Vicmass Luo Dollar: I first came to Nairobi with only t-shirts, three boxers, a toothbrush and comb

Before he blew up big with Bank Otuch, alongside the flashy Octopizzo, Vicmass first visited the city to promote a song and record another with legendary producer Babz on the Track. Armed with three pairs of trousers, three T-shirts, three boxers, a toothbrush and a comb, the hungry rapper ended up spending five days in the city.

“Officially, my first time in the city was to strictly promote my song, Burning Train. And I’d booked a recording session with Babz to record my song titled, Doing it for me,” says Vicmass, born Victor Ochieng Ondeye, who was a street hawker before hitting it big in showbiz.

“While in the city, I did radio interviews with the top guys then, around 2008 or 2009. I went to Peter Adams (Radio Maisha), Kazungu Mwinyi (KBC) Willy M Tuva (Citizen Radio) and Allan Wakori (Milele FM).”

But how did he get to the city? 

“I booked an Eldoret Express bus from Kisumu to Nairobi, arrived at 6am, bangaizad at Easy Coach offices at Haille Selassie Avenue until about 10am when Babz came to pick me.”

Still anxious and nervous about the city, but hungry for fame, he was taken to Rongai where he recorded his song the whole night, then came back to the city to find a place to rest.

“Getting a bit confident around the CBD, I asked around for a cheap place to camp for three or four days, and got one at River Road huko pahali Jack and Jill ilikuwa. That’s where I woke up each morning as I did my media tour.”

He goes on, “When I finished at Mambo Mseto, Willy Tuva dropped me in town, where I booked a bus back to Kisumu city.”

So how does he rate that first visit?

“I had a great experience, and I live here now. Nairobi is my favourite city in Africa!”