Chrispin Mwangale , better known professionally as Big Pin – Jatelo, Beast from the East, Luo Rap King -, is one of the pioneers and arguably the biggest revolutionizer of the Urban Hip Hop and Kapuka sounds in Kenya. This style of music changed the whole music industry in Kenya completely. The effect was so big to the extent that it lead to a big revolutionization of radio play and television entertainment. The effect was carried to the digital era and saw the mass migration of music lovers from western music genres to local music.
Starting of as a poem writer and using beats from other artists for melodies, music wasn’t on his mind till the time he first met the late E-sir and the late K-rupt who introduced him to music. The knowledge and love of poetry played a very important role in his incredible career. As a group – Big Pin , E-sir and K-rupt – decided to follow an advice of one of theirs friend after he heard them freestyling on the “Whoa song by Black Rob“. They embarked on a journey of finding recording services of different producers. At one of the studios, they recorded only a demo for E-sir‘s song “Jo” which he featured Big Pin, when they went back to finish up the recording process, the studio had been shifted and the producer was nowhere to be found. But this outcome did not break their hearts but instead gassed them up. Through research and interacting with different music lovers, they came to learn of Ogopa deejays which at that time they where the hottest production powerhouse.
They wanted to do music as a group (The Pirates) but it was Lucas -Ogopa deejays producer – who saw their full potential as individual artists. E-sir recorded “Jo” as planned and he featured Big Pin, after its release “Jo” became an anthem and propelled both E-sir and Big Pin to stardom.
As a solo artist Big Pin was part of the second Ogopa compilation album with his song “Big Pin” which was a lead single of that project. To many this was the genesis of Big Pin as an artist for he went to release massive hits. In 2003 March, a tragedy happened when E-sir passed on, this left Big Pin devastated as he looked up to him as a mentor and a brother. Later that year, K-rupt passed and this was just like adding salt to the wound that Big Pin had. In shock of loosing his friends, Big Pin did not release or record any songs till 2004 when he decided to comeback and continue the legacy of E-sir.
As per expectations of many, Big Pin did not disappoint and it was bangers upon bangers, collaborations upon
collaborations, videos upon videos and tours upon tours both in Kenya and outside Kenya. Through these tours, Big Pin was exposed to different sides of music especially the corporate side. In 2012 after achieving all that is there to be achieved in music and cementing himself as one of the Kenyan music greats, Big Pin decided to take a break away from music and focus more in his venture – corporate business.
In 2020 – during COVID 19 pandemic and the lockdown -, there was not much Big Pin could do, he decide to go back to studio. This was a much awaited comeback as he released an Ep titled Pino which had 6 songs and featured Naiboi, Iggy and Silverstone Barz. The Ep received mixed reactions but to the Kenyan music fans and to Big Pin‘s fans this was an important comeback as he proved to many that he is still the Luo rap King. The Ep is now available across all digital streaming platforms.
As part of telling his success story, Big Pin launched a podcast called Big Pin‘s Radius. The aim of the podcast is to tell the Kenyan music story and mostly the stories behind the success of Big Pin and the rise of kapuka as a genre of music. During and interview on Baze Radio, Big Pin confirmed that he is back in music and more singles are on the way as build up to his debut album. Now he has a new single out “Worldclass featuring the Only Rosa”.