New Chefs In Town: THE RECIPE - Karis4l x AN21
“The Recipe” brings HipHop back to its roots. We believe the genre has strayed, but our project rectifies that. Producer-rapper tapes, a HipHop staple from Eric B & Rakim to Dre & Snoop, now include AN21 and Karis. Each track on “The Recipe” embodies a core HipHop element: competition, hard-hitting lyrics, braggadocio, cyphers/posse cuts, wordplay, and realness.”
At a season where rap and lyrics are often overlooked, few artists stand out, and An21 KE and Karis are in the lead of this revolution. Teaming up for a joint project, “THE RECIPE,” the producer and artist duo are indeed serving what is currently missing in the industry: real rap. Coming off the success of his 2024 album “Underground 10,” which encompassed a whole roster of artists, AN21 has chased a Metro Boomin moment with Karis4l.
You see, sometime last year, An21 KE called me, or I called him; I am not sure, but phones were used. He goes, “Bro, there is this kid I need you to listen to; he is just starting. We are cooking up something; let me send you the files, and tell me what you think.”
I did listen, and I could feel the talent and his hunger from afar because the project wasn’t really completed; he was bold with words. He was reaching towards something, and I could feel with enough guidance, he would reach the levels only he imagined. This “kid” I keep referring to was 18-year-old Karis, now a grown-ass man and a dope artist.
He was reaching towards something, and I could feel with enough guidance, he would reach the levels only he imagined.
Forgive the unnecessary backstory, but this is my story, and I will write what I want. THE RECIPE, out now on all DSPs, is a joint project between Karis4l and producer, sound engineer AN21. I know it’s their project that’s titled the Recipe, but for the next few minutes, allow me to cook.
An21 KE, despite being based in the US, concentrated on delivering a production that transcends both geographical and cultural boundaries. "Year One" features a dreamlike, nostalgic soundscape, incorporating bell chimes reminiscent of the East African Chap Chap. The tape employs double entendres, such as "Manzi amelewa lights zake zinazima," and culturally resonant phrases like "E-sir si jina kubwa kwa ninja," clearly foreshadowing the emergence of burgeoning talents.
This project is an absolute treasure trove of lyrical brilliance by Karis, featuring an abundance of "bars" that are simply beyond verbal explanation. To attempt to dissect or elaborate on their genius would be to diminish their impact, much like trying to describe the corrupt Kenyan Kwanza regime with a single paragraph. Instead, my focus will be to ignite your curiosity and compel you to experience this musical masterpiece firsthand.
With lyrics that exude self-belief and unwavering confidence, the artists tell a powerful story. In "Feel Hio Fear," Karis tackles a common feeling head-on, declaring, "...ain’t nothing new; even lookalikes are more real than you." This bold statement is amplified by An21 KE's haunting yet unique drum patterns, which reinforce the lyrical message. In this track, Karis is more of a Nyashinski, and I say this with utmost respect to both. “Hawa wasanii, wote wako trash” is a line that I am sure Nyashinski says at least once in his sleep when he remembers Cedoh.
In “4 MY NZ,” Karis sounds like Mauru Gwaash, not in the rap content, but rather in the cadence, flow, and general environment of his rap. This is actually my favourite song on the tape; in the last verse, when he raps about Nairobi and a dimpled governor, there are a million double entendres. I love the versatility of Karis, which is surprisingly evident by track number two; you can clearly hear that there is an ARTIST in the room.
BENZ, which is track number three, feels like a Lowki The Great track, but a slower, more stuffed Lowki. Like Lowki is chicken for Thanksgiving, but Karis is a really stuffed turkey; it may not taste entirely the same, but you know what I mean. Chicken and turkey taste like cousins, and in the song’s hook Karis says, “Me ni mkikuyu so siwezi ka tense.” I feel like we don’t need that information, but good to know, mate.
"Paperboy" exemplifies the power of collaborations between underground artists, broadening a song's reach to a wider audience. This East African posse cut features a team-up of Kenyan-Cypriot rapper Yung Stevie, Nairobi-based rapper Gaccu, and Rwanda's thedicekid, with An21 and Karis. Their synergy creates a bouncy 808 track, subtly accented by trumpets, forming the ideal sonic canvas. This kind of minor (non-major league) collaboration is what we are craving as an industry. Yeah, bring Rwandese rap to Kenya, and export us to Kigali; this is great. In an era where Kenyan artists are avoidant of even supporting their own, this is cool and business savvy at the same time.
Enter track number 5, YEAR ONE. Before we proceed, I am the rusty voice at the end of this song. This, however, doesn’t influence my decision on it being my 2nd favourite track on the tape (it does, it actually does). I am not an artist, so you know, of course, I enjoy hearing my cracked-ass voice on a track with AN21 and Karis. A friend of mine asked if that is how I actually talk in real life. That is exactly how I talk, maybe even worse. The producer tried to remove the village in the audio note, but you know what they say, man. On the track, I love the contrasting beat and background; it’s like two tracks overlapping, and the one thing creating a balance is the rap.
The one thing I respect about AN21 is that his beats are self-identifying; I can tell a song he worked on just from an nduthi passing by. In this tape, the intros and outros went crazy, a combination of serious and cheerful, motivating and funny at the same time. The production is a solid 9/10; whatever an artist decides to do with that becomes their own problem.
Karis is going to be a superstar; he has what it takes to be one. A combination of East and West is what makes Kenyan rappers universally acceptable, a way to blend two audiences without the need to lock out one at a time. The likes of Khali, Nyash, Sabi Wu, Genesis, Ouma, Big Yasa, and many more I would name, but you get my point. I am not implying they are his ilk or ceiling, but he is limitless. I am sure excited to see what both these two artists have in store for us in the future.
ABOUT KARIS
Born Duncan Kariuki, "Karis" was a nickname given by those closest to him. Karis is a rhythmic storyteller, a conduit for raw emotion, and a rapper with a mission. His journey began at 16, not for stardom, but for the quiet intimacy of journaling. Words were his sanctuary, a place to wrestle with the world and discover himself. This personal exploration blossomed into poetry, which ignited his passion for rap, leading to his debut single, "Aii Wee!" released on January 25, 2024.
Karis is a rapper, producer, and architect of his own sound. His music, a testament to community, is shaped by his collaborations with Kenyan producers Tyrell Dolla, Mosense, and AN21 KE, along with his own expertise.
