Nairobi, Kenya
Kenyan R&B star Otile Brown has continued his beef with Bien-Aimé Baraza, questioning his performance on the YouTube Kenya charts despite the extensive hype surrounding his recent releases.
Otile Brown Wonders: “Why Is Bien Still Number 7?”
Taking to social media, Otile expressed disbelief that Bien’s much-publicized projects are still trailing at number 7 on YouTube Kenya, behind several Tanzanian heavyweights.
“Something is not adding up,” Otile wrote. “With all that buzz, he’s supposed to be number 1 in 254.”
The “Dusuma” hitmaker contrasted Bien’s recent performance with his own older releases, claiming his 2022 track “One Call” is still charting at number 17, despite not pushing out new music recently.
“You can’t compare vibe music to timeless music,” he added, in what many fans see as a critique of Bien’s more experimental sound.
Otile Promises Swahili Bangers: “They’ve Been Asking for It”
Otile Brown didn’t stop there. He used the moment to tease a comeback, promising new Swahili music for his loyal fans.
“We’ll give them game – they’ve been asking for it,” he declared, signaling that his next releases will be more aligned with the coastal Swahili vibe that cemented his fame.
Otile has been relatively quiet in recent months, focusing on business ventures and studio sessions. However, he remains a dominant name in the Kenyan music industry, with a loyal fan base across East Africa.
Bien Yet to Respond
As of now, Bien, who recently released collaborative projects and solo work under Sol Generation, has not responded to Otile’s remarks.
The two artists have had past creative disagreements, particularly over the direction of Kenyan music and audience reception. Bien has often championed Afro-fusion and live instrumentation, while Otile has leaned into romantic Swahili ballads and polished R&B.
This isn’t the first time Otile has called out Bien. In 2023, he criticized Sol Generation for being “too experimental” and not catering enough to mass-market appeal.
Kenyan Artists vs Tanzanian Domination
The tension also touches on a broader debate in East Africa’s music scene — why Tanzanian artists consistently dominate charts in Kenya. Otile’s comments echo sentiments shared by fans and industry insiders who feel Kenyan musicians must return to their roots to reclaim regional relevance.
According to YouTube Music Charts, Tanzanian artists like Diamond Platnumz, Harmonize, and Zuchu consistently occupy top positions on Kenyan charts, outperforming local artists in both views and engagement.
Related Stories on Sauce.co.ke
- Why Tanzanian Artists Dominate Kenyan Charts
- Bien: “Kenyans Don’t Support Their Own Enough”
- Otile Brown Explains Why He Avoids Music Beef
