An upcoming Kenyan artist known as Toxic Lyrikali has set a new milestone in the country’s music scene. His hit song “Chinje” has surpassed 11 million views on YouTube in less than a year — a record that even some of Kenya’s top artists such as Bahati and Willy Paul have not achieved in their earlier years.
But “Chinje” is not his only success story. Other tracks like “Backbencher” have also gained massive attention, with the latter amassing 8.5 million views. Today, Toxic Lyrikali stands among the most streamed Kenyan artists on YouTube, marking his rise as one of the country’s most promising musical talents.
Toxic Lyrikali began his music journey in 2019, though he only started recording professionally in 2022. His breakthrough came in 2024, after years of perseverance and dedication without backing from any major record label. His success story is one of hard work, self-belief, and unwavering fan support.
Originally a solo artist, Toxic Lyrikali briefly joined a music group before deciding to return to a solo career. Reflecting on his journey, he said in an interview:
“Nilianza usani one man, kwa njia tukapatana na group then we dispersed, nikarudi solo again.”
(“I started my music career alone, later joined a group, but eventually went back to being a solo artist.”)
That decision pushed him to work even harder, focusing on producing quality music that resonates with his audience.
