Camp Mulla

Camp Mulla

Members from left to right:
Thee MC Africa, Shappaman, Karun, Mykie Toni and Kus Ma
Background information
Also known as 254Low
Origin Nairobi, Kenya
Genres Alternative hip hop, R&B
Years active 2009–present
Labels Sub Sahara
Associated acts Collo, Wizkid
Website campmulla.wordpress.com
Members Karun
Kus Ma
Shappaman
Thee MC Africa

Camp Mulla is an alternative hip hop group originating from and based in Nairobi, Kenya. It is considered one of the most exciting upcoming music groups in Kenya, and has grown a big fan base on social media, garnering over 40,000 fans on Facebook and over 30,000 followers on Twitter. Following their release of their debut studio album, Funky Town, the group's members decided to go on hiatus.

The group has been criticised by several adults aged 30 and above for their "bubblegum music",[1] and their musical style, fashion sense and origins have drawn comparisons to The Black Eyed Peas.[2]

History

After honing their skills through a series of experimental projects, Mykie Toni and rappers Shappaman (then known as Young Kass) and Thee MC Africa (then known as Taio Tripper) co-founded the group in mid-2009. Karun (then Miss Karun) and Kus Ma (then K'Cous) later joined. They released their first single, "Party Don't Stop" on 31 August 2010 to generally positive critical acclaim. This and other songs that followed won them several awards, including the "Teeniez' Group or Collabo" and "Teeniez' Nu Artist" awards at the 2012 Chaguo La Teeniez Awards held on 20 April 2012.[3][4][5] They were nominated in the 2012 BET Awards for the "Best International Act – Africa" category, becoming the first Kenyans ever to be nominated for a BET award in the process, alongside Lira, Mokobé and Ice Prince,[6][7][8] but losing to eventual winners Sarkodie and Wizkid.

On 29 September 2012, the group released their first studio album, Funky Town, and thereafter decided to go on hiatus. Lead singer Karun released her first solo studio album Sun and Moon on 11 January 2014,[9] while rapper Thee MC Africa released an extended play, Man Made Machine, on 6 June later the same year.[10]

Media

Song distribution

Camp Mulla started distributing their music through websites ReverbNation, SoundCloud and SoundClick for digital download. Their first official song, entitled Low, features J-Smiles and was popular amongst college students. It was introduced by radio presenter Eve D'Souza on Capital FM when it debuted on radio.

Radio

Their first single, Low, got them their first airplay on the Kenyan radio scene. Their most successful song so far is their second single, Party Don't Stop, which has received airplay on many Kenyan radio stations, including Kiss 100, 98.4 Capital FM, on which it has reached its Top 9 at 9 playlist, and Homeboyz Radio (91.5), hosted by G Money in the morning. The song peaked at number 2 on Capital FM's Hits Not Homework and number 13 on Homeboyz Radio's HitList.[11]

On 21 September 2011 Camp Mulla had a live interview with Kenyan Kiss 100 host and vocalist DNG, where he asked the group why they do what they do, what their inspiration is, their goals in this music industry and all that motivates their style.[12]

Public appearances and performances

Camp Mulla got their first public appearance on 12 February 2011 at Collo's Valentine's Day concert, where he was to reveal the music video for his new song, Chini ya Maji. At the same time he was to introduce Camp Mulla in public to perform for the first time.

Camp Mulla was the opening act for Nigerian R&B duo P-Square at a live performance at The Carnivore on 26 February 2011.[13] Camp Mulla also opened for Nigerian acts at Naija 9te (or Naija Nite), including Naeto C and Flavour in October 2011. They have also recently made huge appearances at hip hop events, school concerts and award-shows such as the Chaguo La Teeniez Awards.

The group were billed to perform at the Big Brother Africa 7 opening ceremony alongside J. Cole, Davido, Aemo E'Face, P-Square, Naeto C and Flavour on 6 May 2012,[14][15][16] but were not able to due to delays in their travelling documentation.[17] However, they performed on the show's first eviction show on 13 May 2012. Camp Mulla also performed at the grand finale of the fifth season of Tusker Project Fame in 2012.[18]

Musical style

Majority of Camp Mulla's songs incorporate hip hop and contemporary R&B respectively. However, some of their tracks also indicate their producer K'Cous operates within an Kenyan state of mind, such as with their song Addicted. They call their musical style "2-5-Flow" or "254Low" (pronounced two five flow), which is a pun of Kenya's calling code +254.[19] "254Low" is also said to be the name of their soon-to-be-launched multi-talented fraternity, which will feature young Kenyan upcoming artists believed to be the future of the newly reformed music industry.

