Kristoff The Newbie In The Music Industry.

  Kristoff                                              PHOTO:COURTESY     

By Kevin Oguoko 

Pulse: You recently became a household name after doing the collabo ‘We be happening’ with Khaligraph; what’s your story?

Kristoff: Three years ago before I even met Khaligraph, I used to do music for fun. I have a lot of collabos with Collo, who happens to be my first cousin and a couple with Nyashinski. The songs were neither released on radio, nor did I do their videos. I never took it that seriously, I guess.

P: So what changed?

K: I started to do serious music last year. I released the track ‘Let’s Play House’ and the reception it got was massive. It was in most radio stations’ countdowns. The remix featured P-Unit, which was also released on radio but had no video. Not many people know how I really looked like. Fans were always hitting me on Twitter to release more tracks. They loved my voice. I gave in.

P: So why show your face now?

K: The track with Khaligraph was basically the two of us jumping on a random track on the studio. We started rhyming to it and next thing we knew, everyone loved it and so we decided to go ahead and release the video for the love of the fans and, of course, for the money, which is another major factor. I have also done a collabo with STL.

P: You seem to have done many collabos?

K: I have a lot of celebrity friends. I was even on the You Guy video. This has happened largely because of my relation with Collo. He has been instrumental in making me know all the ropes of the music business. Not to be mistaken, I also have of solo projects too, that are yet to be released.

P: Can we then say you are already a well-connected and well-to-do newbie?

K: I am a businessman. I believe being broke is nonsense. My big brother is in the United States; my mom isn’t even in the country. I stay alone doing my side-hustles, which include renting out my DJ equipment.

P Did you also grow up in the United States?

K: I regularly visit my brother who lives there and is also an upcoming rapper. In fact, you should start hustling him before he blows up.

P: Looks like you are another showbiz family?

K: Pretty much. My sister was the one who did the chorus on Furahia by Mejja of Calif records. My mom has been singing for as long as I can remember. She is currently in the choir of her current workplace.

P: Speaking of Calif, how do you fuse hip-hop with Genge? A lot of rappers get offended when they are mistaken for the other…

K: I am not like most rappers. I believe I can do anything with hip-hop music. I cannot be stuck to one place forever. Let us be honest as well, the Kenyan market doesn’t play a lot of pure hip-hop. Most people want something they can dance to with feel-good catch phrases.

P: So what’s next for you?

K: I will be releasing more music and videos. We have also linked up with Khaligraph on yet another track, because it seems everyone wants to see us on a track doing another collabo. They love our combination.

P: How about you two (Khaligraph and Kristoff) form a rap duo?

K: We will be more like Jay Z and Kanye West. We might decide to go ahead to release an album, but still maintain our unique identities.