Kenyan Rapper Khaligraph Jones & The Referent "OG"

Edited by Azizi Powell

Latest Update: Sept. 1, 2022

This is Part IV of a four part pancocojams series on the term "OG".

Part IV presents information about Kenyan rapper Khaligraph Jones. This post also presents examples of comments from the discussion thread of a Khaligraph Jones music video. Most of these comments show how the term "OG" is often used in Kenya as a referent for Khaligraph Jones, but may also be used to refer to other African rappers.

Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2020/08/2010-pdf-excerpt-history-of-los-angeles.html for Part I of this four part pancocojams series. Part I is a preface to information about and examples of the term "OG". Part I provides an excerpt about the history of the Crips and the Blood gangs in Los Angeles, California from https://www.nationalgangcenter.gov/content/documents/history-of-street-gangs.pdf National Gang Center Bulletin, May 2010 (no. 4) by James C. Howell and John P. Moore.

Part I also includes an excerpt of an insert in that article that is entitled "Gang Names and Alliances" attributed to Miller, 2001, pp. 43–44.

The Addendum to this post presents an excerpt of  a March 2020 article about a Los Angeles gang truce after rapper Nipsey Hussle's shooting death.

Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2020/08/complete-reprint-of-2006-essay-making.html for Part II of this pancocojams series. Part II of this pancocojams series provides a complete reprint of  the 2006 essay entitled"The Making of an O.G.: Transcending Gang Mentality". This essay was written by San Quentin Death Row prisoners Steve Champion and Anthony Ross.

Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2020/08/how-meanings-of-term-og-have-changed-in.html for Part III presents some online definitions of term "OG". Those definitions along with some sentences that include that term demonstrate how the meanings of "OG"  have changed in the United States since it was first used in the early 1970s.

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The content of this post is presented for cultural and linguistic purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to all those who are quoted in this post and thanks to Khaligraph Jones for his music.
-snip-
Also, read my speculation in this post's comment section below about the meaning of the stage name "Khaligraph Jones".

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INFORMATION ABOUT KHALIGRAPH JONES
From https://peoplepill.com/people/khaligraph-jones/

"Kenyan rapper

Birth: 12 June 1990, Nairobi, Nairobi County, Kenya"

From https://www.theelephant.info/culture/2020/03/20/khaligraph-jones-and-emerging-hip-hop-futures-in-kenya/ Khaligraph Jones and Emerging Hip Hop Futures in Kenya

March 20, 2020 By Richard Oduku

..."A talent emerged with a vociferous, shrill and piercing cry deep in the heart of Kayole on June 12, 1990. …. Brian Ouko Robert – aka Mr. Omollo aka Khaligraph Jones – was welcomed by a troubled country of barely 20 million people. Exactly 28 years later, this baby released a debut album, Testimony 1990, and give us a chance to look back not only at this baby who has now become a man, but at a country whose population, just like its troubles, has doubled. Let us talk about the music of this prodigious talent. Testimony 1990 is a testimony of Kaligraph Jones’s life, his troubles, and those of his country. Khaligraph is not an overnight celebrity. His success is not the product of the modern viral phenomenon, where the gods of the internet choose to crown a new artist with a million views on Youtube for some mumble rap. He is not the product of accidental fame but of tenacity. His interest in music began at an early age in elementary school. He attended Imara Primary School and Brucewood Secondary School, and at 13 his love of music was visible and palpable. It helped that his older brother loved music too. Together they released their first rap track in 2004. But Kenya has one of the most unforgiving hip hop music ecosystems. 

[...]

Khaligraph’s music attempts to carry both social and political commentary and easy-going party jams. While a majority of his tracks are fashioned for the club, a few explore social and political themes.

[...]

Hip hop, belted out in Sheng – to escape the censor of the police state– became a tool for the disenfranchised young men in the sprawling ghettos to voice their dissatisfaction and dissent.

[…]

Given the predominantly club-banger focus of a music single, it is often difficult to chart the trajectory of a musician from the perspective of their thematic concerns. However, the album Testimony 1990 is a condensed piece of work that offers us coherence, a singular thematic focus, and a snapshot of the career progress of the artist.

Sheng, as a practice of moving across languages, has always been the choice for urban youth to resist and to engage in socio-political commentary and protest. But with the breaking down of market boundaries through the dominance of a few US-based music streaming platforms, language is once again becoming a significant indicator for capturing the international market.

For young African artists, the future belongs to those who can blend local languages and the lingua franca with the dominant language of business, in this case English. It is the reason why Tanzania’s Diamond Platnumz, while capturing the local East African market on the back of Swahili lyrics, resorts to English when doing collaborations with American artists such as Rick Ross and Omario. Khaligraph is the evolution of that trend, and it will not be long before he begins hustling for that big collaboration with a major American artist."...

