Kenyan rapper, singer, and producer Nyathigi Gatere, widely known as tg.blk, has been announced as Spotify’s EQUAL Africa artist for July. Hailing from the coastal city of Mombasa, tg.blk has emerged as one of Kenya’s most distinctive voices in alternative hip-hop, recognised for her approach to music-making and a sound that blends raw emotion with creative independence.
Her musical journey began in the solitude of her bedroom, where she experimented with rapping and producing beats using GarageBand. While studying in the United States, she continued to refine her production and songwriting before returning to Kenya, where she has become an influential voice within the country’s growing alternative hip-hop scene.
Since the release of her breakout single Love Being Used in 2021, which captured the attention of listeners across the region and amassed millions of streams, tg.blk has continued to evolve her sound while remaining true to her independent creative vision.
Following the success of her 2024 EP ITS NOT THAT DEEP and tracks such as gin and wine, she continues to push the boundaries of alternative hip-hop, blending rap, lo-fi production, R&B, and soul into a sound that is uniquely her own. Her music explores themes of identity, authenticity, and self-expression, offering an honest reflection of contemporary youth experiences.
Spotify’s EQUAL Africa programme celebrates women artists who are shaping the future of African music by amplifying their voices and connecting them with new audiences across the continent and beyond. Through her creativity, technical independence, and artistic perspective, tg.blk embodies the spirit of a new generation of African women redefining the music landscape on their own terms.
“tg.blk represents the fresh, daring, and authentic spirit that is propelling the East African alternative music scene forward,” says Phiona Okumu, Spotify’s Head of Music for Sub-Saharan Africa. “Through the EQUAL programme, we are proud to celebrate her unique artistic perspective, her technical independence as a producer and her inspiring commitment to vulnerability.”
