Kenyan rapper Lil Maina has rapidly emerged as a vibrant and influential voice in the East African music scene. With his distinctive style, authentic lyrics, and an unyielding passion for his craft, Lil Maina has captured the hearts of many, both locally and internationally. Born and raised in Nairobi, his music is deeply rooted in the realities of urban life, blending Swahili, Sheng, and English to create a sound that resonates with a diverse audience.
Deeds Mag: Can you tell us about your background as an artist and what inspired you to pursue music?
The name is Lil Maina. I’m born and raised in Nairobi, Kenya. My inspiration to pursue music was the people around me and the place I was living in. My uncle showed me some of their songs back in the day.
Deeds Mag: What inspires your music, and are there any specific themes or messages you aim to convey through your songs?
What inspires my music is what is happening around me so basically real life situations. There are specific themes and messages that I aim to convey through my songs depending on differing things like my mood or what I’m feeling on that day. I can talk about love, I can talk about people I am having a problem with personally. It depends on how I’m feeling really.
Deeds Mag: How would you describe your musical style, and are there any artists or genres that have influenced your sound?
My style of music is mainly Genge. The artists who have heavily influenced my sound are Mejia, Lil Wayne, Vybz Kartel, Konshens, Rema, and Jua Cali. The genres that have influenced my sound are hip hop, genge, and dancehall.
Deeds Mag: What is your songwriting process like? Do you have any rituals or routines that help you create music?
My writing process is really simple. The routine that I have is that I make sure I have done everything I was supposed to do before starting to write. Sometimes there's no routine, I start off by writing on my notes and then continue later. I also write before heading to the studio for a session. But when I am alone in my house, I can write while recording.
Deeds Mag: Can you share a memorable moment or experience from your career that has had a significant impact on you?
A memorable moment in my career was when Adekunle (Gold) came to the country (Kenya). I wanted to see him perform but my fans recognized me from the crowd and they carried me to the stage. Knowing that I had a fanbase made me go to the studio to work on a song with a Kenyan artist called Ndovu Kuu and that became my breakout single called ‘Kishash’.
Deeds Mag: How do you approach collaborations with other musicians or artists? Is there anyone you dream of collaborating with in the future?
The way I approach collaborations with other artists is to ensure they have the same sound or a vibe that I like. I try as much as I can to not make it strictly business because I feel like the connection needs to be there for our song to work. I really dream of collaborating with Rema.
Deeds Mag: How has your music evolved over the years, and what do you think has contributed to that evolution?
My music has greatly evolved over the years. I started off with parodies and I feel like right now I can present my craft to someone with a lot of confidence. The constructive criticism has contributed to that. Another thing is my maturity. I came to the game younger, so my age and the critics have helped my growth.
Deeds Mag: Are there any upcoming projects or releases that your fans can look forward to?
I have an EP and a mixtape on the way. The mixtape is from my collective, Watoto Wakorofi, and the EP is a solo project coming soon.
Deeds Mag: What advice would you give to aspiring musicians who are looking to pursue a career in music?
The advice I'd give them is to never quit, put God first in everything that they do, pray for their craft and everything will be well.