Current members

Discography

Studio albums

Title Album details
Funky Town

Singles

Title Year Album
"Party Don't Stop" (featuring Collo) 2010 Funky Town
"Feel No Pain" 2011
"Fresh All Day" 2012
"Hold It Down"

Music videos

List of music videos with directors, showing year released[21]
Title Year Director(s)
"Walkin' On a Dream"
(Remix of "Walking on a Dream" by Empire of the Sun)		 2011 Camp Mulla
"Party Don't Stop" (featuring Collo) Clarence Peters
"Addicted"
"Fresh All Day" 2012 Andrew Macharia
"Hold It Down" Clarence Peters
"Feel No Pain" Private19

Solo discography

Karun
Kus Ma
Thee MC Africa

Awards and nominations

This is an incomplete list that may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness. You can help by expanding it with reliably sourced entries.
Year Event Recipient Award Result Reference(s)
2012 BEFFTA Awards Camp Mulla Best International Act Nominated [22][23][24][25]
BET Awards Camp Mulla Best International Act (Africa) Nominated [6][7][8]
Channel O Music Video Awards "Party Don't Stop" Best Newcomer Video Nominated [26][27][28]
"Fresh All Day" Best Duo, Group or Featuring Video Nominated
"Party Don't Stop" Best East African Video Nominated
"Fresh All Day" Video of the Year Nominated
Chaguo La Teeniez Awards "Party Don't Stop" Teeniez' Group or Collabo Won [3][4][5]
Camp Mulla Teeniez' Nu Artist Won
The Headies Camp Mulla African Artist of the Year Nominated [29][30][31][32]
Kora Awards Camp Mulla Best African Group Nominated [33][34][35][36]
MOBO Awards Camp Mulla Best African Act Nominated [37][38][39][40][41]
MTV Europe Music Awards Camp Mulla Best African Act Nominated [42][43]

