This archive report was first published on 19 December 2019.
Published on December 19, 2019, Khaligraph Jones, a talented Kenyan rapper, has a fascinating music journey. Before becoming a household name in the secular music scene, he was part of a Gospel group.
Speaking to Mpasho, Khaligraph revealed that he started rapping professionally around 2009, after winning a rapping competition on Channel O. However, he didn't have a passport or identity card at the time, as he was still in high school.
As a child, Khaligraph was deeply involved in Gospel music, starting in 2004. He recorded his first song with Hope Kid and even formed a group. His first stage performance as Khaligraph Jones was in 2008 at WAPI (Words and Pictures), marking the beginning of his career as a rapper and the end of his Gospel music days.
So, what drove Khaligraph to leave the Gospel genre behind? He explained that he wanted to create his own path and not follow the crowd. 'I wanted to do something I wanted to do and not do it because of influence,' he said. '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.'
When asked if he would ever return to Gospel music, Khaligraph stated, 'I did not want to preach water and drink wine. If it gets to a point where in the future I get the calling, to serve the Lord, then definitely I will do that.'
