For a whole generation of Kenyan artistes, The Beat was not just a music show; it was a launchpad. A single spin on the NTV programme could turn an unknown act into an overnight sensation. Now, more than two decades later, its former host and brains behind it, DJ Pinye says he wants to bring that magic back.
As the new year dawns, the veteran DJ and broadcaster has taken a nostalgic walk down memory lane, revisiting his time at the helm of The Beat, the once-influential TV show that shaped Kenya’s urban music culture in the early 2000s.
Looking back, Pinye describes The Beat as “a moment in time”; a rare space where music, culture and conversation collided on national television. For upcoming artistes, it was the place to be seen, heard and validated.
But the show’s legacy has never been squeaky clean.
Over the years, several artistes publicly accused DJ Pinye of refusing to play their songs, sparking debates about gatekeeping, favouritism and power in Kenya’s music industry. While The Beat enjoyed a loyal following, it was also wrapped in controversy, chaos and whispered grudges that never quite went away.
Pinye, however, says the pressure behind the scenes was intense.
“We were working within a tight 55-minute window, under unforgiving standards and fierce competition from rival networks,” he reflects, admitting mistakes were made along the way. According to him, every second on air had to count; a reality that sometimes rubbed artistes the wrong way.
Now, fate or symbolism seems to have come full circle.
This January, DJ Pinye turns 55. And for the media personality known for marking his birthdays with headline-grabbing events, the number carries deeper meaning. It mirrors The Beat’s iconic 55-minute runtime.
And so, he has made a decision that is already stirring conversation.
On February 7, The Beat returns; not to television, but to the stage.
The comeback will be a live, on-stage experience marking 23 years since the show first aired, powered by playlists that were shaped, influenced and defined by The Beat itself. Pinye insists this is not about living in the past, but about acknowledging the show’s contribution to Kenya’s cultural fabric.