Kenyan singer-songwriter Bensoul has teamed up with Wakadinali’s Scar Mkadinali for a new genre-bending tune “NYR.”
This pairing makes logical on paper, but works much better in practice. Bensoul’s distinctive warm vocals and authentic lyricism. Scar Mkadinali comes through with hard-hitting Gengetone and drill-influenced poetry. So instead of the artists morphing into a single sound, they each stay in their lane and let the contrast do the hard lifting.
It is a record that finds itself at a fascinating juncture for Kenyan music. Afrofusion and street rap don’t always meld so neatly. But “NYR” works because neither artist tries to sound like the other one. Bensoul doesn’t do rap. Scar does not suddenly get all melodious. But the track flows as one continuous composition from beginning to end.
The song was previewed by Bensoul under his creative initiative Flight 420 and then confirmed Scar Mkadinali as a feature. That kind of release really increased expectation.” Scar has been out there with “Tension” with Ssaru and King Kaka’s Year of the Pen album, but this is likely his most mainstream-accessible duet this year. The Wakadinali crowd follows him everywhere – so “NYR” gets to two very distinct audiences at the same time.
Moments like these are significant for Kenya’s music scene. They indicate how fast the gaps are decreasing between distinct sounds.
Stream “NYR” and tell us if this Bensoul & Scar Mkadinali link-up delivered what you expected – drop your take below!
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