WAXY KAY: LOCAL HIP HOP WONDER BOY
By Temwa Mhone
In 2017, he mesmerised urban music fans with verve songs built on romantic lines. The attention that Wonderful Kapenga, aka Waxy Kay, got was on lyrical bars, the public rarely enjoy from artists of his age. No wonder, he carted home Best New Artist award during the 2017 Urban Music People (UMP) Awards held at Bingu International Convention Centre (BICC) in Lilongwe.
“It is still a moment to cherish as I was humbled with love and support Malawians gave me throughout the awards process. I got more spotlight and motivated to give them more positive songs that will stand the test of time,” he says.
The eagerness to reprimand the public, including fellow youths on promiscuity made him to nurture the music instinct in 2014 while a student at New Era Private Secondary School in Ntcheu.
Probably, Chisankho featuring Young Song in June 2016 was the breakthrough of the Blantyre-based artist. This song brought him to the limelight. Waxy Kay maintained poetic lines with Nsembe released in November the same year. He featured Kebel Tojef. Then, he sent tongues of urban music fans wagging in commending his standard use of vernacular language in Wandilira featuring L Jay which he dropped in January 2017.
The artist, who was born on 4th June 1999, cemented his prominence to be a force to reckon with in the urban music business upon dropping My Foot featuring DMP in 2017.
His songs are dominated with youth motivation and love themes. The youngster, who believes was born a rapper, was inspired by Mary Kapenga [his mother], who does gospel music and multi award winning rapper, Gwamba.
“Life flows between good and bad extremes; hence, the need to share guidance. Love rocks the world, but more youths live in regrets because emotions dictate their decision-making,” he says adding that: “Watch this space because I strive to give Malawians substance of positive change and living.”
The young rapper says he is not confined to hip hop as he does pasada and local touches to build audience in all age groups.
However, some people felt he was carried away with success of My Foot and dropped its ‘verna-cular literal transition’, ZaZii featuring Rakim 23, the former’s part two as he went on denouncing certain ‘ill behaviours.’
The Pastor’s Kid
The secular touch Waxy Kay is embroiled in leaves, music fans ‘shocked’ upon learning he is a clergyman’s kid: Bishop Charles Kapenga of Believers Assembly International Church (BAIC) in Machinjiri Township, Blantyre.
The father, in spite of the genres and touch, says he is proud of the son and encourages him to do the youthful music.
“The public wants bishops’ children to follow footsteps of the father which does not tally. So far, we do not have problems with his music. We rebuke him where necessary to make sure he is in the right direction, morally. Waxy should not do gospel songs just to please me, but let it be God’s calling or will,” says Kapenga.
The bishop believes being a celebrity involves a lot and he cannot force the boy out of elegant clothes and hair styles.
Kapenga says he will support the career of Waxy Kay by sending him to music school either in South Africa or United States of America (USA).
Waxy Kay has 18 songs, including the hits Akatolilira and Tikule that enjoy airplay.
