 What's up everybody? Welcome to SPM Buzz. They call me super host Miskith Inji and right about now I'm Buzz with stars I am hanging out with a star. But before I introduce him guys make sure you subscribe to SPM Buzz because we are heading to do high-key subscribers. So when you hit that subscribe button We move closer. Subscribe. All right guys. I'm hanging out with a hip-hop artist all the way from Florida. I like to call him maniac, but he says it's maniac. So we have to go with what works But this is the one and only maniac Me maniac main All right, maniac. How are you doing? I'm doing all right. How about you? Very well. Welcome to Kenya. How are you feeling? I'm feeling good. I feel very welcome. They made me king yesterday. Oh really? I'm king now. I'm king now That's sire. Did they give you a name? Come come come on come on come out come out. There you go They had to give you come out. I mean, okay. Did you have like some rituals or you just got a name? Now I got it. We had the whole ritual. We had we talked about it. We talked about it. We had the whole thing We had you know me it was it was a ceremony like you know me All right, man. Yeah come out. All right. All right. How are you finding Kenya so far? Is it the first time to come here? It's my first time in Africa but my first time in Kenya. Yes So maybe you could tell us what culture shock have you seen so far? Be honest. All right, honestly I've been to Ghana. I've been to Sierra Leone. I've been to Uganda Kenya is probably the As far as the please pleasing to the eyes Kenya is probably the the most pleasing to the eyes Like I believe most foreigners would probably want to come here. I would they like like be just my first time being Probably I could probably see that I mean on some rank I saw a while back we were ranked number two after South Africa as I you know destination in Nairobi, especially So I mean that makes sense. Yeah, that sounds about right. That sounds about right Yeah, so have you gone to the national park? You know, just you know, we have us we have a national park in the city. Oh Oh, yes, actually they mentioned that to me. Um yesterday. I think we passed by the yesterday I didn't get to go inside the I would love to though You should you should now tell us why you in Kenya maniac? Well, we're here for the Madaraqa festival With my brother Simon, you know, we're here. Well, I'm here to just explore the culture, you know, work with some different artists I heard just kind of see, you know, what Kenny has to offer in general and And you know, like I said, we're here for the for the Madaraqa festival So it's like it's kind of like it's bridging the gap between, you know, the US artists and and and Africa and African Artists and just the whole African culture So I know you have worked with Madaraqa festival for quite a while Tell us how has the experience been especially because it's an it's an authentic idea from Kenya, especially But now it's in Florida flourishing. Oh, that was pun intended How how is it, you know, for you to just be there in Florida and being in this Kenyan sort of, you know idea It's it's intriguing. That's that's like the best word I can say for this. It's very different. It's um, it's It's welcoming, you know, it makes you you go to these kind of festivals and what Madaraqa to be To be specific, um, and it makes you feel like you like you're part of the You know, you're part of the crowd a part of this is like you like you don't have to understand the music all the way They get me. You just it's a feeling, you know, so it's like the feeling you get is definitely positive All right, so what are you looking forward, you know for, you know, the Kenyan audience especially what are you looking forward to? Um, just just meeting just seeing the people meeting the people. Um, seeing how like I want to try some local food You know, I want I want to do a little something. Um, uh, you know, I want to do nightlife I heard you I heard you guys party. Is that is that right? I mean, I mean, yes Yes, we are known for that. I don't know if it's a good thing. But you know, oh, you're oh, you guys are known for that Oh, okay. Well, all right. Let's well, what's a good club? I think I might go out tonight I mean, there are a couple of them. Let's not endorse them live on camera, but there are a couple of them You tell me off camera off camera off camera Now also, let's talk about when did you start doing hip-hop music and why hip-hop music? um hip-hop well, I was like, um, well, I started very young like like 16 But I um, I I want to say like I I chose hip-hop just because that's what was around, you know, I grew up in America So I'm Jamaican, but I grew up in America. So it's like that's what was around like, you know My sisters was listening to like Tupac and Biggie back in the day like Missy Elliott stuff like that. So it was always just like, um, you know In in like the back of me like I remember being 10 years old just just playing around with music Yeah, I mean so um, so after a while, it was just like that's what I wanted to do But then I went kind of full circle and I started doing um dancehall as well So, um, that kind of like led me to the afro piece Honestly, because it's like it's like the cousin to it or the brother or the sister, you know So, um, so yeah So, you know