MC Fullstop’s best friend DJ Smash breaks down as he recalls how he shaped him
By Steve Ireri, August 12, 2025The burial service for reggae legend John Maina, alias MC Fullstop, at Nairobi Chapel on Tuesday, August 12, 2025, was filled with moments of raw emotion, but few were as heartfelt as the tribute from his long-time friend and colleague, DJ Smash.
Clad in full black, Smash broke down as he remembered the man he described as his mentor, brother, and guide in the entertainment world.
He told mourners that his journey in showbiz was deeply intertwined with MC Fullstop’s unwavering support and mentorship, a relationship that stretched over 15 years.
“MC Fullstop has been like a mentor and has been leading me in this game. He has been a friend; he has been family, and I have worked with him for about 15 years, from the time I began my career as a DJ,” Smash said, pausing at several points to wipe his eyes.
He recalled how their paths crossed shortly after he left Supremacy Sounds, when they began performing together at shows and building their craft.
“He kept mentoring me, telling me that if you want to do well in this game, you must put in effort and charge what you are worth. Sometimes you feel like you are letting him down because you are trying to bring your A-game. Since he never made you feel like a star, he would say, ‘Play it low, do not see yourself as a star, because if you do not see yourself as a star, you will work hard to get there.’ He showed me the way in this career,” he said.
DJ Smash also revealed that it was MC Fullstop who gave him the name “Tall DJ.”
“When I joined the industry, I was just called DJ Smash, but he named me Tall DJ, saying I was the tallest DJ with the tallest plans,” he recalled with a faint smile.
Their bond extended beyond music. Both were artistes in their own right, even recording songs together, including one during the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to Smash, MC Fullstop always reminded him that the sound game was more than just entertainment; it was a culture.
“He told me this is not just about making money because you are in showbiz. This is a culture, and if you live it fully, you will go far,” he said.
Smash also recounted the personal lengths MC Fullstop went to support him, especially in his early days.
He recalled that when he first started, he was living in Dandora, and one day, after dropping him home from a gig, MC Fullstop asked if he really wanted to continue living there.
The very next day, Fullstop gave him money to move, and after relocating, his life began to change.
“When I started out, I was living in Dandora. One day, after dropping me home from a gig, he asked me if I really wanted to keep living there. The next day, he gave me money and told me to move. After I moved, my life began to change. We drove for 12 hours at times, travelling to gigs as far as Garissa. We have been through a lot, times without gigs, times without income, but we still researched and kept the streets informed about what was happening,” he said, his voice quivering.
In closing his tribute, Smash addressed his late friend directly.
He told him that even in death, he should know that he will make good use of the advice he had given him and that he will never drop the A-game he taught him.
“Fullstop, shine on your way, Rasta. We have been through so much, but know this, you showed me the game, and I will never let it down,” he said, before stepping away from the podium, his shoulders shaking as fellow mourners reached out to console him.
The service was still ongoing at the time of reporting, with MC Fullstop’s burial scheduled later in the day at Lang’ata Cemetery.