A member of the Kenyan music group Mbogi Genje, Smady Tings, has opened up about why many local artists rely on Jamaican dancehall beats when producing their songs.
Speaking in an interview with Kasa Boss, Smady explained that the trend is mainly driven by challenges within the local music production scene. According to him, many Kenyan producers struggle to create high-quality instrumentals, particularly in the Dancehall genre.
Smady noted that because of this gap, some Kenyan artists end up sourcing beats that originate from Jamaica, where dancehall music has a long history and a well-developed production style.
He added that while Kenya has many talented producers, the industry still needs more specialization and experience in certain genres to compete with international standards. As a result, artists often choose ready-made dancehall beats from Jamaica to achieve the sound they want.
His remarks have sparked conversations among music fans online, with some agreeing that the Kenyan music industry needs stronger production standards, while others believe local producers are already improving and can match global quality with more support and investment.
