Kenyan rapper Brian Omollo popularly known as Khaligraph Jones has responded to Tanzanian hip-hop artiste Fido Vato‘s criticisms.
Taking to his Instagram account on Sunday, September 8, 2024, Khaligraph posted a mockery video of a lady whom he referred to as American singer Rihanna breaking the music system after hearing an English rap song while in Tanzania.
The self-proclaimed Original Gạngster (OG) further called for respect from the Tanzanian musician.
OG’s response comes after Fido Vato during an interview with a Tanzanian media station which has gone viral stated that Khaligraph is not an international rạpper since he can only rạp in English a language that many Tanzanians are not familiar with.
Additionally, Fido disclosed that the OG has never performed in any show in Tanzania adding that none of his single rạp has been played on the Swahili-speaking country’s airwaves, except the only ones he has been featured by the Tanzanian artistes.
“Hata tukiangalia Khaligraph nani anamsikiliza hapa Tanzania hata ukitoka hapo nje umuulize mtu yeyoyote kama anamjua Khaligraph, huku Tanzania hachezwi sana alafu Khaligraph hajawai kuwa na show Tanzania yeye anabebwa tu an wasanii wa Kitanzania wakimueka kwenye ma feature,” Fido said.
Mimicking Khaligraph Jone’s rạpping, Fido stated that many do not understand OG’s rạp due to the language barrier adding that to be classified as an international artiste, he must be able to rạp in both English and Kiswahili.
He further emphasised that Khaligraph should cease calling himself an international artiste since his only known by Kenyans.
“Anarap maenglish yenye haieleweki, nani anataka maenglish? Tunataka Kiswahili. Do you know how to rap? Tupe pia Kiswahili,” he said.
“Khalighraph hawezi kurap Kiswahili , he thinks he is international but he is not, Khaligraph ni huko Kenya.”
OG’s beef with Tanzanians
Commenting about the 2023 heated beef between Khaligraph and the Bongo musicians, Fido stated that OG disrespected his country adding that he (Khaligraph) could have handled the situation differently.
“Khaligraph ali disrespect Tanzania so I have a right to defend my country. I just wanna send a message to him that we can do it in different ways it is cool,” he stated.
The fierce war between Khaligraph and Tanzanian singers started after Papa Jones claimed to be better than Tanzanian artistes.
However, the beef ended after the rapper apologized and expressed regret for dragging them into an unnecessary musical clash during a live interview with Wasafi radio.
“My statement was taken out of context a little. For the longest time you know when it comes to Tanzanians and music we can never discredit the fact that your music is superior in general. Personally, when I saw how that interview was edited, I wasn’t pleased because it showed me in a bad light and I knew it wasn’t supposed to be like that and I know other people will not understand it. That is why I’m apologising, that was not right. My statement was taken out of context. For the people who took it the wrong way please accept my apology,” OG apologized.
