Kibaki re-emerges with 'New Money' after spiritual reset

Grants Pen-bred entertainer Kibaki is back in the public ear with a fresh release titled 'New Money', a track he says is meant to push listeners toward honest hustle.

"This song really is to motivate people to work hard and smart because people really love money next to God. A man will get up and don't even pray, but a wonder weh the next money a come from. So mi just a encourage the youths dem to go for it, but stay within the law," Kibaki said.

The deejay first stepped into a recording booth in 1999 and, by 2002, had walked away from professional club football to chase music full time. He notched a modest hit in 2010 with 'Jah Jah Never Fail I Yet', produced by the well-known Daseca team, and put out several other tracks before easing out of the spotlight. Kibaki insists, however, that he never actually stopped working, quietly cutting singles during the quiet period.

Part of that retreat, he says, was deliberate. He used the time to focus on himself and what he calls a spiritual journey.

"I needed to heal from certain things and healing starts within the soul. I was fighting a spiritual warfare and I am not talking about obeah and those things. I was just doing a lot of soul searching," he said.

The artiste added that some of the people in his corner had been working against him while pretending otherwise. "There were people around me that was fighting me out but laughing in my face, so I just had to go in myself and ask the Almighty to send a team for me because that was what I needed. I have the talent and experience so all I needed was consistency," he said.

He gave an example of the kind of internal politics he felt he was up against. "For example you are the part of the team that I voice for, but you have a bigger voice than me as an artiste as well. So you want to intervene. That was what was reaching me," he said.

Kibaki believes the page has now turned, crediting a new arrangement with Sophia B Records as the answer to his prayers and the foundation for what he hopes will be a stronger run musically. "I just wanted a team to find me and one has found me and I am very grateful," he said.

He told THE STAR that even when the bookings dried up, he was able to stay on his feet thanks to the people closest to him. "I have never done a 9-5 and I am grateful I am around people like my babymother, and I have good friends who will assist financially and sometimes I don't have to ask. When people know and value you, them nago want to see you do a 9-5, them ago more motivate you to continue your journey. I am not lazy but my 9-5 was playing football so after that I decided to live off my talent because I am multitalented. Whatever I touch turns gold, so If I was doing track and field, probably I would have been the first Usain Bolt," he said.