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[Added Sept. 1, 2022]
ORIGINAL MEANING OF THE AFRICAN AMERICAN VERNACULAR ENGLISH

Read Part III of a four part pancocojams series on the term "OG", https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2020/08/how-meanings-of-term-og-have-changed-in.html 
From http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2006/07/10/18286768.php

"A Brief History of the Term "O.G." written by San Quentin Death Row prisoners Steve Champion and Anthony Ross, July 10, 2006
"The term "original" was first used by Crips in 1972. It meant "we're the first" and was used by all Crips regardless of age. In 1974 the word "gangster" was added. It derived from the Original Gangster Crips (now known as Eight Tray Gangster Crips). Initially, Crips only used the term "O.G." when writing their name or neighborhood; it was not customarily used in everyday speech. No one, for instance, would say "Cuz is an O.G." or "What’s up, O.G.?" This is because, in those early years, Crips understood it to mean, "This is the 'Set' I am originally from"—an Original Westside or Eastside Crip. But with the expansion of the Crips came many individuals who had once belonged to other gangs; consequently, the term "O.G." inevitably broadened.

In the mid '70s the term "O.G." also came to represent one who was fiercely loyal and "down" for his or her Set. It was akin to calling a person a patriot or nationalist. By the end of the 1970s, all of the Blood neighborhoods had adopted the "O.G." term. Its transformation was evident among the younger generation of gang members, who began to refer to their older homeboys as "O.G." This new connotation elevated the word to a status or title of respect and it became synonymous with a specific age group. Consequently younger gang members excluded themselves from this elite club because now one had to be of a certain age in order to attain "O.G." status. Today, this is the more accepted usage, and herein originated the misconception."...
-snip-
I added italics to highlight these sentences.
 
Thanks, Unknown August 31, 2022 for asking about the original meaning of "OG". 

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SELECTED COMMENTS ABOUT KHALIGRAPH JONES
These comments are from a YouTube video discussion thread for Khaligraph Jones "Tuma  Kitu" video. Most of these comments either include the referent "OG" or refer to "OG" being a referent for Khaligraph Jones.

These comments are given in no particular order and are numbered for referencing purposes only. I've added some translations and a few comments after some of these comments. 

From https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FnFrUsdZ1-8

Khaligraph Jones Tuma Kitu ["Send something"]

 Khaligraph Jones,  July 23, 2020

 1,313,186 views as of August 15, 2020 at 3:36 PM EDT
(All of these comments are from 2020)

1.Pinned by Khaligraph Jones

MILL DEE KE

"Top 5 Best rappers in Africa

1. Khaligraph Jones

2. OG

3. PAPA JONES

4. OMOLLO

5. BABA YAO"

-snip-

All of these are referents for Khaligraph Jones. "Omollo", a Luo surname,  is the title of Khaligraph Jones' Jan. 19, 2018 album. Read information about the surname Omollo in this post's discussion thread.

**
REPLY

2. david Mwangi UDI

"Honestly speaking, and I'm not saying this coz I'm Kenyan but this guy is probably the BEST RAPPER in Africa right now."

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REPLY
3. Golden Boy

"TRUE BRO"

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REPLY
4. Peter Nyakako

"100% true"

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REPLY
5. Nelson King

"Not probably. He is literally the best rapper in Africa. There is seriously no other rapper that can compete."

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REPLY
6. muchuma cbd

"Wewe unajua Nasty C?"
-snip-
Google translate from Swahili to English = "wewe unajua" = You know
-snip-
Nasty C is a South African rapper.

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REPLY
7. Golden Boy

"@muchuma cbd  who is he ?  Can he rapp tongue_twister or faster like a bullet man you can't compare OG to young kids ask anybody from Africa will tell you 🙅"

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REPLY

8. king Benjie

"He already won  award of being the best rapper in Africa lol"

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REPLY

9. Dennis Kemboy

"Best in Africa"

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REPLY
10. Ommy Waukweli

"True💯"

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REPLY
11. dennis mwange

"He told Nigerians that he takes the top 5 and the rest come after"

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REPLY
12. ronald chichi

"Luo is a lifestyle like OGs freestyles"

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13. Lil Freezy
"OG ni OG 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥💯💯💯💯💯💯

-snip-
Google translate Swahili to English: "OG is OG". This is a one of the slogans that is associated with Khaligraph Jones.

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14. ASHUU B MUSIC

"Respect the og live long rap"

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15. Bryan Zulu

"Dave east did asong one week ago and he has 500k view on YouTube, OG is doing over 600k views in less than  one week... khaligraph is doing more views than American rappers ....wapi likes za kenyan OG winning."

