“The best rapper in Mombasa,” OG Khaligraph Jones, proclaimed him during the Tusker Next Stars when he called him on stage.

“Rappers and numbers don’t lie,” so he says.

Like a herald in the coastal hip-hop scene, Boywaley4 has proved that this is true and that his punchlines land as heavy as the next heavyweight in whatever arena.

“When Jones called me to the stage that day, freestyling with him may have seemed a herculean task, but for me, it was just another day on the job, and I had to match him bar for bar,” says the Mombasa-born rapper whose lyrical honesty, wrapped in poetry and resonant beauty is building Mombasa’s next music movement.

Yakub Abdul, says his stage name Boywaley4, was given to him by a friend.

“By then, I didn’t use to rap, but kept company with rappers. I’d accompany them to street cyphers and shows. Then one day, they invited me to try, and well, let’s say a spirit was awakened,” he recounts.

“Then my friend said, 'From today you shall be known as Boywaley,' and the name stuck,” he intimates.

The EUVINE hitmaker says Art Cocktail helped hone his skills.

“Every Tuesday, I have to make sure there is new music I’ve written for the Art Cocktail show, and in every show, the audience was my jurors, and slowly, my skills improved.

Emphasizing the immutable principle of discipline, the artist says it has enabled him to master his unique style, which he calls “Expensive realness.”

“As a muse, whether talking about life in the hood, love, crime, or life’s hurdles, I have to tell it beautifully, transcending cultures and classes, and have the message across.”

The artist who has shared the stage with international sensations like Joeboy and Nyashinski at Walker Town, says that were he to hold a show, Partraw of the famous Sukuma Wiki concert would be part of his dream lineup.

“A good show not only depends on how good your lineup is, but also on the curation and preshow marketing. I wouldn’t budge on having a good promoter for my show,” he says.

Highlighting one of his learning experiences, Boywaley4 says, “I once got booked for a show, and when we got to the location, the promoter and production crew were leaving. Upon inquiry, we were told the show was cancelled because nobody had shown up.”

He acknowledges that the events scene is growing exponentially, and that being innovative is how to stay ahead of the game.

“This is defined by how you engage your fans on social media, how you curate your shows, the ticketing, post-show engagement, and data appraisal to inform your marketing strategies.”

Even as the scene grows, Boywaley4 urges promoters and fellow artists to back and promote homegrown voices, referring to his legendary lyrics in MTOTO KANTHAKA:

“Mombasa art iko fiti, shida haipo kwetu sisi…”