Nahreel
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1989 (age 36–37)
Nahreel | |
|---|---|
| Born | Emmanuel Mkono 1989 (age 36–37) Dar es Salaam, Tanzania |
| Origin | Mara |
| Genres | Trip hop, dancehall, R&B, Afrobeat, Hip hop |
| Occupations | Rapper, singer, songwriter, record producer, entrepreneur |
| Years active | 2008–present |
| Label | The Industry Studios |
| Member of | NAVY KENZO |
Partner | Aika Marealle |
Emmanuel Mkono (born 12 December 1989 in Dar es Salaam), known by his stage name Nahreel, is a Tanzanian Afro beats / Dancehall recording artist and record producer.
He is the founder and current CEO of The Industry Studios. Nahreel is a co-founder and member of the music group Navy Kenzo. He has produced albums for and overseen the careers of many rappers and singers, including Vanessa Mdee, Joh Makini, Diamond Platnumz, Nikki wa pili, Navy Kenzo, Izzo Biznes, Gnako, K.O, Roma Shrekeezy.,[1] He is credited as a key figure in the popularization of English rap in Tanzania.
Nahreel places his interest in music at the age of 14 when his father bought him a piano and a teacher to tutor him on how to play.[2] He officially began his career in music as an assistant music producer at Kama Kawa records in Dar es Salaam. He worked there for a period of two years before leaving to India to further his studies at Punjab College. His Riz One instrumental for Izzo Bizness, released under MJ Records, led the rapper Izzo Bizness to become one of the best-selling Tanzanian performing artists of 2009. The instrumental also led Nahreel to receive nominations for major awards and to meet the son of the President of the Republic of Tanzania, Ridhiwani Kikwete.[3] He was still in India at this time but the demand for his instrumentals was high back in Tanzania as many hip-hop artists were interested in working with him.[4][5][6]
In 2011, he completed his education in India and came back to Tanzania. He produced a couple of singles before joining a couple of his friends to form the music group Pah One.[7]
The Industry
In August 2014, Nahreel opened his own company called The Industry. The Industry comprises The Industry studios (label, public relations, management) and the Industry School Of Music where he is able to establish all his years work in one. The Industry has since then worked upon many major projects with different companies and artists. The Industry label manages two artists including Wildad and rapper, Rosa Ree.
Navy Kenzo
After the break up of Pah One, Nahreel together with Aika (his long time girlfriend) formed a group called Navy Kenzo[8] which became popular with their third single Chelewa[9] and managed to be a hit in Tanzania. They also managed to make other hits like Kamatia Chini, Game (ft Vanessa Mdee), feel good (ft Wildad), Lini (ft Alikiba), Morning (is the first track in their 2016 first ever album 'AIM-Above in a Minute') and Bajaj (ft Patoranking) katika (ft Diamond platinumz). The group managed to produce their first ever album 'ABOVE IN A MINUTE (AIM) featuring big names in Africa such as Patoranking, Alikiba and Vanessa Mdee.
List of awards received by Navy Kenzo
WatsUp TV Africa Music Video Awards
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Kamatia | Best Raggae Dancehall Video | Nominated | [10] |
| Best East African Video | Nominated | [11] | ||
| Best Group/Duo Video | Won | [12] |