-snip-
Google translate from Swahili to English: wapi like za Kenyan. OG winning. = Where are likes for [this] Kenyan? [This is a reminder for people to click the "like" icon below his comment.]

My guess is that Dave East is a Kenyan rapper.

**

16. Wurie Bah

"The song is really dope, watching from Sierra Leone 🇸🇱. Love the OG, kao Denero is a small boy 👦 for the OG."

-snip-

My guess is that the statement "kao Denero is a small boy for the OG" means that the rapper kao Denero is a small boy compared to the OG Khaligraph Jones.

Update August 17, 2020: I happened upon this comment from a discussion thread for a That Fire LA reaction video showcasing another Khaligraph Jones video which indicates that Kao Denero is from Sierra Leone: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CJ2izwXnq9I  written by So4 Teco man (June 2020) "Please react to kenyanta by Kao Denero from Sierra Leone"...

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REPLY

17, ShutterDe DON

"Hahah kao is also a G blood, you people need to support him n make him big...one love ❤️ 🇰🇪 🇸🇱 🇰🇪 ❤️"

 -snip-

In the context of this comment "blood", is a referent that is similar to "bro". With correct punctuation, that comment would be written "Ha Ha. Kao is also a G [meaning, an OG], blood. You people need to support him and make him big...One love."

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REPLY

18. Mohamed Amid Kamara

"Don't lie please you are not from Sierra Leone"

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REPLY

19. Tamba Isaiah

"@Mohamed Amid Kamara, He's from SL, but you know that Kao Denero, killed all their rappers in Sierra Leone, so that's the reason they will never like him, if not K Jones himself knows that Kao is a real OG."

-snip-
"Killed all their rappers"=  overwhelmingly won rap battles with Sierra Leonean rappers. 

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20. Samuel Ng'ethe

"Whoever compare the real OG with the likes of kina octopizzo is just damn lame....the OG is #1 and the best rapper in Africa".

-snip-
Octopizzo is a Kenyan rapper. 

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REPLY

21. Mpashogram Kenya

"Tell them🔥🔥🔥💥💯"

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22. Bert Mat

"Am sure ata Octo is jamming to this song... noma sana... the best thing about the OG is consistency and being versatile... ready to work with any talented artist. This chorus sounds simple but it’s deep plus it hits hard.. big up papa jones 👍🏾" -snip- Octo= rapper Octopizzo, who some commenters write is Khaligraph's chief rival in Kenya. "Noma sana" is Sheng for something like "It's very hot"or "It's really awesome". Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2020/08/what-noma-and-noma-sana-mean-in-youtube.html
for a pancocojams post entitled "What "Noma" And "Noma Sana" Mean In YouTube Discussion Threads Of Kenyan Music"

**
23. Khaligraph Jones

"O.M.O.L.L.O #RESPECTHEOGs"
-snip-
Notice that Khaligraph Jones used a plural form of the referent "OG".  While he and his fans refer to him as [the] "OG" , he also recognizes that there are other African OGs.

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24. Samuel Ohanga
"The OG has an elegant grasp of poetry. Simply genius."

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25. Kheri Salaam
"OG is back🔥🔥
Love from burundi🇧🇮
Wakenya nipeni likes"
-snip-
Google translate from Swahili to English: "Wakenya nipeni" = Kenyans give it to me".

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26. Maclean osei Akotoo
"All the way up in Ghana 🇬🇭.. OG is highly respected ova here. Can’t wait to see him and Lyrical joe on a joint.. 2beasts"

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REPLY
27. Japhtyme DotMed
"Do you really want lyrical joe to burry him ??"

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REPLY
28. Gerald Potkah
"Japhtyme DotMed what are you smoking?

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REPLY
29. Exotic Dubai Life
"Japhtyme DotMed mmmmmmmmmhhhh stop smoking grass wrapped with sand paper 🤦🏾‍♂‍🤦🏾‍♂‍KHALIGRAPH JONES OG IS THE BEST RAPPER IN AFRICA or google that boy"

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REPLY
30.  Mutweesy_254
"Respect the OG....every body has his opinion  stop boding each other over African rappers..they both have different rap styles..but Khaligraph is the best in the type that he does."

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REPLY
31. Mwakisha MW
@Japhtyme DotMed, ..LJ is tight,but Kj has an angle most rappers lack...he can switch with any beat..LJ can't fast switch..khali can punch but of late he prefers bangers coz mmmhhh..competition remains sark the King.
-snip-

"sark the King" = Ghanaian rapper Sarkodie

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REPLY
32. Noah Okoth
"He was voted the best in Africa so what's your point?"

