Stella Mwangi has flown the nest. Back in 2011, she was singing about her grandmother’s inspirational musings. Nowadays, she is all grown up—grown up enough to shave her head, and bang away some afro pop tunes at the club.

The sound of her latest track ‘Koolio’ takes us to a bass-thumping club in Nairobi. It is full of swagger, and Stella’s performance in the music video packs a real punch. The unbridled spirit of her track and music video fits perfectly with the urban vibe of modern pop—even in Norway. Although it signals a departure from what she’s known for, Stella continues to prove that she defies labels. You can’t keep this woman in a box!

Rating: 3/5

Koolio Lyrics:

StellaGansta gansta gansta me im not a gansta
But im looking kinda, kinda like a gansta
I bought a big chain
Wild like Rick james
Bitch dont know my name
You probly lame in game
I ride the flyest bus back home is called matatu
Dont worry much i brush the dust off Cause i got to
My daddy told me even difficult is simple
So im taking it real simple looking cooler than koolio, Oh my Lord
While they making it so difficult
Im taking it so easy letting go
All my problems out the window let em know
I keep my cool looking kooler than koolio

But kooler than, (than koolio)

Gansta gansta gansta no im not a gansta
But im acting kinda, kinda like a gansta
I do not fear a thing,
Shit i seen crazy things
Man You should visit Kenya
And get some gangsta in ya
I ride the flyest bus back home is called matatu
Dont worry much i brush the dust off Cause i got to
My daddy told me even difficult is simple
So im taking it real simple looking cooler than koolio, Oh my Lord
While they making it so difficult
Im taking it so easy letting go
All my problems out the window let em know
I keep my cool looking kooler than koolio

Deban Aderemi contributed this report from London. Follow him on Twitter @debanaderemi. Then follow Team Wiwi on Twitter @wiwibloggs and by liking our Facebook page.

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Nathan
Nathan
9 years ago

What a gggggggggggreat music review! You must have spent so much time on this!!!!

Thiefo
Thiefo
9 years ago

Everything I hear from her after Haba Haba is by far better, makes me think that if she ever comes back to Eurovision with something like this whe might do better. Anyway, glad to hear she’s doing great after ESC, and I love this one!

Alexey
Alexey
9 years ago

I love her!

davve
davve
9 years ago

stella is cool