Back inside the cardinal’s cockpit: a critique.
‘Na ka una ngori enda studio na unidiss nani,
Nilimarry game ndio maana imeshinda iki miss-carry.’
Off the back of the trio’s recent hard-hitting single ‘Rong Cypher,’ I’ll dissect the sequel to their first studio album ‘Ndani ya Cockpit.’
Addressing the cardinals!
This explainer is in case you’re unfamiliar with these indisputable real hip-hop emcees.
Wakadinali alias RONG RENDE is a hip-hop trio from Umoja, Nairobi.
The group consists of Sewer Sydaa, Scar Mkadinali, and Domani Mkadinali.
Ndani ya Cockpit 2
Originally released on digital platforms in April 2019, the 13-song project was executively produced by Aress 66.
It features hip-hop acts Khaligraph Jones, Dyana Cods and hip-hop duo Timmy Blanco and Twenny Eights (TNT Kenya).
Without further ado, let’s deep dive into the first listen:
Ndani ya Cockpit 2 (Intro)
Score: 85
Listening to this track and adhering true to its’ title, the 30-second intro features a conversation between the flight crew of a Boeing 777 and air control.
Was I delighted? Most definitely. Hats off for the creativity!
I didn’t envision being thrust (quite literally) into the cockpit.
Better Days (ft. Dyana Cods)
Score: 90
As a proper hip hop head and fresh off the Zoza Nation HBR Trap Lab Session, I hoped I was getting a hot 16 from Dyana.
(Check out her latest EP Late Night Kneeler here!)
But damn! Her angelic voice on the hook and the piano chords in the backdrop were blending flawlessly.
‘Back to the latter, mi hukalia kiti moto kushinda ile ya IEBC.’
On Better Days, Wakadinali retrospect on their modest upbringing in Eastlands, Nairobi. And their struggle to make it in life while rapping about their hope for a better tomorrow.
Did I mention the mix of subtle drums and the 808s? Can’t get enough of Better Days.
Like Uuuh
Score: 95
I immediately started singing along to J Hus’ ‘Did You See’ when this song came on.
The claps and the snaps! That’s what my ears picked up. The instrumental has this bounce that gets your head bopping, and I love it!
The Jamaican-inspired hook seasoned Like Uuuh the right way, and I couldn’t help but hum ‘Uuuh’ all through.
‘Kutoka tene ni scuba diving ndani ya taxi,
Siku hizi siko chini ya maji,
Na Uber drive na ki-taxin.’
I loved the second set of verses more than I vibed with the first set.
Might it have been because of Mad Munga’s grime-flow at the start of this set? Certainly.
(Mungu Domani’s debut album Haitaki Hasira drops February 14th. Listen to Wakadinali’s first single Clean Sheet here!)
Like Uuuh is one of my favorites of the album this far. Aress 66 went in here, and you could feel it from the lengths gone into the production of this track.
Moja Safi (ft Khaligraph Jones, Timmy Blanco & Twenny Eights)
Score: 80
I could hear UKOO FLANI’s Wenyeji influence on this Big Beatz Afriq-produced track.
The merging of the subtle drums, the clap, and the harder 808’ is an appropriate choice for the instrumental as it lets you focus solely on the bars and not the melody.
From the bridge between the contemporary flow and hood rap on the Wakadinali verses to the braggadocious bars by the TNT duo, I’m certainly re-listening to this classic.
‘Ka una plan, we tu nipigie call I’ll come,
Na Covfefe hizi beats kama Donald Trump.’
Khaligraph’s verse at the end of the song was a bit underwhelming at first, arising from my expectation that we would have a more extended guest feature. I would also have preferred it sandwiched between Timmy’s and Twenny’s (of the TNT duo) verses.
Regardless, the bar-filled verse is super catchy, and I’m confident it will end up growing on me eventually.
Mtoto ni Mrembo (ft Timmy Blanco & Twenny Eights)
Score: 75
‘Naroga mpaka waganga washaninyima portion,
Mistari ill, mizani kwa game, utadhani concoction.’
What caught my attention on my first listen of this track was the hook. Munga Domani went crazy on it (like he always does), and it’s only right that it gets to bless our ears first.
Let’s talk about the arrangement of verses in this song!
The track has a set of four verses. The Wakadinali trio has a back-and-forth on their verses.
You wouldn’t instantly notice that they switch flows and trade bars severally between themselves (unless, of course, you are a sucker for details).
‘Na kama kawa sikuchukiii, nakudharau’
Props to Scar’s spin of Kleptomniax’s iconic line:
‘Pole kukuambia sikuchukii, nakudharau’
Timmy and Twenny came through with their airtight cadence, and I would excuse if you, for a minute, thought that they featured Wakadinali on this joint.
The trap beats on this track just felt like icing on the cake, and it sure is a bop!
