Rwandan rapper 1Key releases new album Ki

The artist said he took the approach to get a feel for how his fans consume his music. On Ki, his sixth project, 1Key delivers smart, impactful lyrics that have earned him many fans around the world.

“‘Ki’ is the energy driving this self-portrait album created in about three weeks,” he said. “Every story, every song, every line is an invitation into my internals.”

On why he chose to name the album with one syllable, 1Key said: “The first time I came across this word, I was playing scrabble online. My opponent made a lot of good points with it, spelled with a ‘Q’. Then I looked it up and there was a variant that sounded and meant exactly the same thing: vapour, air or breath. The word ‘qi’ is often translated as vital energy, vital force, material energy, or simply as energy. Qi or Ki is the central underlying principle in Chinese traditional medicine and martial arts.”

The project was produced, mixed and mastered by Dr Nganji, a Rwandan producer and label executive who has described 1Key as “one of the best hip hop poets we have out there. He’s got bars, flow, substance and storytelling. I just had to understand how to fuse all that and make the sound cohesive through the 12 tracks.”

Rwandan artist Dawidi played the sax and provided additional vocals, while Banza Dolph designed the album cover.

1Key is a poet, musician and actor whose career has taken him around the world and connected him with big names in the music business. He has worked with American artist Saul Williams on Neptune Frost, a film that premiered at the 2021 Cannes Festival. He has also been featured on American spoken word artist J. Ivy’s 2020 album Catching Dreams and has collaborated with Rwandan-French singer Gaël Faye.

He is a product of the independent artist spirit, charting out his path despite the challenges that come with it. “Being an independent artist comes with a sense of fulfilment for sure. The downside is financing one’s dream, but we must replace fear with hope. I hope our fans can support the process and help us to create more and better,” he said.

In support of the new release, 1Key will embark on the Ki East African Tour, starting in Kigali on 2 July. Ki is out on Rwandan label Green Ferry Music.