Rap Superstar Ish Kevin of Rwanda Silences His Critics With His New Single, “Chat Chat”
Rwandan rap prodigy Ish Kevin just revealed that his new track, “Chat Chat,” will be released this Friday, November 21, 2025, following his nomination for Best East African talent at the Unkut Hip Hop Awards.
Ghanaian beatsmith Kwame Agger, who is well-known for producing outlier Hip Hop music for industry heavyweights like Ghana’s BET-nominated Black Sheriff, contributes bounce, melody, and edge to Ish’s most recent release. This is what has long set Ghanaian Drill apart from other regions of the world. Kwame and Ish, who combine the styles of Drill and Hip Hop from East and Western Africa, have a natural chemistry and produce a record that will inspire a lot of people.
The music serves as the ideal backdrop for Ish Kevin’s chilling vocal inflections to float on the album and release his buoyant message. It is laid out with an underlying and unmistakable guitar riff, rustling hi-hat percussion, and a slight kick that nonetheless packs a deadly punch.
“Chat Chat” originated from genuine feelings and pressure. There were a lot of people talking and making noise around me, but no one was keeping up with the work. The hook came easily to me as soon as I heard the music, which had that unadulterated, street bounce. The lyrics are based on real-life experiences, such as the grind, hate, and remarks made by others when you’re rising. I simply created music out of that energy.
Setting the tone, Ish delivers this album following a string of victories, including his most recent nomination at the Unkut Hip Hop Awards in Kenya. With his most recent album, which features Kenyan sensation Njerae, he also continues a successful run of music releases.
He describes going back to his street-charged corner of music, which he has long been connected with, saying, “It feels good, it feels natural.”
“Best Friend” revealed a new side of myself and was a smoother, lady-focused record. However, my music was shaped by the streets. “Chat Chat” is a return to that unadulterated energy: self-assurance, hunger, and perseverance. He says, “Switching back reminds people of my roots and my versatility. I can give you emotion, but I can also come back with that hard street pressure any time.”
Concerning Ish Kevin
Ish Kevin (born 1997), whose true name is Semana Kevin, is a Rwandan rapper, songwriter, and businessman who has become a major player in the current hip-hop and drill scenes in East Africa. He is the creator of Trappish Music, a label and movement that supports a new wave of Rwandan musicians who combine multilingual lyrics in Kinyarwanda, English, French, and Swahili with trap, drill, and traditional sounds.
Ish Kevin, who was once linked to the Kinyatrap movement, carved out a niche for himself with Trappish Music, focusing on themes of celebration, youth empowerment, and aspiration rather than the grim street stories of his forebears. Both the energetic song “No Cap” and his breakthrough single “Amakosi” (2021) had over a million views, with the latter being named one of the “7 Hard Drill Tracks from Around the World” by GRM Daily.
Ish Kevin’s highly regarded album BST (Blood, Sweat & Tears) was published in 2023. It combined traditional Rwandan elements, such as samples of Kwivuga singing and the Inanga instrument, with contemporary drill. He released the reflective EP Semana the next year, which examined musical aspirations and personal development. His 2025 hit “Africa Rise,” which honors solidarity, resiliency, and cultural pride, further cemented his standing as a pan-African voice.
Ish Kevin continues to influence Rwanda’s hip-hop scene with his music, partnerships, and mentoring of up-and-coming musicians. In 2021, The Native named him one of Africa’s top 12 rappers.
Ish Kevin formally signed with Universal Music Kenya (UMG Kenya), a significant regional label within the Universal Music Group, as of July 2025. On that day, he released his first single with them, “Gutsinda II,” which is distributed by Universal Music Kenya Limited.