Ni Hivi Ama Ni Hivi
Score: 70
Just like on Moja Safi, I also could hear the Nazizi-featured UKOO FLANI’s ‘Hip Hop Halisi’ sample on Ni Hivi Ama Ni Hivi.
The trumpets on this track! Mind-blowing. It’s yet another Big Beatz Afriq masterpiece.
On my first listen, I must admit that I only felt that the hook was pretty catchy. I wasn’t impressed with the bar-riddled verses from the trio, though.
A bit disappointing considering I thought they’d step up into the big shoes of the legendary rappers.
‘Juu ya vyenye natunga essay ni ka assassin,
Cause ni ka naenda SA kuface AKA.’
Could it grow on me in the future? Possibly.
Mangana Manangos
Score: 95
Having listened to this track before getting into this project, I must admit a slight bias to one of the lead singles for Ndani ya Cockpit 2.
Coldest beat on the album! Even they agree that it goes hard, and they step up to the challenge. Wakadinali don’t double-guess themselves with the flows and the bars on Mangana Manangos.
They once again prove why they command respect amongst their peers. In sharp contrast, they allude to the difficulty they had in gaining mainstream success.
‘Just in case hujajua, hapa just mind your business,
Si tumetoka mainstream kama river iko na leakage.’
Undoubtedly, one of my picks of the album.
Starehe Ndani ya Roho
Score: 80
Itching for the softer song on the project? Wakadinali got you!
The bars are uncompromised, however, even when they’re rapping on love!
On Starehe Ndani ya Roho, the trio explores not only the peace but also the struggles presented by their new romantic relationships.
‘Anasema ndio awe mine, nisake hela,
So mi nagrind ni ka kushikisha kangeta.’
I love how relatable the song is. The song speaks to not just our hearts but to our minds too.
If you don’t vibe with the theme (highly doubt anyone wouldn’t), at least acknowledge the versatility of Wakadinali!
Ume Tii
Score: 90
What caught my ear first was the ominous vibe that comes with the melody. It was like the instrumental was setting up Wakadinali’s peers for the gallows.
Should I start with the massive 808’s or the piano harmonies? Ume Tii is a production masterpiece! Nime Tii!
‘Walio mjini, mtajiju,
Huku kijijini, dunia bado ni msitu.’
On this track, Wakadinali come for all their haters while demanding respect for their unmatched lyricism and flexing on how great life is at the top of the rap game.
Zoza Zoza
Score: 90
Just like when I listened to Better Days, I expected that Wakadinali would go hard on this track, seeing that the track title is self-titled.
And they came correct with the bars! A lot less Sheng’ in their raps and a little more English is a welcome relief (for some I must add) and a breath of fresh air into the album.
The instrumental comes correct too. The drums! The muffled 808s that breaks the monotony every so often!
The trading of bars between the trio! Damn! I can’t find a single still moment on Zoza Zoza!
‘Hip Hop ni sick, propaganda is for the rest,
We can’t keep up with the Kardashians like the rest.’
Most certainly, another favorite from the project.
Sitafadhali
Score: 85
You didn’t automatically sing along to J Hus’ ‘Bouf Daddy.’
You need to get musically schooled! (I got you!)
The instrumental sounds a little muffled, of course, but trust the trio to compensate for it with the bars!
‘Sijawahi tense kama kuna ngori inakuwa,
Thug face, RONG RENDE, ni ya magorilla tu.’
Mad Munga showed off his unique storytelling abilities while Domani and Sewer brought the imagery and lyricism.
Wakadinali were massive in their bag with this record, and it’s a proper treat for the real hip-hop heads.
Eastlando
Score: 80
The most unique of the melodies on the album! Couldn’t decipher it, even after listening back a couple of times. The drums add a certain bounce that’s unmatched so far on the drop! And I enjoyed it!
This joint is a tribute to where the trio grew up, which is in Eastlands, Nairobi.
My favorite verse is the trio’s back and forth set at the end of the song.
‘Eastlando ni vitendo,
But n****s they playing like Nintendo.’
It took a couple of listens to dissect who, in particular, dropped each bar. It was amazing to see them going head to head against each other in such a friendly & competitive space.
Ndani ya Cockpit 2 (Outro)
Score: 85
The 1-minute outro closes off the project just like it began;
Inside the cockpit (quite literally).
Overall album review
Score: 85
As an entire boy of work, Ndani ya Cockpit 2 lacks a wide variety of sounds.
Executive production is by Aress 66, an in-house producer for the Zoza Nation collective, and admittedly, the monotony of the heavy basslines creeps in as you go through the 14 tracks.
Throughout the listening of this project, I couldn’t help but notice the smooth transition from one song to the next sonically, though.
As we wait for new Wakadinali music, check out Domani Munga’s Mungu 5 and Mungu 6, off his Babu ya Swaleh freestyle series and Sewer Sydaa’s 4 na kambao off his latest mixtape Jeshi ya Katululu.
Download and listen to Ndani ya Cockpit 2 from Mookh here.