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REPLY
33. Barzster Records
"@Mwakisha MW I need to buy you something manze,,like you've completely exhausted my idea,,the OG has punches he started off with rap battles and he was going hard,,and the way he switches his flow,,daang mahn,,"
-snip-
The words "manze" and "mahn" are colloquial forms of the word "man".

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34. Don Don Ke
"Finally We are at 1 million views OG is being respected World wide now"

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35. ABDIRISAQ CISMAN IBRAHIM
"OG♥"️

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36. PROCMURA PRICA
"The Real OG 💯 in worldwide 🔥🔥🔥"

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37. Robert Kibiwot
"OG must be respected. This guy never dissapoints"

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38. Micky King
"OG ALL THE WAY UP💯 #OMOLO #RESPECT THE OG🔥👑"

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39. j shizla
"OG NI OG LONG LIVE KING OG..."

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40. Jackson Opiyo
"300k subs, OG is OG... The journey continues,"
-snip-
300k subs= 300k subscription

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41. keth manyu
"The OG shall be respected" narrative changed to "The OG is repected💪"

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42. Naftary Wanderi
"Big up to  the 575 Jamaican's on OG channel  with their dis I like 🙄🙄"
-snip-
This lighthearted comment includes a pun on the word "dislike". At the time that comment was posted this video had 575 dislikes. As of August 15, 2020 at 4:48 PM EDT, this video has 1,315,121 views, 41K likes,  682 dislikes, and   5, 985 comments.

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43. AKIA SAMUEL
"One love from Uganda..

Respect to the #O.G"

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44. Marie Le Couer
"The best in Africa, I hope one day you do a collabo with Sarkodie of Ghana 🇬🇭.. It will be epic, respect the OGs. 🙌🏿🙌🏿🙌🏿🙌🏿"

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REPLY
45. john kairo
"don't worry cause the have a project that was supposed to be released this year but this corona interrupted the procces"

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REPLY 
46. Peter Nyakako
"Khaligraph Jones and Sarkodie have a song together... just waiting for the video"

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REPLY
47. Kingsley Ngira
"We waiting for this.... this is the most important comment here... two kings must drop something fire 💣💣"

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REPLY
48. Ya'kov Erick
"Sarkodie should get to OG, man! we need better collaborations, at this level OG is above all in Africa. OG should go for American r&b  singers the likes of C Brown we get something sick and contemporary."
-snip-
"C Brown" = African American singer Chris Brown

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49. Andieh Masha
"GOAT🐐🐐 #RESPECTHEOGS 💪💪👊👊

Like for the best Rapper alive 💯"

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REPLY
50. Lamar Halalboy
"king sarkodie 👑"
-snip-
This is probably not who Andieh Masha had in mind when he or she wrote that comment.

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51. Vincent Abuga
"Been listening to this song more than 20 times,when in my house also  in the car., My honest opinion is OG is # 2 after Sarkodie.Keep  up the good job.

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52, Dismas chunguri
"For sure OG will always be OG,the King ,Greatest Of All Time,k Jones to the world beiby"
-snip-
"beiby" = baby

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53. The Governor TV
"Respect the OG, like we respect the OG pamoja...."
-snip-
Google translate from Swahili to English pamoja= together  

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54. ephraim sang
"Respect the OG, this is on fleek"
-snip-
"on fleek" African American Vernacular English term meaning "flawlessly styled", looking good"

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55. Chrispus Mwathe
"the OG always killing it...clearly, Papa JONES is the Kenyan music industry and the Kenyan Music industry is PAPA JONES"

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56. Brian Asuga
"Baddest in the industry .....OG"
-snip-
"baddest" = the best

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57. Coach Collins Odhiambo
"OG is the GOAT in Africa... I like him more because of the story behind his success. Huyu jamaa in noooma....eih!!"
-snip-
Goat = African American Vernacular English for "greatest of all times"
I think "noooma" is an elongation of the Sheng word "noma" .

"Huya jamma in noooma" = Google translate from Swahili to English means something like "This family is hot" or "This family kills it"

I think that "eih!!" is an exclamation that means something like "Yeah!"

**   
58. Everlyne Kangogo
"This guy is a living legend.........the O.G will shall and be forever be respected"

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59. Nonso Martins
"Nigerian I am  Og you're the best, much love from Spain...."
-snip-
This comment probably reads like this in standard English: I am Nigerian. OG, you are tthe best. Much love from Spain.

**
60. Emmanuel Mach
"OG the best 🔥🔥🔥..............soon OG will the best globally #team OG#💪💪💪

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This concludes Part IV of this four part pancocojams series.

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