Lil Maina
Lil Maina | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Jeremy Maina |
| Born | 20 April 2002 Mombasa, Kenya |
| Genres | |
| Occupation(s) |
|
| Years active | 2018–present |
| Labels | Phauria Management |
| Associated acts |
|
Jeremy Maina (born 20 April 2002), known professionally as Lil Maina[1], is a Kenyan musician[2], rapper[3], comedian, and content creator.[4][5][6][7][8][9][10] He is known for his work in the Genge, hip hop, and dancehall genres.[citation needed] Maina initially gained recognition through comedy skits on Instagram and TikTok, often featuring his grandparents, before transitioning to music. His single "Kishash" (2022)[11][1][12][8][13][14][15] was the most streamed song on Spotify in Kenya that year, according to reports.[16][17][18][19][20][21] He released his debut album, Maisha Ya Stunna[22][23][24][25], in 2023 and won the Male Artiste of the Year award at the TUKO.co.ke Entertainment Awards in 2024.[26]
Early life
Jeremy Maina was born on 20 April 2002 in Mombasa, Kenya.[27] He completed his secondary education in Mombasa, earning a B- grade in the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examination.[10] During the COVID-19 pandemic, Maina moved to Nairobi to live with his grandparents. His mother resides in the United States, and he has visited her there on multiple occasions.[28]
Career
2018–2021: Comedy and early music
Maina began creating content in 2018, posting comedy skits on Instagram and TikTok while still in high school.[18] His videos, often featuring his grandparents, gained significant attention in Kenya. In 2021, he released his first music video, "Stretchmarks Kwa Haga", marking his entry into the music industry.[29]
2022–present: Music career
In 2022, Maina released "Kishash", a single that became the most streamed song on Spotify in Kenya that year and accumulated over 2 million views on YouTube.[16] [10]The song is credited with contributing to a revival of the Genge genre.[30] He has cited influences including Kenyan artist Mejja and international figures Lil Wayne and Vybz Kartel.[16]
After his success, Maina suggested that he might quit music altogether, having fulfilled his intention of having a number one hit,[31] and saying that "he want[ed] to be a normal guy with a normal job".[2] However, he has since gone on to release new music.
On 13 December 2023, Maina released his debut album, Maisha Ya Stunna[32], under Phauria Management, featuring ten tracks with collaborations from artists such as YBW Smith, Scar Mkadinali, and Trio Mio.[10][33][34][35][32] The album was dedicated to his late grandfather, who passed away in 2023.[36][37]
In 2024, Maina received the Male Artiste of the Year award at the TUKO.co.ke Entertainment Awards.[26]
Personal life
Maina's grandparents have been prominent in his comedy skits, contributing to his public image.[37] The death of his grandfather in 2023 was noted in media reports as a significant personal event.[36][5][6][7][4][10] As of 2025, he has described himself as single and has discussed taking breaks from social media for mental health reasons.[16][27][31]
Discography
Studio albums
| Title | Details | Ref |
|---|---|---|
| Maisha Ya Stunna[38] |
|
[17] |
Singles
| Year | Title | Album |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | "Stretchmarks Kwa Haga" | Non-album singles |
| 2022 | "Kishash" | |
| "Kinare" | ||
| "WANJAPI 2" | ||
| "Kumewaka (Remix)" | ||
| "Kanzu" | ||
| "Tonight - Remix" | ||
| "NAKAM SAII"[39] | ||
| "SHIKISHA" | ||
| "DANSKI (KE) Alert" | ||
| "Nothing I'm Doing" (with Kahush) | ||
| 2023 | "Saa Sita" (featuring YBW Smith and Danski) | Maisha Ya Stunna |
| "Cocoa Butter" (featuring Danski) | ||
| "Alert" | ||
| "Ma G Kwenye Klabu" (featuring Scar Mkadinali) | ||
| "Doba Imewai" (featuring Trio Mio) | ||
| "Fom after Fom" | ||
| "Company" (featuring NJERI) | ||
| "Sinzia" (featuring Caleb Awiti) | ||
| "Zoza" (featuring Buruklyn Boyz) | ||
| 2024 | "Lifeline" (featuring Spinx Mafia) | Maisha Ya Stunna |
Awards and nominations
| Year | Award | Category | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | TUKO.co.ke Entertainment Awards | Male Artiste of the Year | Won | [26] |
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Lil Maina is making history one song at a time". www.gq.co.za. Retrieved 2025-06-20.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Mahamba, Joy Anelisiwe (2022-03-17). "Lil Maina | the intentional one hit wonder - Bubblegum Club". Retrieved 2025-06-30.
- ↑ Osoro, William (2025-02-21). "Lil Maina Marks Grandpa's 2nd Anniversary with Nostalgic Video: "Long Live Babu" - Tuko.co.ke". www.tuko.co.ke. Retrieved 2025-09-04.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 kayiira, derrick (2025-02-21). ""Lil Maina Honors Late Grandfather Two Years On: A Tribute Through Music and Memories"". Gengetone Radio. Retrieved 2025-06-30.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 "Thank you for raising me – Lil Maina mourns grandfather". The Star. Retrieved 2025-06-20.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 "'It will never be the same without you,' Entertainer Lil Maina mourns grandfather". Citizen Digital. 2023-02-21. Retrieved 2025-06-20.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 "MSN". www.msn.com. Retrieved 2025-06-20.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 "Top 10 Arbantone Artists in Kenya Today". 2025-03-02. Retrieved 2025-06-24.
