This archive report was first published on 19 December 2019.
Kenyan rapper Khaligraph Jones made a significant career shift a decade ago, transitioning from gospel music to rapping.
According to an interview with Mpasho, Jones started rapping professionally around 2009 after participating in a rapping competition, which he won.
However, at the time, Jones lacked a passport and identity card due to being in high school.
Early Beginnings ¶
Jones' journey in music began earlier, with him starting to rap as a kid and recording his first song in 2004 with fellow artist Hope Kid.
They even formed a group, but Jones' first stage appearance as Khaligraph Jones was in 2008 at WaPi (Words and Pictures), marking the launch of his career as a rapper and the end of his gospel music days.
On why he stopped doing gospel music, Jones explained that he wanted to create his own path and not follow the influence of others.
He stated, "I wanted to do something I wanted to do and not do it because of influence. I wanted to create my own path. At that time, where I came from, everyone who was an artiste was doing gospel. But I wasn’t comfortable and I did not want to ask people to lead a life that me, myself I wasn’t leading."
