Hardstone

Hardstone (real name Mbaruku Harrison Ngunjiri Maina) was born on August 17, 1977. His music is a mixture of ragga, reggae and hip-hop. He sings in English, Swahili and Kikuyu languages. He is a pioneer urban style artist in Kenya and topped the Kenyan music scene for a while in the late 90's.

He emerged in 1997 with popular hit 'Uhiki' and an album named 'Nuting but de Stone', produced by Tedd Josiah of Sync Sound Studios and released internationally by German-based Kelele Records. Guest artists on the album were Fiona Mungai (of Shadz O'blak) and Eric Wainaina. The album contained two versions of the 'Uhiki' hit his, original and DJ Pinye's remix. The latter version contains samples of Sexual Healing by Marvin Gaye. At the 1997 Kisima Music Awards, Hardstone won the 'Best new artist of the year' category.

He recorded a second album known as 'Ziwe Nkulu', but it was left unreleased while he moved to the United States in 1998. He left Kenya to enhance his career, In 2003 he released another album 'Hardstory'. The song 'Uhiki' (Pinye's remix) was also on 'African Groove' compilation released by Putumayo World Music in 2003.

In 2008, he recorded Stone Republic 12 tracks on Vigintillion Records. Featuring the music of Hardstone, the Godfather of Kenyan Hip Hop, with producers include Edward 'Eddie Hands' Rollins, and Paul 'Arkitekt' Himmel.

In 2010, Hardstone created Stone Island Entertainment, an Independent Record Label. His new album project, 'Stone Island' was launched in 2010. It preceded his scheduled world tour returning to his homeland of Kenya to perform then Denmark and London. On 9 March 2015, Hardstone landed a recording deal with Atlantic Records, making him the first East African to sign for the label.