References

  1. ↑ Philip Mwaniki (12 November 2011). "Why we need bubblegum music". Buzz.
  2. ↑ "3 Things Camp Mulla and the Black Eyed Peas Share in Common". Ghafla! News. 9 March 2012. Retrieved 25 September 2012.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 "CHAGUO LA TEENIEZ AWARDS 2012 WINNERS". Nairobi, Kenya: KenyanGospel.com. 21 April 2012. Archived from the original on 24 April 2012. Retrieved 22 April 2012.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Chaguo La Teeniez Awards 2012 – Winners". Nairobi, Kenya: VibeWeekly. 21 April 2012. Archived from the original on 24 April 2012. Retrieved 22 April 2012.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 "Here Are The Winners of the 2012 CHAT Awards (According to Ghafla)". Nairobi, Kenya: Ghafla.co.ke. Retrieved 22 April 2012.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 "Best International Act: Africa – BET Awards". BET. Retrieved 29 May 2012.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 "Camp Mulla Nominated for BET Awards". VibeWeekly.com. 23 May 2012. Retrieved 29 May 2012.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 "Camp Mulla Nominated For BET Awards. (Full List of Nominees)". Nairobi W!re. 23 May 2012. Retrieved 29 May 2012.
  9. ↑ "Karun – Sun & Moon". iTunes. 11 January 2014. Retrieved 2 July 2014.
  10. ↑ "TAIO – Man Made Machine". Waabeh.com. 6 June 2014. Retrieved 2 July 2014.
  11. ↑ Camp Mulla – Blue Tooth MCs – StarAfrica.com – http://www.starafrica.com/en/music/news/article/camp-mulla-blue-tooth-mcs-164488.html
  12. ↑ VIDEO: KISS 100 FM INTERVIEW W/ DNG – http://campmulla.wordpress.com/2011/02/11/video-kiss-100-fm-interview-w-dng/
  13. ↑ Camp Mulla performs LIVE at the Carnivore in Nairobi – Uploaded by CampMulla – YouTube – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eMlO07NKS9k
  14. ↑ "News: Camp Mulla For Launch Show!". Big Brother Africa. 2 May 2012. Retrieved 2 May 2012.
  15. ↑ "Davido,Camp mulla,Aemo E'Face To Open 2012 BigBrother Africa". CelebRegion.com. 1 May 2012. Retrieved 1 May 2012.
  16. ↑ "Camp Mulla To Premiere The Big Brother Show". CelebRegion.com. 11 April 2012. Retrieved 1 May 2012.
  17. ↑ "Camp Mulla set to miss the premier of BBA 7". Ghafla! News. Retrieved 29 May 2012.
  18. ↑ "Camp Mulla Dazzle at BBA7 Live Eviction Show". VibeWeekly.com. 21 May 2012. Retrieved 29 May 2012.
  19. ↑ Camp Mulla: Cool Kids on the Edge of A New Frontier? – Open Mic – 29 April 2011 – http://willpress.blogspot.com/2011/04/camp-mulla-cool-kids-on-edge-of-new.html
  20. ↑ WHO IS CAMP MULLA? <<campmulla - http://campmulla.wordpress.com/artists-2/ - Camp Mulla - Wordpress.com
  21. ↑ "Camp Mulla Video Archive". Afrobeat360. Retrieved 8 October 2013.
  22. ↑ "Nonini, Nameless and Camp Mulla nominated for BEFFTA awards". The Kenyan Post. Retrieved 28 November 2012.
  23. ↑ "Camp Mulla Nominated For Another International Award". Jambo News Spot. 1 October 2012. Retrieved 28 November 2012.
  24. ↑ "Nominees – 2012 BEFFTA Awards". BEFFTA Awards. Retrieved 28 November 2012.
  25. ↑ "Breaking News: BEFFTA 2012 Winners Announced at a Star-studded Awards Ceremony". BEFFTA Awards. Retrieved 28 November 2012.
  26. ↑ "Camp Mulla Does It Again: List of All Kenyans Nominated For Channel O Music Video Awards". Ghafla! News. 3 September 2012. Retrieved 27 September 2012.
  27. ↑ "Camp Mulla Get Chanel O Awards Nomination, Release Funky Town". CarlThaTruth.com. 3 September 2012. Retrieved 27 September 2012.
  28. ↑ "Camp Mullah top Kenyan Channel O nominations". The Standard. 5 September 2012. Retrieved 27 September 2012.
  29. ↑ "Camp Mulla Headed For Headies Awards 2012". Vibe Weekly. 29 August 2012. Retrieved 27 September 2012.
  30. ↑ "Camp Mulla nominated for The Headies 2012". Zimbio. 30 August 2012. Retrieved 27 September 2012.
  31. ↑ "Camp Mulla invading the Headies". Channel O at DStv. 30 August 2012. Retrieved 27 September 2012.
  32. ↑ "Camp Mulla Lose to Sarkodie at the Headies". Hot Secrets. 23 October 2012. Retrieved 3 November 2012.
  33. ↑ "Full List: Kenyan Artistes Nominated for KORA Awards". Ghafla! News. 1 November 2012. Retrieved 21 March 2013.
  34. ↑ John Muchiri (3 November 2012). "Awards: Camp Mulla raising Kenyan flag high in the continent". The Daily Nation'. Retrieved 21 March 2013.
  35. ↑ "Marya, Jimmy Gait, Redsan and Camp Mulla to know their fate…….KORA awards". The Kenyan Daily Post. 28 December 2012. Retrieved 21 March 2013.
  36. ↑ "Marya, Camp Mulla et al miss out ……KORA Awards". The Kenyan Daily Post. 2 January 2013. Retrieved 21 March 2013.
  37. ↑ "Breaking News: Camp Mulla nominated for M.O.B.O Awards!". Ghafla! News. 18 September 2012. Retrieved 27 September 2012.
  38. ↑ "Camp Mulla Nominated For MOBO Awards 2012". Vibe Weekly. 18 September 2012. Retrieved 27 September 2012.
  39. ↑ "Vote, vote, vote: Camp Mulla for MOBO Awards.". PressPlay.co.ke. 18 September 2012. Retrieved 27 September 2012.
  40. ↑ "Camp Mulla nominated for MOBO Awards". The Star. 19 September 2012. Retrieved 27 September 2012.
  41. ↑ "Camp Mulla Nominated For Mobo Awards". 89.5 FM Ghetto Radio. 19 September 2012. Retrieved 27 September 2012.
  42. ↑ "Camp Mulla Nominated at the MTV EMAs. That's Two Big Nominations on the Same Day!". Ghafla! News. 18 September 2012. Retrieved 27 September 2012.
  43. ↑ "Camp Mulla Bag MTV EMA nomination". PressPlay.co.ke News. 21 September 2012. Retrieved 27 September 2012.

External links