Gangwe Mobb
Encyclopedia
Tanzanian hip hop
The widest form of Tanzanian Hip-hop music is known as Bongo Flava. Bongo Flava encompasses a large variety of different sounds, but it is particularly known for heavy synth riffs and an incorporation of Tanzanian pop...
group. They come from poor Temeke
Temeke
Temeke District is the southernmost of three districts in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, with Kinondoni located to the far North of the city, and Ilala being located in the downtown of Dar es Salaam. To the East is the Indian Ocean and to the South and West is the Coastal region of Tanzania. The 2002...
neighborhood in Dar es Salaam
Dar es Salaam
Dar es Salaam , formerly Mzizima, is the largest city in Tanzania. It is also the country's richest city and a regionally important economic centre. Dar es Salaam is actually an administrative province within Tanzania, and consists of three local government areas or administrative districts: ...
. It has two members: Inspector Haroun (real name Haroun Kahena) and Luteni Kalama (Karama Bakari). The group was established in late 90's soon after Kwanza Unit
Kwanza Unit
Kwanza Unit was an early Tanzanian hip hop group. Its name means "First Unit" and it was formed in 1993 by a merger of several groups and solo artists. They started rapping in English, but later used Swahili as well....
, Mr. II
Mr. II
Joseph Mbilinyi , known for his stage names Mr. II and Sugu and 2-proud, is one of the founders of the hip hop music scene in Tanzania. He was also elected to the Tanzanian Parliament in 2010....
and other had popularized swahili hip hop music
Hip hop music
Hip hop music, also called hip-hop, rap music or hip-hop music, is a musical genre consisting of a stylized rhythmic music that commonly accompanies rapping, a rhythmic and rhyming speech that is chanted...
in Tanzania
Tanzania
The United Republic of Tanzania is a country in East Africa bordered by Kenya and Uganda to the north, Rwanda, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west, and Zambia, Malawi, and Mozambique to the south. The country's eastern borders lie on the Indian Ocean.Tanzania is a state...
. The name "Gangwe" is derived from a popular 80's slang term meaning "hardcore". In context, gangwe refers to the grimy and ghetto hip hop mentality that comprise most of their songs.
Their first hit was "Mauzauza". Their debut album, "Simulizi La Ufasaha" contained national hits "Ngangali" and "Mtoto wa Geti Kali". Their second album "Nje Ndani", released in 2002 had their arguably most popular hit, "Asali wa Moyo". One of their singles entitled "Bundasiliga" means "slinger of bundles of hay" and suggests a social message. They also collaborated with Kenyan group Necessary Noize
Necessary Noize
-Origins and Original Members:It was originally composed of female MC/singer Nazizi Hirji, singer Kevin Wyre and rapper Bamzigi, though Bamzigi later left due to personal and label disputes. The group was formed in October 2000 and released their self-titled debut album in 2000 under Audio Vault...
with song "Tunajirusha".
Gangwe Mobb have described their music as cartoon rap (rap katuni in Swahili). It tells about situations what lower class urban youth encounter in their everyday lives. Their songs are also known have almost created a new slang dialect with creating a new slang word for each song.
The group has a song named "Rap Katuni" on their "Nje Ndani" album.
At the 2004 Tanzania Music Awards
Tanzania Music Awards
Tanzania Music Awards are national music awards held annually in Tanzania. It is also known as Kilimanjaro Music Awards or Kili Music Awards after its sponsor . The awards were established in 1999 by the National Arts Council under the Tanzanian Ministry of Education and Culture.- External links...
their album Nje Ndani was nominated in the best Hip Hop Album category.
The group has been dormant since 2004. Inspekta Haroun has since done solo career, while Luteni Kalama has kept lower profile but has been with Wanaume Family led by Juma Nature
Juma Nature
Juma Nature a.k.a Sir Nature is a Tanzanian hip hop artist and a singer. He is the founder and member of a Temeke group called Wanaume, an informal group of rappers from the poor side of Dar es Salaam...
. In 2008 Gangwe Mobb announced a comeback.
They have said that the inspiration for their name came from legendary hip-hop group Mobb Deep
Mobb Deep
Mobb Deep is an American hip hop duo from Queensbridge, Queens, New York, U.S., that consists of Havoc and Prodigy. The duo is "one of the most critically acclaimed hardcore East Coast hip-hop groups." The group is best known for its dark, hardcore delivery, as exemplified by the single "Shook Ones...
.