Cr3w Teflon: The Roots, Journey, and Legacy
Way before highrise buildings dotted the Kilimani skyline, “wash wash” syndicates hit the headlines, and the term “Kilimani Rap” was coined; there was Cr3w Teflon.
Cr3w Teflon was a music group hailing from Nairobi’s Kilimani neighborhood.
The group initially consisted of four members, namely Timmy Tim (Soulkiid), Ben Vic (BV Accurate), Kavi, and Bior (BG Ace). Later on, 15-year-old Jason “JK” Kalinga joined the group. At the time, Cr3w Teflon was a force to reckon with in the local urban music scene.
Cr3w Teflon: The Genesis
In 2011, they released “Kilimani’s Barz,” whose visuals were shot atop the KICC with a view overlooking Nairobi. The sound was fresh, and the zeal and hunger were evident in the teenagers’ voices, with BV and Timmy Tim going bar for bar.
Kavi and Bior made cameos on the video.
In 2012, they released their first EP, True Story. The lead single, “Childen’s Anthem” (released under Globesolutely), was part of the Universal Children’s Day campaign.
Island Def Jam Records in New York originally published the song. It was popular in the US midwest, streamed in 118 countries, and featured as an OST in a UN documentary. Additionally, the Library of Congress featured some songs from the EP.
Vevo is a video hosting service best known for providing music videos to YouTube.
The Emergence of TSU
Their second project saw the light of day in 2014. Interestingly, the mixtape, The Switch Up (TSU), was not only a lyrical exercise that showcased tremendous growth but also the name of a collective of artists featured in the project.
From the energetic “Mic Checker” to the laidback “Throwback,” the tape was a breath of fresh air. TSU comprised Ben Vic, Timmy Tim, BG Ace, and JK (RIP), who made up Cr3w Teflon, Young Rome, Dope I Mean, Twenny Eights, Dora, IBN Cash, and Loel.
Despite their success, Cr3w Teflon showed no signs of slowing down.
Kavi Leaves for Europe
Circa 2015, Cr3w Teflon split up. However, BV, Timmy Tim, and Bior continued to put out new music, collaborating on their respective projects.
On the other hand, Kavi who now goes by her Government name Kavinya, left to study music in Europe. She is based in Italy and has joined the opera and a band. As a talented musician, she often tours the country, sharing her music with audiences.
BV Accurate and Timmy Tim Solo Projects
In November 2015, BV Accurate dropped Days Before Departure EP, which spawned the fan favorite “To the Good Life,” featuring Scar Mkadinali. Produced by Aress 66, the track received massive airplay on Capital FM’s show Hits Not Homework.
Three months later, in February 2016, Timmy joined TwennyEights (remember TSU?) and dropped “The Run.” This single was off TNT Volume 1.
Despite this shift, Timmy (now Timmy Blanco, one-half of TNT) and BV Accurate continued releasing music on SoundCloud.
They often appeared as guests on Corine Onyango’s show, The Jump Off on Homeboyz Radio, coinciding with new music releases. It was not until 2018 that TNT gained a new set of fans after featuring on Khali Kartel 2, and they did not disappoint.
To date, BV Accurate has released six solo projects. 3/3, Days Before Departure, Loving You EP, Pathways to the Heart, God is the Greatest, and Usizime Debe.
Timmy and TNT have released some projects such as 2 Birds 1 Phone, Rich Before Rap, QBE vs Everybody Too, and singles “Pray” and “Cold World,” to name a few.
Bior left for Malaysia and briefly returned to South Sudan during the civil war in 2016.
Where Are They Now?
Timmy Blanco is arguably one of the dopest emcees as part of TNT. BV Accurate also holds his own and is the preferred premier MC, often seen hosting club events and shows.
Kavi is in Europe doing music. As for BG Ace, it is safe to say he is no longer in the music space and followed a different path.
Legacy
Starting their music careers as teenagers, Cr3w Teflon crafted a new sound that has influenced a new urban genre and crop of artists. “Kilimani rap” and “Kilimani rappers” are all a testament to the group.
Some notable Kilimani rappers include Sabi Wu, Korb$, An21 KE, Kahu$h, and Ouma Wa Mafegi just to name a few.
Follow @BvAccurate and @TimmyBlanco on their social media pages. All the music in this thread is available on Cr3w Teflon’s SoundCloud and YouTube. Links below;
Stay tuned to Doba KE for more news, music, lyrics, and updates. Remember to follow us on our social media channels.
