Kenyan rapper Toxic Lyrikali links up with Mauru Gwash and Kapitani on “Hongo Ya Karao Vol. II,” and the record hit number one on YouTube Music’s Kenya Trending Chart within days of dropping.
The concept is one that resonates deeply across East African street culture. “Hongo Ya Karao” translates to “police bribe” in Swahili – and the series tackles the daily reality of corruption, navigating authority, and surviving systems that often work against ordinary people rather than for them. Vol. II carries that same pointed social commentary but pushes it forward with three distinct rap perspectives rather than one. So the different voices give the subject matter more texture than a solo record could achieve alone.
Produced by ABH Sound with the original beat by Tedd Josiah and a sample from Keithwamz, the production sits in a hard-hitting rap framework that gives all three emcees the right pressure to perform over. Director King Khassidy handled the official video – and the visual rollout gave the record a complete package from drop day.
Mauru Gwash has been building serious momentum across 2026. His Apple Music catalogue shows consistent featured appearances on “Choche,” “Pull Up,” “Kigonyi,” and “Vurugu” – all within the same year. Kapitani adds the third dimension that keeps the collaboration balanced rather than dominated by any one personality.
Toxic Lyrikali’s Instagram post after hitting number one kept things simple: “Much love and appreciation to all our listeners.” He added a message for the youth – “Vijana wa East, kuzoza ni lazima, number ni jamo.” That kind of community acknowledgment is exactly what keeps East Nairobi rap scenes loyal.
Watch “Hongo Ya Karao Vol. II” and tell us – does this hit harder than Vol. I?
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