Kenyan artiste Nyashinski shaves off signature dreadlocks
Musician formed Kleptomaniax in 1999 together with Roba (Robert Manyasa), Collo (Collins Majale), when they were still high school students at the Nairobi School.
Popular Kenyan rapper, singer and songwriter Nyashinski has unveiled a new physical identity by shaving off her trademark dreadlocks.
The Mungu Pekee hitmaker has spotted the locks well for close like 20 years.
“And to imagine that at some point, even this version of you will be the old you. God willing,” Nyashinski captioned a photo posted on his Instagram page of his new look.
A founding member of the now defunct Kenyan rap trio Kleptomaniax, Nyashinski (real names Nyamari Ongegu) started his solo career in the 2010s. His 2020 full-length debut album Lucky You demonstrated his lyrical skills and songwriting talents, encompassing lighter, more uplifting songs as well as aggressive street tracks.
Nyashinski formed Kleptomaniax in 1999 together with Roba (Robert Manyasa), Collo (Collins Majale), when they were still high school students at the Nairobi School. The group joined the Ogopa Deejays label and released their first single, Freak It in 2002, which was followed by Maniax Anthem and Haree.
In 2004, the group released Tuendelee, probably it’s biggest hit ever. The song was written as a response for the diss track by various hip-hop musicians (including Bamboo), who criticised the commercial Kapuka music style performed by Kleptomaniax, among others.
Their debut album M4E (an abbreviation for Maniax Forever) was released in 2005. Later that year the group received an MTV Europe Music Awards nomination for the Best African Act, a category awarded for the first time, but won by Nigerian recording artist 2Face Idibia. Managed by Fakii Liwali Kleptomaniax toured the US in 2007.
After 2007, the group had a break while their members engaged in solo projects. The members then regrouped and released their second album NITT (Now Is The Time) in 2009. They then disbanded soon after to pursue solo careers.
However, Nyashinski —who was viewed as the most influential of the three, made a successful comeback in 2016 with the hit Now You Know ft Athman. It was produced by America-based music producer Keggah of the Beat Ya Keggah music production house.
Following the Kleptomaniax break-up, Nyashisnki relocated to the US for 10 years where at some point he worked as a truck driver. Narrating the experience, Nyashinski divulged how demanding and lonely the job was.
“I had started wearing out. The job runs you down. And it is a lonely existence because you are on the road for weeks on-end. Just you, the truck and the long road ahead. Relationships breakdown, your health suffers too. I knew many older drivers whose marriages had broken down due to the work.
“Also, I know I worried my parents a lot. They didn’t know where I was sleeping, they were scared of me getting an accident, which thankfully, through the years, I didn’t. Not even a speeding ticket,” he said in a past interview.
He has since released many hit songs including Mungu Pekee, Malaika, Hayawani, Aminia, Bebi Bebi, Free, Hello, and Finyo. Others are Marathon Runner, Lift Me Up, Balance, Serious, Hapo Tu ft Chris Kaiga, and Properly ft Femi One.
