What went down at the 2Chainz concert and EFC basketball tournament

As the sun sets across the sky in Imara Daima last Friday evening, Nonini wobbles across the basketball court in his kit and Nike shoes to take his three-pointer shot. It is a celebrity basketball shoot-out session.

Collo, the shortest rapper in the vicinity, goes on to win the shoot-out session, edging out fellow celebrities including Maurice Okoth, CEO of MCSK.

All this is going down during the Entertainment with Fun and Charity (EFC) basket tournament at Imara Daima’s Sunrise Estate. Half of the cash prize winnings from the tournament go to charity.

“Jalang’o anatamani angejua hiyo wimbo (Jalang’o wishes he understood this kind of music),” jokes the ever-hyper Collo about Jalang’o, the MC of the event, humming over a DMX track being played by DJ Pierra, who is on the decks.

“I want someone to interview me on my tour in Abu Dhabi,” Collo proposes.

He goes on to explain his trip abroad managing to make us believe it was as much fun as possible. He then pulls his phone out, plays Nyashinski’s song and explains how his flow has changed.

The track is characterised by lyrical bars and is more hard-core than his famed hits with smoother lyrics from yesteryears.

As he continues being the life of the party on the grass court, with bottles of whisky and other refreshments lying around, Collo steps into his philosophical shoes and talks about how the radio industry is not doing enough.

“What if they played Kenyan songs during Maina Kageni’s breakfast show?” he poses.

Away from Collo, the famed trio of Valmy, Ruby and Cuppie are up and down the basketball court taking Instagram photos.

Elsewhere Shamillah, Maurice Okoth’s wife, is also up and down looking all glammed up in a flowing orange sundress.

“It’s because mum is around,” she whispers to a friend while pointing at her mum who is sitting on picnic mats.

Hip-hop

Earlier that Friday morning, 2 Chainz was not able to make it to the Sankara first floor conference room full of journalists, all ready for the 11am-scheduled press conference.

The rapper had partied the night away at Ebony Lounge, after his 15-hour flight from the United States, according to his tour manager. He was still asleep, that’s the message the journalists got. They would have to wait till 3 pm.

In the meantime, his tour manager gave a glimpse of what we could expect and an insight into who 2 Chainz is. The elephant in the room however, was what made him cancel his appearance at the eleventh hour to the sold-out show one month ago.

“The problem was with his travel schedule, which caused him to miss his flight to Nairobi,” said Nelson Aseka, Jameson Africa Brand Ambassador.

“I think what is important to note is that we are giving you guys two concerts for the price of one,” reiterated the new Managing Director Dennis Ochanine, immediately after Nelson had made his comment.

On the artiste performance list, local hip-hop acts Khaligraph and Kristoff had been left out and in their place was DJ G Money.

“We like to have a different experience every time, so this is one is going to be a different experience as well,” Nelson explained.

DJ Styles and DJ Bash who both performed the last time, were still on the list.

The event was filled with surprises and special appearances. The President’s children came in and had to be shielded from paparazzi lenses by plain-clothed policemen and bouncers in the VIP section. Pop star Akon, was also at the concert having been a special guest of the Head of State during the Jamhuri celebrations at Nyayo Stadium during the day.

Thankfully, 2 Chainz redeemed himself with a performance that was good, with great stage presence and perfect sound on the well-lit stage.

photo:www.inairobi.com