IN 2021, Hip-Hop and its sub genres boosted the Rwandan music industry, with home grown rappers putting their creativity together to merge to the top. The production, content, rhyme and flow among rappers promise a bright future for the industry. The New Times brings you upcoming rappers to watch out for in 2022. Bruce the 1st Since the release of ‘Tugende’, a banger that made it to top of the charts and headlines in Rwanda, many started digging to know the kid that featured Ish Kevin on this hit that is still being played all over the places of Kigali. Born in Kacyiru Kigali, Bruce the 1st grew up listening to old school rappers like Riderman, Jay Polly, and P-fla, something that made him come up with heavy flows and deep lyrics which made his music unique. With only seven songs including ‘3: Am’ and ‘Nah Kiddin’ the fast rising artiste might be the next hip-hop star in 2022. Ririmba Anyone that listened to ‘Rwanda Rwe’jo’, an album that holds big tracks like ‘Mukarukundo’, knows a vocalist and rapper that sung the hooks of different songs on the projects. Ririmba might be new in the game but his few releases like ‘VPN’ and ‘Umubago’ has took over on local airwaves and streaming platforms. Under Loud Sound Music label, one can easily notice that Ririmba is a big deal in the Hip-Hop industry, who is going to make more bangers and trends in the year of 2022. Kivumbi King The fast rising artiste was already at the top of the Hip Hop scene when he dropped ‘Madam’, and an album dubbed ‘A Sin Called Dreaming’. Ever since then, fans have been highly anticipating his next project, until the day he dropped ‘DiD’, one of the best albums of 2021 which featured international artistes like Nutty Neithan of Uganda. The release of ‘DiD’ last year which had top trends like ‘Nakumena Amaso’ is a practical proof that 2022 is the year of Kivumbi King to shine in the Hip-Hop scene of Rwanda. Despite making music, Kivumbi King is also one of the top poets in Rwanda, something he uses to make his projects more creative. Kenny K-shot It is safe to say that 2021 was Kenny-Kshot’s year which is the same year that he generated much attention for his career and catapulted him to new heights in the Rap industry. With songs like ‘Ibitambo’, ‘Intare’ and ‘Snitches’, Kenny K-shot’s flow is going to be a trend in 2022 if he continues dropping bangers. The fast-rising artiste also revealed that he is going to drop another Mixtape on his birthday February 2, a project that he believes to be the best of this year. “I’m dropping the hottest, hardest tape of the year!!!!! Just watch,” reads Kenny K-shot’s tweet. Ish Kevin In 2021, news broke when the young rapper dropped hits like ‘Amakosi’, ‘No cap’, or when he made it to the list of best drillers in the world, a ranking carried out by one of the best showbiz and music distribution platform based in London dubbed ‘Grm Daily’. However, talking to local media houses, Ish Kevin said that 2021 was just the beginning, basing to his next move. The young rapper also revealed that he is going to drop Trappish Mixtape 2 this month, which will feature one of the best Nigerian singers. Through his twitter handle, Ish Kevin said, “Trust me, 2022 I’m gonna be the Rookie of the Year.”
