Tipys Gee, Toxic Lyrikali and 5 other artistes who struck a chord with Gen Z in 2025
By Steve Ireri, December 29, 2025In 2025, Gen Z listeners in Kenya continued to show a strong willingness to support both upcoming and seasoned artistes, largely because of how closely the music released during the year mirrored their everyday realities.
More than just catchy hooks or viral moments, Gen Z gravitated towards songs that carried familiar phrases, relatable emotions and beats that felt current and socially relevant. Music that sounded honest, conversational and reflective of youth culture found its way into parties, playlists and public spaces with ease.
While many of the artistes who dominated Gen Z listening habits belonged to the same age bracket as their audience, others were older or more established figures who managed to adapt their sound and messaging. What united them was direction.
Their music touched on ambition, love, pressure, survival, enjoyment and identity in ways that Gen Z found fashionable, expressive and worth amplifying.
As a result, several Kenyan artistes became staples in Gen Z playlists, dominating streaming platforms, lighting up parties and drawing loud reactions when their songs came on in matatus, weddings or spontaneous public settings.
These are some of the artistes whose 2025 releases resonated most strongly with Gen Z.
Tipys Gee
Arbantone singer Kelvin Njenga wa Mugo, popularly known by his stage name Tipys Gee, stood out as one of the most favoured artistes among Gen Z listeners in 2025. After closing 2024 strongly with the releases of Pum Pum and Diva, Tipys Gee entered the new year with momentum already on his side.
His early 2025 releases were received warmly, quickly cementing his position as an artiste Gen Zs repeatedly returned to.
He kicked off the year with Slithering, a single featuring Dyana Cods, which blended playful energy with an infectious rhythm that resonated with youthful audiences. He followed this with Plumber, another single that gained significant traction, helped by collaborations with Bensoul and Vic West.
The song also formed part of the album All Hands on Deck, further broadening his reach. Tipys Gee continued his run with Pia Mi Nataka, a collaborative single featuring Watendawili and Fathermoh, before revisiting the track through Mi Nataka Tu Mkale (Remix) alongside Tugen Finest Souls, Zzero Sufuri and Kiazala Generation.
Throughout the year, he maintained consistency with releases such as Tiri Tiri, Wasupa, Nganya featuring Parroty, Bounce It with Jaysoul and Kiuno featuring Spoiler, Kantel and Gody Tennor. His collaborations and sonic experimentation, including hints at venturing into the amapiano space through his release with Gasheni, kept Gen Z listeners engaged.
Nearly five of his 2025 releases became favourites within Gen Z circles, largely because of their playful language, dance-ready beats and relatable themes around enjoyment and self-expression.
Toxic Lyrikali
His music struck a rare chord with young listeners who appreciated his unapologetic tone and lyrical sharpness. Throughout the year, he released several singles that addressed ambition, personal freedom, love and street realities in a raw and direct manner.
His 2025 output included singles such as Mfisadi, featuring Dyana Cods, which emerged as one of his major late-year releases and helped him break streaming records. Other releases like Glitter Freestyle, Euphoria, Step Sana, Mapenzi, Bud Flowers and Backbencher showcased his range, alternating between introspective moments and high-energy delivery.
Toxic Lyrikali also remained visible through collaborations, appearing on Get Busy with Dyana Cods, Mzii, and Tunawakulia by Gwaash.
Beyond standalone releases, his music gained further traction through popular DJ mixes, including VDJ Jones’ Ghetto Kings 6 and DJ Ivan’s Best of Toxic Lyrikali Mix 2025.
His consistency, combined with his ability to articulate emotions Gen Z listeners often feel but struggle to express, helped solidify his presence throughout the year.
Wadagliz
Wadagliz entered 2025 with an already devoted Gen Z following, largely built in 2024 through their breakout hit Anguka Nayo, which had become addictive among young listeners. In 2025, the group maintained relevance by releasing music that stayed true to their street-rooted identity while evolving their sound.
Their 2025 releases included Haina Chorus, which dropped on November 14, Na Hio Stingo 2, and Chini, all of which leaned heavily into bold, chant-driven delivery. They also featured on Propaganda by Nelly The Diva, Pumpum by Timmy TDat featuring Juju Moonchild, and Kata (Rombosa) by From The Hood Music. Towards the end of the year, they prepared to release Ngiwile, a collaboration featuring DJ Mavu, Mfana We Style and Thee Don.
For Gen Z listeners, Wadagliz represented confidence, group identity and youthful defiance. Their sound fit naturally into party spaces and digital culture, keeping them in heavy rotation throughout the year.
Mad G
Mad G’s visibility among Gen Z listeners surged following his viral breakout moment at the wedding of his former music partner and close friend VJ Patelo. Clips of the two singing, celebrating and riding in limousines quickly spread online, drawing attention not only to the moment but also to Mad G’s music.
Capitalising on the attention, Mad G maintained a prolific release schedule in 2025. His singles included Melissa, Toka DM, Shake That Thing (Remix) featuring Gody Tennor, Petite, Body Tea, Bomb, Never Give Up and Badman Settingz.
He also released Fanya Kweli and Funga Shughuli, alongside a notable international collaboration with Jamaican dancehall star Chronic Law on the track Mad G.
Additional releases such as Style Gani, Romeo Na Juliet, Man Ah Gallis, Seti Vizuri, Backshot and Sleep Over ensured his presence remained constant. Gen Z listeners connected with his high-energy delivery, party-ready themes and visible growth following his viral moment.
Wakadinali
In 2025, Wakadinali reaffirmed their place as one of Kenya’s most influential hip hop acts with the release of their 22-track album Victims of Madness 2.0 on June 27. The album, a sequel to their 2020 project, continued documenting urban survival, ambition and daily life in Nairobi.
Tracks such as Kum Baba, Za Kimotho, Tamashani and Rong Cypher 3.0 stood out, alongside other songs like Long Distance, Si Tulikosana and Denge Dingo 2. The group also released visuals for Nyuria and collaborated on tracks like Going Harder and Denge Dingo.
Their dominance at the 2025 UnKut Hip Hop Awards further cemented their influence. For Gen Z listeners, Wakadinali remained a voice of realism, resilience and street truth.
Watendawili
Watendawili continued their upward trajectory in 2025, becoming one of the most-streamed local acts of the year. While their debut album, En Route, was released in late 2024, many of its songs peaked in popularity during 2025. They also supplemented their catalogue with new singles and collaborations.
Their releases included Urao featuring Charisma, Mangware with Matata, Wasupa with Breeder LW and Tipys Gee, and Stage Ya Mwisho with Iyanii. They also appeared on several major projects, including Confuse Me, Baddies Need Love and Pia Mi Nataka.
According to Spotify Wrapped 2025, Watendawili secured four of the top ten most-streamed local songs. Their melodic sound and relatable storytelling helped them resonate strongly with Gen Z listeners throughout the year.