In Kenya, there is an eclectic music scene, but rappers by far enjoy a lot of success in their homeland and on a global scale. The popularity over the years has led to Kenyan Hip-Hop Awards ceremony to take place, the first of its kind in 2018. This is another proof that the hip-hop scene is thriving with many successful rappers, including King Kaka.
King Kaka has enjoyed tremendous success in Kenya and has also collaborated with famous American musicians. In this article, we will go through some of the most important moments in his career and personal facts; only real fans know about the star.
King Kaka Real Name
Obama Tariq is the real name of the rapper who was born in Nairobi. His dad died when he was young, and he praises his mom for raising him and instilling in him a great work ethic, confidence, and perseverance. Elizabeth is the ultimate role model for him and the greatest support. Namely, his mother worked at the fruit market in Nairobi to support her family. That said, she is his greatest inspiration and source of strength.
Personal Interests
King Kaka is definitely a multi-passionate individual with many hobbies and interests, as one can tell from his numerous business endeavors. When it comes to his personal interests, King Kaka is an avid reader and has followed exceptional authors and entrepreneurs like Gary Vee and Russel Simmons.
Early Music Career
He started rapping initially in 2010 and was inspired by his role models Gary Vee, Dr. Dre, and Jimmy Iovine to create a sustainable business model based on different ventures that will promote his musical career. He even turned down a position at university to follow his dream. However, he did take an accounting course which helped him run his business.
Originally, his friend J Blessing completed his first music video for Stake Kukuona. Furthermore, his debut album ‘Tales of Kaka Sungura’ was critically acclaimed and also found great success in the mainstream media. ‘Niko Kwa jam Nakam’ and ‘Dodoma’ ft Harry Kimani gained widespread acclaim and popularity while they were performed in the Swahili dialect.
In order to sustain his musical career and promotions business, he designed a clothing line with t-shirts with lyrics from his songs; he also invested in a water purification company, Majik Water, a graphic design firm, and a consulting firm. Today he is one of the most popular music artists in East Africa and has been awarded for his contribution to the music industry.
Marriage
King Kaka was married to the well-known female rapper Chemutai Sage. Today he can be seen spending time with his beautiful wife Nana and their three kids. They tend to keep their private life private, and there isn’t a lot of information about the rapper’s children or wife online.
Collaborations
King Kaka managed to collaborate with Jorma Taccone, a famous director, actor, and writer who is a famous member of the sketch comedy The Lonely Island. They met in February 2011 when Taccone made a stop in Nairobi as part of his heavily publicized trip for AFAR Magazine’s “Spin the Globe.” Their collaboration resulted in a rap video that has over 1.2 million views.
Moreover, he is the first musician from Kenya to collaborate with the famous Hollywood actor and comedian Tracy Morgan, that appeared in his music video Royalty ft Tracy Morgan for his album Eastlando Royalty.
Otherwise, he frequently collaborates with the actor and musician Pascal Tokodi on successful songs like ‘Swahili Shakespeare,’ ‘Nakulove’ and ‘Fly.’
Philanthropy
King Kaka is a great philanthropist, and he was named a UNICEF Kenya Ambassador. He started an initiative for menstrual health Sanitary Pad Charity and recently attended an event at North Highridge Primary & Secondary School for charity, where they shared sanitary pads and talked to the students about the importance of good education.
