TAY GRIN

MUSIC
Tay Grins music targets the youth urging them to take pride in their
nation and culture. To take responsibility, utilize their God given
talents and find value in contributing to a positive and brighter
future. Whilst emphasizing the need to eradicate negativity and low
self-esteem.
Each step, each decision, each enterprise must be a positive one
and one that will enable and empower at least one other person. In
the words of legendary edutainment guru KRS-One each one
must teach one. Entertainment merged with education is a
medium for speaking to the youth in a language they are most
comfortable with, without feeling preached to or lectured at.
Honing his rap skills since his teens, Tay has been influenced by
legendary rappers like Jay-z, KRS 1, B.I.G and Tupac. To find his
individual and distinctive rap voice however, Tay looked inwards at
his African soul and found that the roots of his African heritage and
Malawian culture gave him his true and unique style that
complemented the original American hip-hop template.
A chance meeting with Onree Gill, Alicia Keys manager, in 2005 on a
Chicago-Atlanta flight confirmed that he had a hip-hop destiny. This
was further emphasized in a brief meet with Craig a multi- platinum
producer for the likes of Kanye West in Chicago at the Hinge
Studios. On return to Malawi, Tay poured his energy into his first
ever track and scored a number-one hit with Break-Out. The track
was an underground and club hit, gearing the public up in
expectation of an album. But not one to take things lightly, Tay
spent the next 18 months in the lab creating a unique sound; a
fusion of cultural music and hip hop. The highly anticipated debut
album Proudly African was launched on May 3, 2008 at the Ethel
Mutharika Memorial Music Festival.

YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHUjW4Wb8At8RD3jaGX3unA/videos

Proudly African Album

Proudly African features 12 tracks (incl.
the hit singles Nyau music Featuring
MTV AWARD winning artist Nameless
from Kenya, 2 by 2, Kaliche featuring
Kmillian of Zambia and Stand Up.
The album was engineered & mastered
by internationally recognized premier
producer Tapuwa Bandawe.

CAREER
Tay has performed at several high profile events including the New State
house (2007) and twice on the hit show Big Brother Africa (2007/2008).
Tay became the first and only Malawian to perform live for over a million
viewers across Africa on this show. Due to his outstanding work over the past
few years Tay was selected to represent the SADC Region on a live Channel O
show for Africa Day on May 23, 2008. Furthermore, Tay Grin was chosen as
the Coca-cola brand ambassador for a promotion campaign in Malawi in
2008.
Still in the year 2008, Tay Grin was selected as one of the few African
musicians to re- record a song titled young gifted and black originally
composed by Nina Simone, which is currently used as Channel O theme song.
The song included legendary musicians such as Hugh Masekela and Yvonne
Chaka Chaka.
Tay Grin was chosen by UNICEF to be the face of their malaria campaign in
Malawi.
At the end of 2009 the British Council asked Tay Grin, as one of Malawis wellknown public figure, to speak on climate change to the youth of Malawi.
Tays first single Stand Up a wholly Malawian produced song and video, first
aired on Channel O in March 2007 and has not stopped playing since. Tays
conscious and positive music is popular both in Malawi and abroad. He has
already gained respect and recognition as clearly evidenced by his Channel O
Spirit of Africa nominations for Stand Up.
In 2012 Young People In International Affairs (YPIA) selected Limbani Tay
Grin Kalilani as one of Africans top 35 under the age of 35 making an impact
in their respective countries, on the continent and in the wider world.
Tay was named among the top 100 Most Influential Personalities in the World,
positioned on number 88 by UKs C.Hub Magazine in January 2015.

Awards & Nominations

Tay Grins Channel O music award nominations make him the first Malawian
Musician to ever receive nominations for the Channel O Spirit of Africa Music
awards.

The music video for stand up received the following nominations:

Best Male (Channel O Awards: 2007)

Best Southern African Video (Channel O Awards: 2007)

Best Hip-Hop Video (Channel O Awards: 2007)

The music video for 2by2 received the following nominations:

Best Southern African Video (Channel O Awards: 2008)

The music video for Moto received the following nominations:

Best Southern African Video (Channel O Awards: 2009)

Best Male (Channel O Awards: 2009)

The music video for My Type of Guy featuring Gal level (Namibia) and Buffalo
Souljah (Zimbabwe) received the following nominations

Best Duo or Group (Winners Channel O Awards: 2009)

This award makes Tay Grin the first and only Malawian artist to win an
international music award.
The music video for The Beach received the following nominations and awards:

Best Video (BEFFTA 2014, UK)

Best International African ACT (Winner of BEFFTA 2014, UK)

Best Hip Hop Artist Malawi 2014 (Winner of the Best Hip Hop award)

International Collaborations
Sway (UK)
Brick & Lace (Jamaica)
Naeto C (Nigeria)
Ice Prince (Nigeria)
2face (Nigeria)
Wahu (Kenya)
Nameless (Kenya)
Double HP (South Africa)
Lira (South Africa)
Buffalo Souljah (Zimbabwe)
Gal Level (Namibia)
Scar (Botswana)
Petersen (Zambia)
Kmillian (Zambia)
Vee (Botswana)
Stagga (Botswana)
Hamoba (Zambia)
Slap Dee (Zambia)
DA Les and Ishmael (south africa)
Orezi (Nigeria

SOCIALSOCIAL
MEDIA STATS
@taygrin
8189 Followers

TayGrin
196 subscribers

@Tay_Grin
10.4k Followers

Tay Grin Official

19,983 Followers

MANAGEMENT CONTACT

Black Rhyno Entertainment

Contact: Email lp.kalilani@gmail.com
Tel: +265 (0) 999952882