- ↑ "Lil Maina - NRG.RADIO". Retrieved 2025-06-30.[permanent dead link]
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 10.4 Ayuba, Haruna (2025-06-23). "Lil Maina Biography: Age, Girlfriend, Net Worth, Songs, Albums, Parents, Height, Career". TheCityCeleb. Retrieved 2025-07-07.
- ↑ Mahamba, Joy Anelisiwe (2022-03-17). "Lil Maina | the intentional one hit wonder - Bubblegum Club". Retrieved 2025-09-04.
- ↑ Mahamba, Joy Anelisiwe (2022-03-17). "Lil Maina | the intentional one hit wonder - Bubblegum Club". Retrieved 2025-06-24.
- ↑ Ozymandias (2023-08-25). "Lil Maina is in the US to be closer to his mother after the death of his grandfather". Ghafla! Kenya. Retrieved 2025-06-30.
- ↑ "Lil Maina says he doubted his latest banger 'Kishash', reveals future plans". Citizen Digital. 2022-01-23. Retrieved 2025-09-04.
- ↑ Gichovi, Murugi (2022-12-01). "Club Banger 'Kishash' By Lil Maina Ft Ndovu Kuu Is Kenya's Most Streamed Song Of 2022". The Sauce. Retrieved 2025-09-04.
- ↑ 16.0 16.1 16.2 16.3 "LIL MAINA Interview". Deeds Magazine. Retrieved 7 March 2025.
- ↑ 17.0 17.1 "Lil Maina Proves He's Here To Stay With Hard Hitting Debut Album". Tangaza Magazine. 2023-12-28. Retrieved 2025-06-20.
- ↑ 18.0 18.1 "Meet Kenya's Viral Sensation Lil Maina". OkayAfrica. Retrieved 7 March 2025.
- ↑ "Lil Maina to Wakadinali - Top streamed Kenyan songs of 2022 on Spotify". www.mpasho.co.ke. Retrieved 2025-06-22.
- ↑ "Top 10 most streamed Kenyan artists on Spotify in 2024 | Pulselive Kenya". www.pulselive.co.ke. Retrieved 2025-06-24.
- ↑ Nzomo, Brian (2024-12-05). "Spotify Reports 93% Growth in Local Consumption of Kenyan Music". The Kenyan Wall Street - Business, Markets News, Investing Data & AI Tools. Retrieved 2025-09-23.
- ↑ Adjavon·MUSICINTERVIEWS, Frederick (2024-05-16). "Lil Maina Is the Kenyan Rap Sensation Breaking All the Rules — iMullar". Retrieved 2025-06-20.
- ↑ Njugi, Frank (2024-01-13). "Album Review: Maisha Ya Stunna". WAKILISHA. Retrieved 2025-06-30.
- ↑ "Lil Maina Release Debut Album 'MAISHA YA STUNNA'". Hiphop Africa. 2023-12-15. Retrieved 2025-06-30.
- ↑ "LIL MAINA DROPS DEBUT ALBUM MAISHA YA STUNNA – Buzz Central". 2023-12-13. Retrieved 2025-06-30.
- ↑ 26.0 26.1 26.2 "TUKO.co.ke Entertainment Awards 2024 Winners". TUKO.co.ke. 2024. Retrieved 7 March 2025.
- ↑ 27.0 27.1 Samora, Mr (2023-12-13). "I'm Evolving-Lil Maina Drops Debut Album 'Maisha Ya Stunna'". KenyanVibe. Retrieved 2025-06-20.
- ↑ "'Kishash' sensation Lil Maina – Why I relocated to the US". Nairobi News. 2023-08-25. Retrieved 2025-06-24.
- ↑ Kenya, Soundcity (2022-02-10). "Lil Maina Quits Music After Achieving His Goal: 'My Song Is number 1'". Soundcity. Retrieved 2025-09-04.
- ↑ "Lil Maina Biography". Kelxfy. 5 December 2021. Retrieved 7 March 2025.
- ↑ 31.0 31.1 "EXCLUSIVE: Don't make music for TikTok trends – Lil Maina". Nairobi News. 2023-11-27. Retrieved 2025-06-24.
- ↑ 32.0 32.1 "Lil Maina Releases Debut Album 'Maisha Na Stunna' at 18 Years ⚜ Latest music news online". mdundo.com. Retrieved 2025-07-07.
- ↑ "Maisha Ya Stunna Album Review". Wakilisha. 13 January 2024. Retrieved 7 March 2025.
- ↑ Digital, K. B. C. (2023-12-13). "Lil Maina gears up to release debut album". KBC Digital. Retrieved 2025-06-24.
- ↑ "All about Lil Maina's debut album 'Maisha na Stunna'". www.mpasho.co.ke. Retrieved 2025-06-24.
- ↑ 36.0 36.1 "Lil Maina Reveals the Loss of Grandfather". Capital FM. 21 February 2023. Retrieved 7 March 2025.
- ↑ 37.0 37.1 GROUP, NTV KENYA-NATION MEDIA. "NTV Kenya: Musician Lil Maina mourns his TikTok-famous grandfather". NTV Kenya. Retrieved 2025-06-24.
- ↑ "Lil Maina Releases Debut Album 'Maisha Na Stunna' at 18 Years ⚜ Latest music news online". mdundo.com. Retrieved 2025-09-04.
- ↑ "MSN". www.msn.com. Retrieved 2025-07-07.
External links
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