hip-hop um From what we know here in Africa hip-hop is associated with gun violence With all these things, you know, I mean, I know you are not born there, but you grew up there, right? Is that something that really impacted, you know, your career probably your your Jamaican parents feeling This is not the right direction. Is that something that happened? Um, well, you see Nowadays, I believe being a rapper is more dangerous than before Yeah, but um, but I'm coming up. I didn't necessarily feel that way But um nowadays, yeah Now nowadays, it's a little bit, you know, it's kind of It can if you don't move the right way and you um, like for example, you say I got jewelry on me and stuff, right? Yeah, um, I also have security around me. You get me? So it's like over there If you got like, um, some people walk around like a hundred thousand dollar chains So it's like you can it's very easy for for someone to look at you and just like want these kind of things You know, just be like, oh, I want it. I want to go take that or whatever whatever So you have to move right? So if you're not moving correctly and you just feel like everything is sweet And you know, you're a rapper of status. You feel me then it might not go so well for you You gotta you gotta be responsible if you're if you're in Kenya If you're in, um, if you're if you're in England if you're in America Doesn't matter where you have to, you know, you have to have common sense. You have to be careful Baniak, um, we have a few celebrities that have been exposed in Kenya just a few days ago, you know On how they are faking their lifestyle. They're not living as we you know, as they show us on social media So I want to know your thoughts if you actually agree to the slogan of fake it till you make it Okay, that's a very very good question. Um, I don't believe I believe in being as authentic as possible So if you don't have It's okay Just make sure that the music is good because the people don't really care about what you have is just it's the music So if you can make good enough music because how many people made it from from nothing to be rich, right? Like doing music. So it's like it's possible. It's not like it's impossible not and I don't I don't believe they faked it Right people like like so it's like it can be done. So the to to to read to um, you know how they say if it's not broke Don't fix it. So it's like it was never broke to begin with hard work pays off But you see now some people argue that When you show the young people the kind of life you're living and indeed it's not really what we see You're giving them peer, you know pressure is is does that make sense to you? Absolutely in the u.s. It's the same way because a lot of these a lot of these um a lot of people over there A lot of young people they they want to live like how the rappers are living But in reality the rapper a lot of the rappers they um, they work very hard to get where they're at You understand it take years and and because of instagram people see people see um, they think it's like instant gratification But it's it's not it's it's years of hard work. I believe it's insta like I believe it's the internet that is fooling people Honestly because if you if you're really into something I don't care if you're if you're a technician or if you're engineer if you're a rapper a doctor or lawyer If you are into what you're doing and that's what you do all the time You're gonna elevate so it's just like if you're just here part-time then yeah That's probably why it's not working for you might need to go fix a car or something Like you know you're like you might need to do that be humble to to get a regular job to get a regular job It's okay You get me you don't have you don't have to like and even if you're if you're a rapper and let's say you Not you can't really um afford Um to do so much. It's okay if you have a job on the side man like that that's what that could feed your career You get me a lot of people I feel like they're too This goes for America a lot of people in America. I feel like they're too they're too prideful to work certain type of jobs And for me if I didn't have it. Yo, listen, I will I will I will go shovel garbage, bro You feel me they fear being judged as a celebrity. You're doing the odd jobs. They fear being judged. Well All right, okay If you are ready a celebrity, so so you're trying to say if they're already famous Okay, so if they're already okay, okay. No, all right. So that that changes things a little bit All right, so so if they're already famous and then they don't have it That is actually a dilemma That is actually a very big dilemma because um your perception Everyone's perception is um of you is higher than what it actually is. So at that point, um I don't really have an answer for that. I so I I'll be real like why why did you do that? Like why did you do that? I mean, they say, you know, it's sort of manifesting. So when you when you pretend you're there, then it happens Yeah, but are you working for it? If you're if the work is not there again, it goes back to the hard work Because if you're not working like I could all right I can dress like they tell you to dress for the job you want not the job you have right I hear I hear you But if you dress for the job you want but you still treat it like the job you have