A stranger calls the Pulse desk and introduces himself: “My name is Ken Baro. I am an artiste. Kindly feature me in your magazine as I have a new song out.”
There is nothing new about that. In fact, every day, a new artiste approaches us seeking to be featured. As usual we give them audience and ask for links to the songs they have released so far so that we can catch up.
Two days later he calls again. This must be a persistent and ambitious new talent. “All I am asking for is that I be given a chance. After I appear in Pulse, I tell you I will make it to the Grammys. You are my breakthrough. Please try me,” he pleads.
This 26-year-old rapper is among the many young Kenyan artistes who are aggressively trying to cut their own niche in a cut-throat showbiz industry. He knows that to make it here you have to fight your way up. To prove that he is worth the attention he is calling for, the Kakamega-born chap is starting from the top having already worked with award-winning star Kidum and now warming his way into Daddy Owen’s recording stable in a move that might see him go gospel.
“Right now, people are talking about Wasawasa, my new party dance song. The unique thing about the new release is that I have done it in my own style that I call Porota, a style of music adopted from my cheering squad days back in high school,” he remarks, beaming up with energy, confidence and revealing a jovial demeanour.
Indeed, the new single is receiving good attention in the media as well as in Nairobi nightlife joints where he has been doing rounds pushing his brand.
“Wasawasa is about a dude casually chasing for a girl with witty lines. It is a feel-good party song that can appeal to fans from across East Africa,” he says adding that he wrote and recorded the song within 30 minutes.
That is no mean fete for a starter. He may be young, but he knows his game well. What’s more, his business acumen is extoled through his own fashion line complete with a Ken Baro perfume line.
Inspired by Harry Kimani, Nameless and Daddy Owen his passion for music started in Musingu Boys High School where he formed a rap group and adapted the catchy Porota style. After school he joined AK47, a Kakamega based rap group.
“I always knew that my career was in music. I was like a celebrity back in school thanks to my rapping skills that I would use to entertain my fellow students,” he remarks.
A few months after joining Masinde Muliro University in Kakamega where he was pursuing a degree in Aeronautical Engineering, he thought of pursuing music as a fulltime career and quit school. That was six years ago.
“I sold my TV set at Sh3,000 and went to audition for Tusker Project Fame (TPF) but was kicked out,” with nostalgia, he quips adding that he was forced to go back to Kakamega to plot how he would make his breakthrough afresh. This is when I decided to go back and pursue his university education.
“I joined school to pursue engineering in JKUAT and auditioned for a role in Hotsounds Band where I was spotted by Kidum. Impressed by my vocals and energy on stage, he asked me to join his BodaBoda Band as a hypeman. From this I gained a lot of experience as an upcoming artiste as this was in a way a mentorship platform,” he says.
Since, he has performed and shared the stage with likes of Willy Paul, Makadem, Sauti Sol, Alikiba, Diamond, Freddie Jackson, Davido, Wizkid and Konshens as a cover artiste. He has also be writing songs for a leading gospel singer.
“I have had a meeting with Groove Awards CEO who said he likes my talent. You never know, I could be going gospel very soon. Daddy Owen has also be trying to mentor me and I think I will be making a decision on whether to remain gospel or secular soon. However, gospel or secular, Ken Baro is here to stay,” he concludes.
