Khali Cartel 5: Featuring East African Hip Hop Talents

Kenyan rap heavyweight Khaligraph Jones, has dropped the highly anticipated fifth installment of his renowned “Khali series.”

This new installment, “Khali Cartel 5,” which was released on Thursday, March 6, features an impressive lineup that brings together diverse voices from across East Africa in a 12-minute lyrical showcase.

The collaboration, which showcases premier talent from Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania, features Jakk Quill, Ruyonga, Fresh like Uhh, Dyana Cods, and Mex Cortez, who all deliver standout performances.

Most significantly, the project signals the comeback of Kenyan hip-hop icon Abbas Kubaff, whose presence unites traditional roots with modern forms in the region’s rap culture, bridging generational divides.

This veteran rapper’s inclusion follows a pattern established in previous installments when Chiwawa featured in Khali Cartel 3, similarly uniting different eras of Kenyan hip-hop.

The song upholds the high caliber of the series and is produced by Blu Ink Corp., with “Vince on the Beat” handling production chores.

“The whole of East Africa has been represented,” Jones wrote on announcing the release on the social networking platform X, highlighting the project’s regional inclusivity.

The Khali Cartel series has grown to be important since it began, as Jones is regularly using it to promote up-and-coming rap artists and encourage the development of East African hip-hop.

With cinematic components, the video presentation amplifies its effect, and visual storytelling enriches the lyrical substance to provide viewers with a more engaging experience.

Controversy and Future Directions

Some critics have expressed dissatisfaction despite the generally positive reaction, with many applauding the energetic composition.

One user on the X platform made note about the repetitive beats, styles, and lyrics, implying that the most recent episode offers nothing new.

With his trademark sense of humor, Khaligraph, who never backs down from criticism, replied that the next Khali Cartel would include rapping in the Gusii language.

Because each Khali Cartel release increases awareness of participating artists and the community, Khaligraph Jones has played a significant role in the growing popularity of the cypher format in Kenya.

With every issue, the series has changed, embracing fresh approaches to presenting and giving artists a platform to tell their stories.

Fans are already speculating about the next project as they digest the just-released “Khali Carter 5.”

Given the potential for the Gusii language verses that Jones mentioned, they have high hopes for further invention.