Toxic Lyrikali reflects on how he felt after hitting his first million views
By Katemarthason Okudo, September 29, 2026Kenyan rapper Toxic Lyrikali has opened up about the songs that changed his music career, naming Thugnificent and Chinje as key milestones in his rise from the Nairobi underground scene.
Speaking during an interview in a video posted on social media on Monday, September 28, 2026, the rapper recalled how his music started gaining wider attention after the release of Thugnificent in 2023.
He said the song gave him the recognition he had been working towards before Chinje took his career a step further by earning his first million views on YouTube.
Toxic Lyrikali recalls his first breakthrough
Toxic said Thugnificent was the song that first introduced his music to a wider audience and helped establish his name in the Kenyan rap scene. “In 2023, my song ‘Thugnificent’ blew up and started giving me recognition. Then I released ‘Chinje’, and from there I received my first million,” he said.
For the rapper, reaching one million views was more than a streaming milestone. He said it showed him that people were paying attention to his music and appreciating the sound he was creating.
“I was glad when I received my first million views. I was happy. That is what all musicians crave in Kenya: listeners, people to listen to,” Toxic said.
‘Chinje’ becomes a major milestone
Toxic said he was particularly encouraged by the response to Chinje, noting that much of the support came from listeners from the same communities where he started his career.
“I saw how many people appreciated my music, and mostly it was from the ghetto. Not all ghetto artists get recognition and love. So I’m like the first artist to break that cycle. So I’m happy,” he said.
The song has since grown into one of his biggest releases. On September 16, 2026, Chinje crossed 20 million views on YouTube, a milestone Toxic celebrated on social media.
The achievement added to a catalogue that has continued to grow beyond one successful song.
Toxic’s growing list of hits
By September 19, 2026, two songs featuring Toxic were occupying the top two positions on Kenya’s YouTube trending music chart. Hongo Ya Karao Vol. II, a collaboration with Mauru Gwash and Kapitani, was at number one, while Zzero Sufuri’s Otero, featuring Toxic, was at number two.
His catalogue also includes Backbencher, which had accumulated about 18 million views, while Thugnificent and Sick had each passed 10 million views. Other songs such as Bud Flowers, Hood and Confirmation, featuring Mr Ree, had also recorded millions of views.
His newer releases, including Hate, Step Sana, Cartman, Long Story, Bad Everyday, Stone, Jaa Jaa and Euphoria, have also crossed the million-view mark.
Toxic wants to push new artists
As his own career continues to grow, Toxic said he is also interested in helping other upcoming musicians find their way into the mainstream. He noted that the Kenyan music industry has many young artists with talent who need support and opportunities to reach bigger audiences.
“We also have a lot of new artists in the industry, and we are pushing them up. The goal is for all my artists to reach the mainstream,” he said.
For Toxic, the journey from Thugnificent to Chinje and his more recent collaborations has also opened the door for him to help other artists coming from similar backgrounds.
His growing catalogue and collaborations have made his music increasingly visible, while his focus now appears to be extending beyond his own success to creating room for other upcoming artists.