Veteran musician Nonini is facing online criticism after posting a behind-the-scenes video of a track from his upcoming album.
In the clip shared on X, the rapper was seen performing in a recording studio in his signature genge style, attempting to blend it with contemporary trends.
“Sir God yuko kwa sana sana na tena atalipisha kisasi asubuhi na mapema. Namiss Kanairo vile ilinijenga. Iko na mimi kila mahali mi huwaga naenda. Ngumi ni mbwekse ata huku kwa walami, watajuaje nimetoka city ya wakadinali,” he raps in the video.
He captioned the post: “My last song in the New ALBUM can’t wait to share my experiences with my people. Music = Experiences.”
However, the video quickly went viral, mainly for the wrong reasons.
Users on X criticized the style as outdated.
@DantizerCFC commented, “What do we have here? A good dancer knows when to leave the stage.”
@youjoeofficial added, “Bro just quit and try another thing.”
@_ChegeKm wrote, “Hii hapana mzee. Leave music before music leaves you.”
Not everyone was critical. @reubenmunroe defended the artist, saying, “Y’all be nice. The song sounds fire to me. Can’t wait to hear it!”
Born Hubert Nakitare, Nonini is a Kenyan hip-hop artist, entertainer, radio presenter, entrepreneur, and philanthropist, often referred to as the “Godfather of Genge.”
He rose to fame in the early 2000s with hits such as “Nonini ni Nani?” and “Manzi wa Nairobi”, pioneering the urban genge sound. He was also instrumental in the rise of Calif Records, one of Kenya’s most influential recording studios at the time.
Nonini later formed the award-winning group P-Unit, alongside rappers Bonnie, Frasha, and Gabu, known for tracks like “Si Lazima.”
In recent years, Nonini has also made headlines for winning high-profile copyright infringement lawsuits.
In 2023, he successfully sued an electronics manufacturer and an influencer for unauthorized use of his song “We Kamu.”
In 2025, he won another case against a car dealer for using “Kadhaa” without permission.