Shinobi, born and raised in Nairobi, Kenya until her teenage years. She went to a boarding school, Mumias Academy, and left for Germany when she was 13 years old.
Leaving her country and starting a new life abroad had numerous challenges to overcome. Shinobi loves her country so much, such that she decided to come back this year, to make herself a name in the music space.
“I need to go back home and start from scratch, being in Germany and making music in English and Swahili has been a challenge, but I always get attention from the fans because of my crazy performances“. – Shinobi.
Shinobi is currently working on her debut EP dubbed ‘Akatope’, and she has featured Katapilla, one of the top-tier rappers in Kenya Currently. She is also on the verge of dropping her much anticipated Freestyle titled 42 freestyle, set to drop on 8th august 2023. She is also featured on ‘Motivation’, Musiq Jared’s upcoming album.
We caught up with her and had an interview, and she provided some insights on her musical journey, her experience working and living in Germany, not forgetting what she is looking forward to doing.
Welcome to Rapknights, for those dont know you, who Is Shinobi?
Shinobi … I’m a Western girl! I’m a very proud LUHYA girl . I was born and raised in Eldoret accually. But my mom was a hustler everywhere and mostly in Nairobi, Kenyatta market. So, we kept changing places and settled in Eldoret, went to Mumias to a boarding school, up to 4th grade.
Whats the inspiration behind your artistic name?
I’m a big loner and I also watch anime and read plenty of mangas, when I moved to Germany, those are the stuff that kept me going so motivated because I got bullied a lot, so I never used to like people … then I found an animated series called NARUTO I loved it! Naruto is a person from a city named konoha ( HIDDEN LEAF) Naruto was also a big loner, never had friends and was being misunderstood by other pupils and teachers. SHINOBI is like a Ninja in the Japanese culture. If you had issues with someone..they were sent to others like on missions back in the old days. They were like assassins, and they would complete them without anybody else’s noticing. He is a very strong character and I definitely saw myself in him.
How do you describe the type of music that you typically create?
I create waves. I’m a very emotional artist. Anything I do it excites me, I love trap hip/hop genre but like the rap with melodies where guys rap and halfway sing, but you can still feel the pain And emotion. I like pain, pain makes me feel like this is real! I’m never scared to be emotional. Furthermore, I think you can feel it in the art I create! It’s all about melodies and feelings AND REAL.
How is your creative process like?
I create when I’m thrilled. I enjoy creating when I’m sorrowful because that’s when my best work comes out. Likewise, I’m a single mom and I barely have time to take my time! Think I’m speaking for all single moms… so I got my home studio. When my baby girl sleeps, I stay up and record, then go to the studio and finish the stuff.
When did you start doing music proffesionally and how has the journey been like?
2 years ago. The music industry is crazy, I got played a lot before. I did not know a lot of stuff, and I’m a genuinely a very nice person. I give a lot more than I take. So, it definitely backfired, and I got to learn the game and how much important it is to take care of yourself first and also to build a team … I’m still here with no team, and I also got a hard skin from the war and life back from Kenya. When I was very little and the fact that my family came a long way to get us where we are, and I’m genuinely thankful and blessed to have such people in my life. So guess I can say my family is definitely my TEAM.
You are based in Germany, How is music and life generally?
YO GERMANY IS CRAZY, in my opinion: foremost, like the Europe Industry is nearly as tough as the US because we got nearly the same issues when it comes to facing racism etc. in or out of the industry. German music is right, as in it’s not my cup of tea, but it’s good. I respect (African) artists, especially that come from Africa like me, that are willing to take over the German language and make it big with it.
personally, I’m an English baby but also use the German language to let them know what’s up like I can come into your country, master the language in under one year. That makes me so proud.
Living in Germany, What have you learned that has impacted your craft positively?
That’s a hard question for me. I don’t know … I don’t really want to say there is nothing positive. Because I still have a hard time accepting a lot. But… I think before I answer such question, I am keen to learn more about Germans and the country itself… anything positive came from my head and mind and not really from the country itself.
What are some of the challenges that you have encounterd as artiste?
I’ve been played a lot.
Producers get paid money to get projects done then they don’t even finish up stuff, Artist I know personally that claim to be my friends, would call me in studios and have me drive from my place pay ticket money and pull up and not even record… mostly men.
I’ve never worked with women in the Industries because they don’t really role with you if they think you are different it’s just capping … so I mostly was solely around men… also men don’t take you serious in this craft, you have to have a hard skin and come after them also like I’ve performed and never got paid meanwhile without you the gigs would have been dead!
Moreover, like in Germany, you don’t really come far with English or (Swahili) but the same people who won’t push you are the same people who will book you BECAUSE you don’t make music in German. They need the DIFFERENCE, so it’s hard….
Apart from music, what else do you do?
Well, firstly, I’m a mom. I enjoy being a mom… I draw, I act, I am very athletic. If it wasn’t music, I would be a professional athlete also, like I’m very creative. I can make crazy stuff out of a room and use it to produce a music video, like that’s how sharp I aim!
Lets talk about your song, ‘zuviel’, what’s the story behind it?
Ooh! baby. ‘Zu Viel’ is my first German song to release… Zu Viel meaning TOO MUCH translated, was when I was just done with the fake people I was like this too much.
I used to find confront in boys from the block. I’m from the hood myself and used to be there for them, but nobody was there for me or like girls would pretend to come to my shows but would only be there for the boys I chill with or like would not even take out their phones to record me … meanwhile other boys are on stage with me so like I had countless fake people around me, so I was like this too much… and I wanted to write it in German so that they would understand my emotional state at that moment.
What do you plan to do to see Shinobi brand grows bigger in the next 3-5 years?
I definitely want to come back to Kenya and do my music here. Furthermore, I got new friends from the States in ATLANTA, I intend to visit America and make music with them guys because my sound is very influenced by them, I love American art.
If you were given a chance, what will you do different in the kenyan music industry?
Investing in quality is essential. I’ll give them pure realness like myself. I don’t hide my emotions. Not only that, but I think that is what Kenya (Africa) needs… Africans are tough people from nature. We were taught to fight and hide emotions because showing emotions comes off.
Your view on the current state of Kenyan hiphop?
Kenya is crazy. I see women coming up, I love the modern rap style in Kenya! I think if we only focus on local slang and language, I would love to see more English. Not only that, but I know it has that modern style with a lot of English, so that people outside can feel us more and understand us. Swahili is the dopiest language, though.
Word to Kenyan hiphop fraternity?
First of all, I made new friends here in Kenya and I want to say thank you for welcoming me with open arms two arms.
Musilale nimekam Sasa na mimi huwa silali tukutane uko juu.
Word to your fans?
I want to say thank you, my Shinobi’s. Our ninja way stays straight up until we meet again uko juu because my fans are people who work hard and think like me, keep on being motivated and working hard until we meet once more up there where only the best are. I don’t see my fans as fans but partners.
Social media/music platforms?
Shinobi. Slime everywhere I got YouTube and also a Vlog YouTube @ Eastsidebaby so you guys can follow my studio journeys and also what I’ve got for my Kenyans . I’m here to build up my country and I really want to show you guys how and why I aim to come back to Kenya
Shout outs?
Shout out to Nevo and big mocks also my G EVANO from my city Eldoret and Shazzy B, she’s cute and I really want to do some collabs with her.
Parting shot?
I’ve got music ready and nobody will see it coming, Germany or Kenya.
