Toxic Lyrikali is poised to be the next big star in the Kenyan industry. But like many of his predecessors who came and went, does he have what it takes to weather the storm…
Toxic Lyrikali is poised to be the next big star in the Kenyan industry. But like many of his predecessors who came and went, does he have what it takes to weather the storm…
Straight from the bustling streets of Kayole on the East side of Kenya’s capital, Nairobi, a new star is rising.
Toxic Lyrikali may be new to the mainstream music scene; however, he has been popular underground for a hot minute. With over two years in the making, he has gained massive attention in the past few months.
It is also worth noting that, historically, the Eastlands area of Nairobi, which includes neighborhoods like Umoja, Kayole, Buruburu, Dandora, and Komarock, is a talent hub for music and sports in Kenya.
The larger Eastlands has produced artists, sportsmen, and women such as Khaligraph, Wakadinali, Ukoo Flani, Michael Olunga, and Victor Wanyama, to name a few.
Enter Toxic Lyrikali, a rapper from Kayole whose name reflects his persona. His second name Lyrikali loosely translates to “Lyrics Kali” or “great lyrics.” This article will delve into his journey and explain why he is poised to become the next big thing.
In his brief music career, he began rapping in high school in 2019 and continued as part of a group, later going solo just before 2022.
He uploaded his first song, “Long Story,” on YouTube in 2022. The following year, he took it a notch higher, releasing six songs: “Forgive,” “MASK SHANG,” “CHARJIE” featuring Taliwan, “CEASE,” “SANA” featuring Ryder, and “BAD & YOUNG” featuring Nastie Nastie which were distributed across 2023.
Since 2022, Toxic has been grinding, and for a “rookie,” his consistency is solid. This helped him build a buzz and expand his fanbase tenfold.
In an interview with KIPAWA (a community-based organization in Donholm, Nairobi), where he also spit a freestyle, he explained that he had been grinding and would continue putting out some great music.
Toxic’s star began to shine even brighter in 2024. SIDE NOTE: Here’s an interesting fact about Toxic. He owns a music brand called Mboka Doba, which reflects his work ethic, resilience, and consistency. Let me explain why this is important.
“Mboka” is slang for “work,” while “Doba” is slang for a “song.” Mboka Doba translates to “music is the business.”
Unlike some of his peers, who often engage in clout and gimmicks before releasing new music, he truly respects his craft and puts 100% into it.
In 2024, he released four new tracks: “Wrong People Freestyle,” “THUGNIFICENT,” “CARTMAN,” and “CHINJE,” all of which surpassed the 100,000 views mark. This is a remarkable achievement for an artist who has been on the scene for less than five years.
Lyrikali gained attention for his flow, raw and gritty sound, and storytelling in “CHINJE.” which translates to “rampage.” Notably, the music video sparked controversy because he was holding a panga.
Most people associated this with MC Zendiambo’s popular term and dance style, “mapangale,” which was also trending at the time.
Consequently, factions connected the two in a narrative that claimed it was promoting femicide. That, however, did not gain any ground.
That aside, “Chinje” was most people’s introduction to Toxic Lyrikali, who embodies his last name, “Lyrikali.” You’ll notice his sharp pen and lyrical prowess when you listen to his music.
In the song, he addresses various issues inspired by his life in the ghetto, such as crime, hustle, enemy tussles, etc.
Watch his interview with Drill Digest, where he breaks down his smash hit “Chinje.”
What comes to mind when a little-known artist keeps showing up in your YouTube feed or when you find their music on social media? Well, we may never know, but Toxic’s growing popularity makes it hard to ignore him.
“Chinje” is a testament to that fact. When I first heard the song on November 11th, 2024, it had 20,000 views nine days after its release. This surprised me because I had only heard one of his songs before.
The following day, the music video had over 50,000 views. A month later, it reached 1 million views.
Before the COVID-19 period in Kenya, hitting a million views was a big deal. While it might not hold the same weight today, it is a monumental achievement for a relatively new artist who continues to capture the attention of the masses.
Despite the song’s success, Toxic has not rested on his one hit. Less than 2 months later, he returned with another song, “SICK.”
A new generation of artists typically emerges in the music industry after the previous one fades away.
Over the past few years, Wakadinali has become a fan favorite. The group has released groundbreaking projects such as Victims of Madness and the Ndani Ya Cockpit series while dominating streaming charts.
Initially, the group’s music appealed to the urban fanbase with the release of their mixtape series Ndani Ya Cockpit. In 2021, however, they began to cross over, getting more commercial appeal and attracting an upscale audience after the release of their biggest hit to date, “Geri Inengi,” featured in Domani Munga’s album EXPOSED (Munga’s Revenge).
However, the group has experienced a shift recently.
In the past year, they have experimented with their sound, likely to channel their inner diversity or break into more markets, which may not resonate well with their original fanbase.
In 2024, they released a few songs, but “Maproso” with Suzzana Owiyo stood out. More recently, they dropped “Tamashani.” The two songs are more mellow than the drill-heavy and hip-hop sound they are known for.
With his raw and gritty sound, Toxic Lyrikali is stepping up to fill the void left by Wakadinali. That is not to suggest that Wakadinali has fallen off. Like all artists, change is inevitable and crucial in progressing to the next level.
As we anticipate the release of their Victims of Madness 2 album, we can only watch from the sidelines while Toxic entertains us. There is a new kid on the block, and he didn’t come to play 🤫.
As music fans, we often have high hopes when we discover a promising new artist. Toxic Lyrikali’s future looks bright, and we can all watch and cheer him on.
I anticipate a full-length project by the end of 2025. Given his work ethic, I am positive that we should expect to enjoy some great music this year. All in all, Toxic Lyrikali has all it takes to be the next hip-hop star.
Kayole, Nairobi.
Over 1.6 million views as of January 10, 2025.
Toxic Lyrikali has a string of singles but no full-length project yet as of January 10, 2025.
Mboka Doba is his music brand.
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