Then you get what I'm saying like if you're putting in half the work, come on All you're doing is is is adding to that. Um, what's that statement everything that glitters is not gold That's that's what you're becoming. Yeah for sure So yeah, so I mean, that's what I got to say about I The second half of that question I feel like I'm not too sure if you already got it if already famous and stuff I think it's kind of difficult But if you're already famous, then you're doing something right So figure out how to get these people that know you to pay one dollar for something If you have 10,000 people that know you and love you and will and will repost your music and will And will listen to your songs get them to pay 50 cents for something one dollar for something And then see then then then you'll won't be in the same position Okay, have you interacted, you know with the the kenyan people passing especially Have you listened to any music what artists have you interacted with their music? Um, I think it was uh, benzo I heard I heard um and then last night we went to like this karaoke place and there was a they played a bunch of Kenyan music and it it It's I sensed like a little flavor of like reggae in it Like I don't know what it was, but it was just like something I'm still listening to see like how the how the vibe is here, but from what I heard it's like that's pretty cool I mean, I hope we can see a collab with you with a kenyan artist. I hope one especially oh for sure For sure for sure. Um, I'm as long as the music is good. I'm I'm here to work, you know So I'm here and that goes for anybody, you know All right Now let's also talk about Some of the stages that you've been probably if you could tell us one of the biggest stage that you consider to You know have performed something that you just feel honored to have gotten on that stage Uh, what performing? Yes. Um, okay. So I it's two things. I I did um, I threw my own show Me me and my brother tribe. We did it like three times and we sold it out three times um, that was in his stage and then and in um, Uganda I performed at um, the eddy kenzo festival Uh eddy kenzo, he's a he's a he's a big friend like a very good friend of mine You know, so he uh, he invited me and my brother out there to go perform and that was I think we performed in front of like 50,000 people probably probably even more than that to be honest It was it was like a wave of people that's what but that was the biggest crowd that I could say that I performed that It was it was like like the sound was bouncing back at me. Like it was it was very different Because lesson that you've learned now over your career that you know, you continue to apply, you know as you as you grow um in regards to uh, like my music or just um, just generally about life Oh, um Do what you say And say what you mean You know, okay. I think I think that goes along. I think that goes with everything for sure Then also you see that means discipline actually because if you say something and you do it then it means you're disciplined Oh guys, we have simon, uh, maybe if you could come this way Yes, that's better. I gotta even it out. Yes. Yes So guys, this is simon who is the founder of madaraka festival. Hi simon. Hello. How are you doing? Wonderful Now tell me how do you think about mania kazan artist because you have worked with him for quite a while. I believe He's incredible. You know, I don't know if you've heard his music his flow is dope, you know And he's someone who grew up in the same environment at some, you know, as some of the most legendary rappers in america And you know when I introduce him to people I talk about him as the future of rap, you know, globally And I think people should watch out For, you know, mania komein He's uh, he's one of maybe three or four artists from the u.s Who are consistently in africa Not just uh doing music, but also solving problems He runs a foundation as well, you know, so he's doing educational programs in uganda So I just consider him a brother, especially because of his His work ethic and how he's investing in africa, you know, I feel like some of the best You know black leaders globally people like malcom x spent a lot of time here in africa in tanzania You know people like Echo even though he blew up in the u.s He's always in africa, you know, so I feel that if you come back home more often You're bound to succeed Aha Well, it makes a lot of sense now. Simon. Let's talk about madaraaka festival because there's an event that is coming up Tell us more about that. So madaraaka festival is actually coming up in may In june of next year. We have a summer tour. We are doing 15 cities in the u.s And also in august and september. We are doing 15 cities in the u.s In august and september. We're also going to mayami where Maniac, you know grow up and so this is really Exciting for me. There's no single kenyan event that has ever toured the u.s extensively like that We did it for the first time this Year in terms of growing beyond one city with sauti soul. We did six cities Uh before this year, we were just doing one event in one city once a year, you know So this year we reached over 25 000 people And next year we want to reach 150 000 people Yeah, very nice. Now tell us where madaraaka festival originated from because Tell us also. Are