How artistes are riding on trolls to stardom

 A collage of Ngesh, Stivo Simple Boy, Cartoon Comedian and Diana Marua.

'Is Cartoon Comedian a singer?' a Twitter (now X) user asked, after the content creator, released her latest song, later From Mum.

Despite the serious-sounding title, the rap song is uninspiring, with verses that do not tie up, and rhymes that do not get along. "Mistari nimeandika home, so ni homework, by the time I am done, utapea Kibe a mark," she sings.

Shot by PMVA nominee Nezzoh Montana, it is not a makeshift video, with professional visuals in a grand location. "I do not regret meeting any of my exes," she raps, as she gyrates to the beat, provocatively dressed, clearly a song not intended for 'mum'.

She smokes 'weed' while taking a piss, and with a bottle of alcohol in her other hand, singing, "Oh I'm so lonely smoking weed is my major bestie..." Born Vanessa Akinyi in 1999, this is not her first song or the weirdest.

There is Acheni Jokes, a soft porn flick where she makes fun of the fact that she has neither big hips or money on a drill bit, and Kamkora, a full Gengetone song that is deep in the lingo, synonymous with the genre (1.6 million views), and Mbona Unacheat, a Spanish-influenced rap song which features prankster Nick Bigfish.

According to the Cambridge Dictionary, a troll is "someone who leaves an intentionally annoying or offensive message on the internet, to upset someone or to get attention or cause trouble."

Take the case of Stivo Simple Boy. He has been trolled and has taken it all in stride. No stone thrown his way has ever broken the walls he put up. He is the master of trolls.

Just this week, he revealed his latest girlfriend, Wanja Kihii. Last month, he was on national radio talking about love next to his 'wife' Grace.

Stivo has played FIFA with Afrobeat star Ruger, sang with Amapiano artiste Ntoshi Gazi, made content with Mumias East MP Peter Salasya, and even created new lingo out of wrong pronunciation with 'Freshi Barida'.

A serious artiste at times, he has sung amazing gospel songs, and social critiques, and has the pull, with videos that attract upwards of 300,000 views.

Stephen Otieno Adera, who wanted to be a dentist, has even confessed his love for Gengetone's latest sensation Ngesh.

Speaking on the Iko Nini podcast, Stivo explained that he has always had a love for music, especially Bongo rap.

"Kuingia studio mara ya kwanza, sema kuimba off-beat," he said of his entry into music, and the months it took him to master a style.

Stivo is a comedian, and you have to watch him talk to understand that. He is a man who has decided to have fun with what people think of him.

He has rapped about everything under the sun, saying, "Watu walitusi maumbile yangu. Ati mimi nakaa monkey. Hawajui ni maumbile ya Mungu."

That has not stopped his star from shining. Stivo has even been considered for ambassadorial roles at both the National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (NACADA) and the Music Copyright Society of Kenya (MCSK).

Talking of Ngesh, of Spider Clan, the Gengetone artistes were recently on a fully booked trip and show to Volume VIP, Mike Sonko's night club in Mombasa, all this from a viral video of her verse from Kaveve Kazoze. Everyone now knows "cash crop ya Nyandarua ni mawaru".

She is dead serious, and her skills prove it, transcending vernacular setbacks to power her cadence and sensible writing. Make fun of what she sings, but you cannot ignore her.

As per the Cambridge explanation, no one defines trolling as well as Diana B. It says "A well-constructed troll will provoke irate or confused responses from flamers and newbies."

Have you keenly listened to Narudi Soko? The rapper, a socialite, trolls Amber Ray, Tanasha Donna and Andrew Kibe, looking for relevance by incorporating other known noisemakers in her rhymes.

Technically a lame rapper, with lines, like, "Mi nisharudi gym silalishi izi mi taa, very soon sitakaa mtu alizaa", she makes sure blogs have enough content to keep their pages going.

What is interesting about troll music is the ability of the artistes to disregard critiques and music enthusiasts who poke holes at their skills. Troll music requires a thick skin, a big bank and a solid support system of producers, film directors, and friends who feature in these videos.

With more than a million views, Narudi Soko features stunning visuals from Young Wallace, opulence in high-end cars and houses, and vixens who do not know what blemishes are.

Produced by Teddy B, it features background vocals by a lady who almost sounds like Size 8.

"Ata kuzaa tu naingia trending, najua nawaudhi sana wale hawanipendi,' she raps on One Day, 2.7 million views of what is essentially a great hook with bad lyrics aimed at her haters.

One wonders who writes her lyrics, because they are, honestly, terrible. It is a testament of the times we live. She brings razzmatazz to showbiz.

She has featured Bahati in Sweet Love and on Nakulombotov, and Vinny Flava in Mubaba, songs that would have been perfect without her verses, but probably got the views because of them.

"There is enough space for everyone in showbiz," said Ken Mwendwa, aka the Man with the Bass of Le Band. "Serious musicians who live off it, jokers, people doing mega concerts, people doing music just to entertain you when you are angry. And that is the beauty of our industry."

Twelve years ago, politicians Felix 'Jalang'o' Odiwuor and Davidson 'DNG' Ngibuini, then entertainers, released Katumbo Dance, a song that they would probably love to forget.

Featuring then-popular FBI Dancers, the song was ineffectual, lacking in all ways. It would have made for a catchy brand jingle.

"Also, think of a club scene. The deejay has to play songs that get people on the dancefloor, and some are the hits that might do just that are those that appear to troll. Think of the Gengetone era of Kaa na Mamayako (Ochungulo Family - four million views)," added Ken.

Besides getting into music, trolling has come a long way, making fun of the artistry and experience that most careers require.

In the age of the Internet, stars are finding new ways, and opportunities, to expand their reach into new categories.

Up until January 2020, when he won his first professional boxing fight, Jake Paul was a social media personality who made a career out of YouTube content.

Right now, he is a Cruiserweight boxer with seven wins from eight fights and has pursued what seemed like a joke into a serious career.

Not alone, his older brother Logan Paul has gone on the same career trajectory, from creating content and acting, through podcasting and into a pugilist, where he is also a part-time wrestler on WWE.

Now, Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg, two of the foremost tech giants, are gearing up for a boxing match, merely months after getting into the gym to prepare.

It is a mockery of the sport, where the first undisputed welterweight champion in nearly four decades, Terrence Crawford, took three decades to master.