Back in February rising Kenyan alt-emcee Wangechi (born Wangechi Waweru) hit our radar with a mysterious teaser video of her debut album. Last we checked in with the '94-born rapper she was teaming up with Kenyan heavyweight (and the Lonely Island collaborator) Rabbit and South African Motswako king Hip Hop Pantsula on "Tulia Tu." Last week the Nairobi rhymesmith came through with the first official single off her forthcoming self-titled album, a soulful burner that finds its roots in 90's neo-soul/rap. Produced by her manager Kevin Provoke, "Play" is a breezy introduction to 19-year-old Wangechi's nostalgic rhymes and occasional slips into Swahili wordplay. "The challenges I have faced making a name is that most of the people don’t accept my style of hiphop, since it's not that commercial and leans more on the alternative side," Wangechi explained in an interview with Kenyan Poet. Listen to her make more left-of-center hip-hop below. For more from Wangechi watch her featured alongside Just A Band on CNN's Inside Africa episode on Nairobi's music scene.