you kenyan? You know, where did that come from? I'm from kisumu And my you know live music production Work started in kisumu right after the post-election violence. We organized An event called unite the people concert Then I went to seattle I actually used to work around africa. I've worked in about Seven different countries in africa And uh, you know working in the the continent as it gave me a lot of exposure And also, you know informed my my passion for solving problems through music, you know So when I went to the us in 2009 for the first time I began connecting with people And then when I moved there in 2010, I felt like I could do what I was doing in kenyan there And so we tried doing unite the people concert in the us But it was not a brand that resonated with pan africanists. For example, uh, maniac We realized that a lot of people related to Something like madaraaka because uh, it reminded them of their roots, you know And also, uh madaraaka originally was started to raise funds for an education music and art program in kisumu Where so far we've subbed over 5 000 youths And so the the the the history of madaraaka festival is is that it started in seattle You know this new name of madaraaka festival started in seattle But the original event was called unite the people concert And it was inspired by the events of the post-election violence in 2008 But since then we've just evolved madaraaka festival has gone beyond being an event for solving You know music development programs to really Becoming the primary east african event outside of east africa, you know Yeah, so that's part of why we are doing an east african tour to deepen our relationship with artists and brands that Can invest in the growth of madaraaka festival Uh-huh now how he how is your how hard is it actually to run a business outside your country? It's uh, not that complicated. Yeah Uh, I think when you go to america and you don't know anybody you'll be forced to actually work nine to five That's why a lot of kenyans do Three four jobs, you know, but if you know people, let's say you go to florida now, you know maniac, you know You will you will probably tell you immediately before even find a job that start a business Because then it allows you to control your schedule It allows you to be creative you could take this Concept to the states, you know and you could still earn a living But if you don't have a support system if you don't have people that believe in you Then you would end up doing the things that you know that other people do back there Yeah, so it's it's It's not complicated But you have to have the right people around you in order for you to know how to start Okay, simon we hear you now you have to check out maniac and simon on their social media platforms We're going to be getting their handles just shortly now guys. I have a quick fire questions You know, I have some quick fire questions and because simon you've joined us Let's answer them together. Okay. So we start with maniac maniac Please tell us um The biggest characteristic or rather the one characteristics that you Characteristic that you value the most in a friend in a friend. Um, I want to say Ah, it's like a tie. Um I want to say let's say loyalty Yeah, let's let's just say that Okay, and you I'll say my mother's favorite quote is that when you do good, you do it for yourself And when you do bad, you also do it for yourself And that's the biggest You know characteristic I look for in a friend What is the secret to success according to you? consistency Okay, and you He said it Consistency Yeah, there has to be a persistence and consistency What is the biggest regret probably not a regret but something you wish you did when you were younger that's for you Something I wish I did. Um I wish I I started my business like as soon as I turned 18 Rather than waiting till I was in my 20s and stuff. So yeah What about you simon? I wish I actually expanded Madanaka festival to multiple cities the second or third year Because this year taught me The value of uh, you know growing an african festival across the u.s And the hunger and just the excitement and and how incredible of an opportunity it is I think that's one of my biggest regrets In terms of business also even from you know, I started Madanaka 10 years ago So I was a little younger then, you know, yeah, so yeah, that's what all right. All right. All right guys Thank you so much the quick quick for our questions. We're not going to be as hard as you can see But thank you so much guys for talking to us today We wish you all the very best on the Madanaka festival Maniac in your music quick country to see, you know, the music that you release For us to listen Tell guys where they should find you on social media I could make it very easy for everyone. You can go to maniac main.com and you will find my social media You'll find every everything about me there even my bio Okay, Simon For me also, I'll just send everyone to Madanaka festival dot com if you want to learn more about The history and the future of Madanaka festival. That's the best way to do it All right guys, that was maniac and Simon right here on buzzard stars Thank you so much for watching if you have any questions make sure to leave a comment down below But until next time they call me super host miss kithingi. See you