Nairobi, Kenya, Africa recording artist Nah Eeto dropping her debut extended play under one of London, England, United Kingdom’s biggest independent hip hop labels: Blah Records. Her debut single “Auntie, What Happened To Me?”would come out on my 22nd birthday & that quickly sparked interest in what the rest of 53 was gonna sound like. Especially since I’ve already familiarized myself with her through the guest appearances she’s done for the likes of Cult Mountain as well as Bisk & Black Josh to only name a few.
“Kichaa II” featuring Dope-I-Mean & Stinkin’ Slumrok begins with an English/Swahili intro produced by Lee Scott talking about the trio’s inability to turn down money but once “E Eye O” featuring Boutross & the Mcabre Brothers joins forces over a trap beat from Jack Danz to see who can have the most charming verses when I’d say the latter & Nah are tied, “Mafu” wraps up the 1st half of 53boasting that the devil wonders how she hasn’t fallen from grade yet.
Milkavelli appears for “Mbali No Machina” getting bilingual once more spitting fierce English & Swahilian verses over this experimentally atmospheric instrumental preceding Nah Eeto singlehandedly flowing on top of these ominous synthesizers from Sumgii during “Bila You”, discussing her capability of baggin’ drugs & simultaneously robbin’ a dealer along with a client of theirs. The closing track “Tick Tock” spends the remaining 3 & half minutes of the EP hitting us with a Swahilian drill outro.
Yearning to put the Swahilian hip hop scene on the map, Nah Eeto has come a long way from being a Blah Records videographer to her recent features across several projects & now releasing music under the imprint giving us a better understanding of her artistic & personal identity. 53’s guest list is a mix of Blah Records alumni & fellow Kenyan rappers, the production’s consistent & I feel like anyone looking to get into shrap will have a better understand of that style.
Score: 3.5/5
Legends Will Never Die 