Old Dawgs Calvo Mistari, Naiboi & Bobby Mapesa Taught New Tricks by Zzero On “Rudisha”

In 2004, I was mountains deep in the village chasing squirrels and cracking macadamia nuts in Meru, but in Madaraka Estate Nairobi West, a group of ambitious high school artists were cooking. Calvin Kirimba, popularly known by his rap moniker “Calvo Mistari,” had teamed up with two of his friends, “NickDawg” and "Joka,” for a start in his artistry journey.

Fast forward to December 2024, while in a recording studio session at The House of Dillie, in walks Calvin Mistari Kirimba with none other than Naiboi, formerly RapDamu. Also present were the legendary Bobby Mapesa, Zzero Sufuri, and other executives in the industry.

This was like sighting “Bigfoot” in Karura or experiencing wise words from a politician; the practicability of that happening is quite low. Calvin Mistari and Naiboi had become Americans; Bobby Mapesa moves in the shadows; and, well, Zzero. A decision was then made that wasting this moment with all those heavyweights without recording would be testing fate.Naiboi and Calvo Mistari had been working on some projects together, so all Zzero and Bobby had to do was sync in their wavelength. Producer Dillie sat on his throne, the artists took on the mic, and viola enters "Rudisha.” One captivating detail about the song is that the vocals were done by producer Dillie and the ever graceful Amileena.

According to Calvin Mistari, the inspiration behind Rudisha was creating a song where the old and new reached a compromise to output a timeless ballad. Like the Louvre Pyramid in the Louvre Museum in Paris, France, a point of contrast whilst achieving immense architectural beauty.

Naiboi x Calvo Mistari

Rudisha is a song for the masses, a gift, and the wrapping was done by none other than Ivan Odie, owner and director of CALLIVAN Creatives. A collective effort with Director Vj One and the intended vision of Calvo Mistari and Naiboi, the result was an impeccable video capturing the very core of the song. Typical Nairobi night: beautiful Nairobi women, good vibes, booze, and the warmth of friends around you. The video is yet another masterpiece by the talented Ivan Odie.

The song is a dynamic cocktail of genres, a testament to the strides the Kenyan entertainment scene has taken decades after our subject artists took the mic. Zzero has matured as an artist and infuses his vocals whilst indoctrinating Gengetone vibes. A new Naiboi sound supplementing Calvo Mistari’s rap and lyricism.Bobby Mapesa finalised Rudisha with a nolstagic verse that takes us back to prime Boom Bap. I say all that to state that Rudisha is a throwback to the future.