The emergence of gengetone in the Kenyan music industry introduced a wave of new artists, resulting in intense competition between the gengetone artists and those representing other genres.
Among the fresh faces in the Kenyan music scene, Stivo Simple Boy stands out as a non-gengetone artist who defied the odds. Initially, few believed he could succeed as a musician, but Stivo managed to astonish everyone.
As time went on, Stivo garnered more popularity than many gengetone artists, solidifying his unique position in the industry. Today, it’s likely that Stivo Simple Boy’s new songs would attract more views on YouTube than those of numerous gengetone artists.
Stivo’s path to fame sets him apart from gengetone artists. Let’s delve into Stivo Simple Boy’s rise to stardom and explore what he did differently to maintain relevance over time.
Strategic Release of Songs
A notable drawback among gengetone artists is their tendency to release songs in rapid succession without allowing fans sufficient time to listen and provide feedback.
Since achieving fame, Stivo has only released five songs, including two solo tracks and three collaborations. In contrast, the Boondocks Gang, a prominent gengetone group, has released over ten songs during the same period. Consequently, many of their fans struggle to recall all of their songs.
Meaningful and Message-Driven Music
When it comes to delivering music with a message, Stivo Simple Boy triumphs. His initial song shedding light on drug and substance abuse in society even earned him an endorsement deal with NACADA (National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse).
On the other hand, gengetone music often revolves around repetitive themes. Each gengetone artist tends to focus on the same topics, some of which are too controversial to be mentioned in this article. Consequently, these artists have often been the center of attention due to their controversial subject matter.
Humility
Stivo Simple Boy is widely known for his humility, endearing him to fans and earning him minimal criticism despite being in the industry for over a year. Despite his rise to fame, Stivo remains a humble individual, never forgetting his roots in Kibera, one of Kenya’s largest slums. He continues to be a simple boy from Kibera, and he uses his platform to help the people in his community combat poverty and overcome drug and substance abuse.
Embracing Feedback Constructively
Stivo Simple Boy understands that any form of publicity, whether positive or negative, can contribute to one’s success. During his early days in the industry, many Kenyans made derogatory comments about his physical appearance. While it undoubtedly hurt him, Stivo remained focused on his music career.
In an interview, he candidly expressed his pain, saying, “I know people are saying that I look like a monkey. It hurts, but one has to get used to it.” Despite the criticism, Stivo never allowed it to deter him from pursuing his passion.
A Dash of Good Fortune
Lady Luck has consistently favored Stivo throughout his journey to the top. His first interview on Chipukeezy TV catapulted him to social media fame. Initially, Kenyans shared his interview as a means of mockery, unaware that they were inadvertently promoting his music.
As people listened to his acapella performance on the show, curiosity drove them to seek out the complete song. Consequently, more traffic was directed towards Stivo’s song on YouTube.
No other artist in Kenya has achieved success quite like Stivo Simple Boy. His rise to fame reads like a fairytale or a script from a book. He has captured the hearts of Kenyans and shows no signs of losing his fame anytime soon.
