Members of the Kenyan hip hop group Ethic, known for their 2018 hit Lamba Lolo, have been removed from the lineup of the April 2019 Hype Fest concert.
Organizers cited an unspecified legal matter as the reason for the group’s exclusion from the Ngong Racecourse event, which will feature top local artists including Naiboi, Khaligraph Jones, and The Kansoul.
The four-member group—Swat, Zilla, Rekles, and Seska—rose to prominence after their explicit 2018 track Lamba Lolo sparked both popularity and criticism. Their public image has since been marred by repeated controversies.
Recent incidents include a March 2019 altercation in Umoja where a group member was assaulted by a mob following a reported misunderstanding. Earlier in 2018, the crew faced internal tensions with their management, which described them as difficult to handle.
A management representative expressed frustration with the group’s behavior in a public Twitter thread, though no further details about the legal dispute were provided.
