Bien Aime Baraza
Kenyan musician Bien-Aimé Baraza, popularly known as Bien from Sauti Sol, has addressed the recent flood of collaborations featuring him.

He revealed that many of these songs were recorded years ago but are only now being released.

According to him, some artists are taking advantage of his growing solo career by putting out these older projects.

"Some of the songs featuring me that are coming out right now are songs that I did a while ago, some even two years ago," Bien shared.

"I recorded a lot of songs a long time ago, and a lot of the artists I worked with back then, when they realized my star was shining, are now releasing those songs. Some even do it without my approval, and then they just end up being hits."

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There has been speculation that Bien has been working non-stop, especially in 2024. However, he clarified that this is not the case.

He explained that most of the music people are enjoying now is from past recording sessions.

"I've been resting; I haven't been busy working as it seems," he said. "In fact, none of the songs you are listening to now is music that I have done recently; these are all songs that I have done two years or a year and a half ago and are being released now."

Bien Aime Barasa

Even though some of these releases have been made without his consent, Bien acknowledged that they have helped his career grow.

"It's just to say that it's compound interest; it's me putting in a lot of work over time, and I'm starting to see the fruits. All these releases are building towards a bigger me."

Here are some of his notable collaborations:

  • "My Baby" – A sweet and catchy song featuring Nigerian singer Ayra Starr, celebrating love and affection.
  • "Wahala" – A collaboration with Nigerian artist Adekunle Gold, focusing on life’s struggles and the strength to overcome them.
  • "Ma Cherie (Remix)" – A remix featuring Congolese music icon Fally Ipupa, blending Afro-pop with Lingala vibes.
  • "Dimension" – A song with Nigerian singer Lojay, exploring deep emotions and relationships.
  • "Inauma" – A powerful solo track where Bien expresses personal pain and growth.
  • "Mbwe Mbwe" – A collaboration with jazz pianist Aaron Rimbui, bringing together Afro-pop and jazz sounds.
  • "Nobody" – A song featuring Tanzanian rapper Darassa, adding a unique East African touch to his catalog.
Bien Aime Baraza

Bien's Recent Achievement

Last week, Bien was officially recognized as the most streamed Kenyan artist on Spotify, surpassing the rap trio Wakadinali, who had held the title in 2023.