Octopizzo vs Khaligraph whats the beef

Unlike other genres of music, rap has always been a competitive art form. It is common for rappers to always want to prove their lyrical superiority. This sometimes results into “beef” (feuds) among artistes.

Beef is almost as old as hip hop culture itself — it is timeless and has never gone out of vogue.

The change of rap to a more commercial art has led some to consider the concept of beef unnecessary. But the importance of rap beefs can never be overemphasised in a growing industry where it is survival of the fittest. It is during such times that a rapper’s skills are tested.

Closer to home, hip hop fans know it is these battles that make rap exciting. The Kenyan rap industry has gone through so many phases, from being East Africa’s rap headquarters to what it is now. In the past there have been battles pitting K-South vs Klepto, Mwafrika vs Chiwawa, Bamboo vs Prezzo, among others.

Such battles were witnessed as rappers tried to outdo each other to be placed at the top with fans fuelling the rivalry. That may be what is happening now between Khaligraph and Octopizzo.
It has been a constant back and forth between the two rappers with the tension bubbling — from throwing barbs at each other on social media or during interviews to comparison of the two by fans.

Octopizzo, in a recent interview, claimed it is thanks to him that rappers like Khaligraph remain relevant in the media. And that wasn’t all. On his social media accounts he might have been taking shots at Khaligraph when he posted, “…hip hop sio kifua/ uwezi ng’ara ka hujui kufua/ naitwa mzito bila kulift weight/wait me hulift eight…”

Well Mr Jones, as Khaligraph is also known, had enough and last week came out with guns blazing when he released “I Run 254” which is a diss track directed at Octopizzo. Khaligraph addressed all issues he’s had with Octopizzo; throwing a lot of “shade” at Kibera’s finest.

The first line of the record is somewhat personal, the wit and lyrical prowess showed in this diss record is a notch higher than the usual, and you can feel Khaligraph’s anger in his bars and punchlines. Indeed s0me would say Khaligraph murdered Octopizzo lyrically.

This beef may be a blessing to local rap but it is unclear how long the excitement will last. Octopizzo has more buzz than Khaligraph now. But Khaligraph has just signed a deal with DJ Kaytrixx’s Spin Cycle camp which gives him commercial muscle. More importantly, these two are hitting their artistic strides simultaneously. It might seem like “I Run 254” is a move by Khaligraph to dilute Octopizzo’s fame and glory.

Stems back to the WAPI

This beef between the two rappers did not start recently as many think. It stems back to the WAPI days, and though back then it was just two talented rappers flexing their lyrical might, you could see the tension. WAPI was a regular event for artistes organised by the British Council in Nairobi a few years ago.

Khaligraph has been around for as long as Octopizzo. Both started around the same time when Octopizzo was part of a rap band called YGB (together with rappers Virus, Slumdawg and Mistake).

Octopizzo made his debut in 2010/2011 which was full of controversy from accusations of “biting” his other crew members’ lyrics to dissing rap legend Abbas. This didn’t sit well with many rap fans since it was like him trying to “box with god” but Octopizzo used it to create a brand and attract a following.

To many, he switched from the once lyrical, witty rapper to a corny and cocky one fuelled by braggadocio. But others liked it.

Khaligraph, the 2009 Channel O MC Africa rap battle winner, attracted attention when he debuted his tracks on Capital FM’s The Cypher show. From then he’s been mainstream rap’s “it” kid.

Khaligraph has always seemed one verse away from being pigeonholed as the cliché hip hop rapper who just talks about hating the government, representing the ghetto and fighting oppression.

Apparently he has rebelled against this designation by appearing in hits like Kristoff‘s “We be Happening” and Didge’s “You got me sexy”.

As a rapper who’s both avant-garde and old guard, he’s been accepted by the underground and mainstream circles.

Whichever way this goes, it might be a win-win for both artistes and a major win for local rap whether Octopizzo replies or not.

But keep the fight strictly lyrical guys.