for music. With Hits like “Magnetic that has stolen the hearts of many music lovers, the musical arrangement of the song is irresistibly ear catching. A flute melody gives the song a signature that has a catchy melody to it. The lyrics tease the listener and many sing along to it all over Kenya…”napenda unavyo nukia, urembo wako kweli wavutia, unaniconfuse, unaniseduce, nikikuona baby boo mi huenda Gagagagagahh!””Psycho” is yet another club banger that is slowly climbing to the top. The track is fire which is a sure number one to all deejays. Closer Ft.Scar from Botswana” they are currently ruling airwaves in Kenya. Despite Nyashinski being out of the country, Roba and Collo both manage to sustain the Brand adding rich mature vocals to the album by Ulopa.100, 000 units of the new album have so far been moved and counting. Below is a layout of how the songs appear in the album
NOW IS THE TIME (N.I.T.T)
1. Intro
2. Untouchable
3. Magnetic
4. Closer ft.scar (Botswana)
5. Interlude
6. Lugha
7. One night stand
8. Psycho
9. Interlude
10. Stand up
11. Tamaa ft.Big pin
12. Fyeka
13. Skit
14. Hauess make
15. Offer
16. Follow me
17. Outro
18. Bonus track
A wise man once said “luck is some mystical energy dancing around the universe randomly bestowing peoples’ satisfaction and joy…you create your own luck…” And we are just warming up…
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