Zozanation in 2023: The Rong Year Albums
2023 was the most definitive year yet for Wakadinali since I started listening to their musical musings. Their rise from underground kings to the hottest entertainment outfit in Kenya has been slow sure and steady. Small, calculated strides that have placed them at the top of the Kenyan music scene; as the most streamed and most in-demand artists in 2023. Be it on TikTok/YouTube or Spotify, their witty bars have become clutch nationwide catchphrases making their songs trend all year long. The Kenyan industry now has a messiah and just like in those biblical stories, they happen to be three wise men too.
As much as Wakadinali has been a huge hit this year, ZOZANATION as an entertainment outfit has gone under the radar whilst releasing Major Albums. ZOZANATION is the umbrella outfit encompassing Wakadinali and other artists signed under the outfit , production and video Directors. Wakadinali have introduced new artists and partnerships that are an indicator of the long ball they are playing. I believe the aim is to make Zozanation a major key player in the Kenyan music scene for the next 30 years, read this with an open mind.
This year has been monumental for Zozanation because they have gone all out, their music production has gone a level higher and so has their video production. Most of their creations have been in-house making it easier to accomplish a lot in just an year. Every Album has features with Zozanation artists hence building each other while not necessarily competing. In terms of output, Zozanation has been nothing but class, which is ironic because they are schooling these other labels.
Let’s take a look at a list of albums released by Zozanation and their artists, I'll include links for you as well. So let’s dive in to review:
Ndani Ya Cockpit 3 by Wakadinali
S£€K by Sudough Doss
The Rong Don by Skillo
Me against Me by Katapilla Katavelli
Mauru Unit by SewerSydaa
1. Ndani Ya Cockpit 3
Ndani Ya Cockpit 3 by Wakadinali
The third installment of the album series "Ndani ya Cockpit", is inarguably their most commercial album yet. NYC3 is a versatile album compared to "Victims of Madness" which was mainly a drill album. With songs like "Sikutambui" "Mariwanna" and "Chunga" this album is a banger release. Originally released in 2022 December, it was re-uploaded after a little copyright* mishap that saw songs like Balalu renamed to Zoea. This is a Wakadinali masterpiece, all hits no misses, the features include the legendary "Kitu Sewer" "Khaligraph" and "Wangechi" .This is prime Wakadinali, the only way is up for the best rap group in Africa, my anticipation for Victim of Madness cannot be put on paper.
Listen to Wakadinali's NYC3 on Spotify
Listen to Wakadinali's NYC3 on Apple Music
Wakadinali T-Shirt
Every Wakadinali Release has always sparked a friendly competition among us: who can download Wakadinali's latest songs first? Who can get Wakadinali merch before the rest?
That's why we're incredibly honored to collaborate with Wakadinali on this exclusive T-shirt.
2. S£€K - Sudough Doss
$€£K by Sudough Doss
Released on March 16th, the debut Album of Sudough was the second Zozanation release of 2023. The album genre is real HipHop: the beats , the production, the features, everything is top notch and for a debut album, this is very very good.
Sudough Doss is a Zozanation artist under the patronage of Wakadinali, if Wakadinali think you are good, trust me you are good. Sudough Doss is a versatile hardcore rapper who reminds me of Scarface, he is a storyteller, he has a way of grasping your attention with his voice and style of rap.
Listen to Sudough's Album "SEEK" on Spotify
Listen to Sudough's Album "SEEK" on Apple Music
Sudough can sing (listen to No cap) and he has learnt the art of "hooks" from the King, Domani Munga. The album indicates on one thing, Sudough Doss is going to the top.
3. The Rong Don - Skillo
The Rong Don by Skillo
Released on 8th March, The Rong Don is the debut album of yet another Zozanation finest Skillo aka Man a loski skillo aka Mr. Odongo who is the MOST underrated rapper in Kenya right now. This Album is easily a contender for Album of the Year.
The album is packed with hardcore hip-hop with bars and lyrics that paint a real picture of Eastlands and everything that Rong Rende is about. The Album has Zozanation features including one song with Samaal, it's a Zozanation Original, a 10/10 album.
His style is simple yet so sophisticated, he raps as if he's in a conversation, laid back just dropping bars after the next. Skillo is Zozanation's Wild card, he will be a menace. If you want to understand Skillo or Wakadinali in general, go and watch their "Real Raw and Rare " podcast on YouTube, you get to understand his artistry.
Listen to the Rong Don on Spotify
Listen to the Rong Don on Apple Music
First time listening to the Album I almost spat out my drink when he said "ukidiss hii band unakuwa disbanded" lmao what. The Album is a good introduction to his artistry and versatility, I can't wait for more of his projects.
4. Me against Me - Katapilla Katavelli
Me Against Me Katapilla
Now I don't have enough information on how or why that happened but Katapilla, half of the famed group "Afrocentric" released his new album under Zozanation, maybe a sales-production agreement.
Listen to Me against me on Spotify
Listen to Me against me on Apple Music
This is a statement Album, Katapilla has been in the industry for a while and this album was an assurance that he is not going anywhere but the top. As other previous albums, Wakadinali presence in the Album is heavy, but I am going to go wax lyrical about Katapilla. He is arguably in the top 10 most talented rappers in Kenya; versatile, genius wordplay and he is brave on a beat.Katapilla was on the Khali Cartel one time, and he has never looked back, although he was still well known before that, going on to win a million shillings in a Odibets challenge. Katapilla is a sure bet success, there are no two ways about it.
The most striking thing about this Album is its versatility, you can’t really label it in single genre. Katapilla continues with his quest to replace and better his mentor, Papa Jones, all I can say is, he has a higher ceiling .
5. MAURU UNIT - SEWERSYDAA
Mauru Unit by SewerSydaa
There wasn't going to be a better way to end the year than a Wakadinali Album. Mauru is slang for "hot head" "rebel" or "jamaa kichwa ngumu tu" and if you are a fan of Ndugu ya Suleh you know he is all about that gangster rap.
This album has made Sewer to eclipse his brothers as the one with the best individual album collection after "JYK, Nocturnals, Wada and now Mauru Unit". Sewer is a storyteller, his rap is smooth while saying the most unhinged things about Eastlands. Mauru Unit is an album for that boy in Eastlands who would love someone to tell his story. The songs are a symphony story about life in the Eastlands, emphasized by the features.First, the production is way over the top, HR the Messenger ,Ares66 and team Big Beatz Afrique didn’t miss a single beat in the Album. You can feel artist maturity in his lyrics, he knows his position in the industry has changed, he is now king of the french quarter and boy don’t Wakadinali know how to rule.
Listen to Mauru Unit on Spotify
Listen to Mauru Unit on Apple Music
As usual, Sewersydda and Kitu Sewer had to do the thing, they have grown to have mad chemistry together, whilst Scar Mkadinali and Domani always deliver heavy in each Individual Albums.
MAURU UNIT is like throwback Sewersydaa , this album has Jeshi Ya Katululu type of vibes, it will surely grow on all of us.
