Kenyan rapper Kantai is dead. The rapper was a virtuoso talent who left behind a wonderful library of work but with the unanswered question of what could have been?

Who was the rapper? Kantai was born in Kenya and grew up in the United States of America. His rap style was praised for its easy rhythm and flow that some compared to Warren-G or Kurupt style.

In a short 2004-2006 Kantai hit a purple patch releasing hit after hit and showed that he would be a force to reckon with.

As far as Kenya’s music scene goes, few come close in terms of lyrical prowess and mastery of the hip-hop genre. Some of his hits “Kantadda”, “Lifestyle” and “Issues” set him apart in the crowded hip-hop scene in period 2004-2006 when he returned to Kenya from US.

Whatever happened to his music, we will never quite know, but Kantai was one of the illest rappers to ever grace the Kenyan music industry.

Kantai and STL came up with I’m Happy and it turned out to be a mega hit, but Kantai had in the last couple of years faded into oblivion.

Other great songs released by the departed maestro are:

• Kantadda
• Jinga Hii
• Mo than Jus Friends
• Heshima
• What Mo
• Haterz

May his soul rest in peace.