By Diana Satha

Limbani Kalilani also known as Tay Grin is a Malawian hip hop artist who has achieved local and international fame. Success in life has a price, and for Tay Grin, it is beef (hip hop slang for hate) from the music industry and its audience.

Tay Grin claims to be the undisputed king of the Nyau cult, a traditional religion cult of the Chewa ethnic grouping in the central region. Yet, fellow artists disagree and argue that he stole the idea from the “Basement” another hip hop group who are said to have originated the idea.
Tay Grin has been accused several times of stealing other artist’s material whether it is beats or lyrics. To date, he has had scuffles with Barry One, D1 and DJ Lomwe. Most artists in the industry maintain that Tay Grin lacks originality in his own work. This accusation also extends to the fact that he started a design brand called “Nyau Unit” which is a direct imitation of the American hip hop star 50 cent’s brand “G Unit.”

A lot of artists and producers have cried foul on the way Tay conducts his business. Being an entrepreneur, one supposes he is used to cut throat competition on the trade market and this is same way he operates in the music world. Artists have complained that he bulldozes his way up the radio charts by paying deejay’s to play his music. A practice that should be condemned and punishable if the music industry in this country is to improve.

With his first album “Proudly African” launched 2008; Tay sparked controversy as it was rumored to have had political backing through his affiliations with a high profiled lady. He has since denied these accusations through a hit single “chidzakuyambwa” from his current album “Nyau King”. The term ‘chidzakuyabwa’ literally translates to “you will itch from it,” this alludes to his success and emcee skills. Tay Grin has tirelessly claimed that he makes his money through his music and his business.

It is not only other artists that seem to have a problem with this hip hop celebrity; his audience seems quite divided as well. At the Lake of Stars festival 2009, Tay Grin was faced with hostility when he asked his audience whether they wanted an encore, the majority of the crowd booed him off the stage. However, being the showman that he is, he chose to carry on with his performance, although, it is safe to assume his confidence took a hit.

With two albums and a Chanel O award under his belt, Tay Grin is a force to reckon with. He is smart, charming, a multitasker and about his business. These are attributes that lack in most hip hop artists in Malawi most of whom have not managed to strike a balance between business and passion as Mr. Grin has. And as such it is a bitter pill to swallow when he is seen driving around in his American made flashy cars. One cannot be accused of having too much ego when he has the resources to back it up.

However, as much as what has been said about Tay Grin, the business person or the hip hop artist, the fact that stands out about him is that he has, on the Malawian level, made it! He gets his air play because his music is catchy therefore giving it commercial value to sell. Tay Grin has worked hard to get international recognition throughout the African region by performing at big shows such as Big Brother Africa and collaborating with international artists such as Brick and Lace, Gal Level (Namibia) and Buffalo Soulja (Zimbabwe). This is a great achievement for him as an individual but even greater for Malawi because now people can recognize the country from a musical aspect rather than an impoverished land locked country in the central of Africa.

Tay Grin is a celebrated flag bearer whether we choose to have issues with the way he conducts his business or not. As a pioneer he should be encouraged to promote other local artists, in this way Malawi’s musically talent will be promoted. Ironically, Tay Grin hating has only made him more famous and motivated to keep doing better. Hats off to Mr. Grin!

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