Kenyan rapper, singer and producer tg.blk has been selected as Spotify’s EQUAL Africa artist for July, the latest recognition for an independent musician who has become one of East Africa’s leading voices in alternative hip-hop.
The Mombasa-born artist, whose real name is Nyathigi Gatere, joins Spotify’s initiative spotlighting women musicians across Africa, a programme designed to expand their visibility and connect them with audiences beyond their home markets.
tg.blk began producing music independently in her bedroom using GarageBand before honing her songwriting and production skills while studying in the United States. She returned to Kenya and built a following through self-produced releases that blend rap, lo-fi production, R&B and soul.
Her breakthrough came with the 2021 single Love Being Used, which amassed millions of streams and introduced her emotionally driven, introspective style to a wider audience. She has since expanded her catalogue with projects including the 2024 EP ITS NOT THAT DEEP and songs such as gin and wine, cementing her reputation as one of Kenya’s emerging alternative artists.
“tg.blk represents the fresh, daring and authentic spirit that is propelling the East African alternative music scene forward,” said 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.”
For tg.blk, the recognition validates a career largely built outside the traditional music industry.
“Being part of the EQUAL programme means so much to me because I built so much of my journey online, and I often feel disconnected from opportunities like this,” she said. “It’s incredibly affirming, and I can’t wait to see what’s next.”
She also encouraged more women to pursue music, saying the digital era has reshaped opportunities for female artists.
“Now is the time for women musicians. The power is in your hands, and people want to hear from you. The internet has opened up so many opportunities for us,” she said.
In an interview released alongside the announcement, tg.blk described her music as “a blend of rap, R&B and soul” characterised by textured production and vocal experimentation. She cited Zimbabwean music icon Oliver Mtukudzi, Kenyan benga legend Joseph Kamaru, South African singer Brenda Fassie and Kenya’s Ogopa Deejays as among the artists who shaped her musical tastes growing up.
Spotify’s EQUAL programme forms part of the streaming platform’s broader effort to improve representation of women in the music industry through editorial support, marketing campaigns and international exposure.