Kenyan rapper, singer and
producer tg.blk has been named Spotify’s EQUAL Africa artist for the month of
July, becoming the latest East African musician to join the global programme
that celebrates women artists shaping the future of African music
Born Nyathigi Gatere and hailing
from Mombasa, tg.blk has carved out a niche in Kenya’s alternative hip-hop
scene through a genre-bending sound that fuses rap, lo-fi production, R&B
and soul, while embracing themes of identity, authenticity and self-expression
The recognition places the
independent artist on Spotify’s EQUAL Africa platform, which seeks to amplify
the voices of women musicians and connect them with audiences across the
continent and beyond
tg.blk’s musical journey began in
the privacy of her bedroom, where she taught herself to rap and produce music
using GarageBand
She later honed her songwriting and production skills while
studying in the United States before returning to Kenya, where she has steadily
established herself as one of the country’s most distinctive alternative
artists
Her breakthrough came in 2021
with the release of ‘Love Being Used,’ a single that resonated
with listeners across the region and accumulated millions of streams
She has since continued to build on that momentum with projects
including her 2024 EP ‘ITS NOT
THAT DEEP’ and songs such as ‘gin and wine,’ further
cementing her reputation for pushing creative boundaries while remaining
fiercely independent
Speaking about the recognition,
Spotify’s Head of Music for Sub-Saharan Africa, Phiona Okumu, described tg.blk
as one of the voices driving East Africa’s evolving alternative music scene
“tg.blk represents the
fresh, daring and authentic spirit that is propelling the East African
alternative music scene forward,” said Okumu
“Through the EQUAL
programme, we are proud to celebrate her unique artistic perspective, her
technical independence as a producer and her inspiring commitment to
vulnerability.”
Reflecting on her own musical
path, tg.blk admitted she is still discovering where the journey will
ultimately lead but said creating music continues to give her purpose
“I’m still figuring out the
destiny part, but I know it makes me incredibly happy whenever I make a song
I’m proud of, and that’s why I keep doing it,” she said. “I’m
following my heart, and this is where it has led me.”
The artist also revealed that,
before music became her primary creative outlet, she spent time writing fan
fiction, something many of her fans may not know
Asked to describe her sound to
first-time listeners, tg.blk said her music is intentionally immersive and
relaxed
“I’d describe my music as a
blend of rap, R&B and soul. It’s really chill and textured, and I love
experimenting with my voice. It’s the kind of music you listen to on a drive
when the weather is beautiful and there’s no need to rush,” she said
Her influences stretch across
generations and genres, with Zimbabwean legend Oliver Mtukudzi, Kenyan Kikuyu
Benga musician Joseph Kamaru, South African icon Brenda Fassie and Kenya’s
famed Ogopa DJs mixes among the artists and sounds she grew up listening to
As one of the growing number of
women making inroads into Kenya’s alternative music scene, tg.blk said
surrounding herself with the right people has been instrumental to her growth
“I work with people I trust
and respect, and I always trust my gut. As a woman, I’m blessed with amazing
intuition. Because I believe in myself and what I know, that confidence comes
through in my music. It’s where I become the most confident version of myself,”
she said
She also used the opportunity to
encourage aspiring creatives to pursue their ambitions despite uncertainty
“Give it a chance. You’ll be
much happier knowing you tried. You never know what could happen.”
Speaking on what the Spotify
EQUAL Africa recognition means to her, tg.blk said the programme validates a
journey that has largely been built through online platforms and independent
effort
“Now is the time for women
musicians. The power is in your hands, and people want to hear from you. The
internet has opened up so many opportunities for us,” she said
“Being part of the EQUAL
programme means so much to me because I built so much of my journey online, and
I often feel disconnected from opportunities like this. It’s incredibly
affirming, and I can’t wait to see what’s next.”
