Celebrated Rwandese rap star, songwriter and producer Ish Kevin has announced his first single under Universal Music Group East Africa. The record dubbed “Best Friend” sees a collaboration with one of Kenya’s fast-rising vocal female powerhouses , Njerae. Ish Kevin , one of the leading voices in East Africa’s rapscape has shared his elation at signing with Universal terming it a “groundbreaking moment for Rwanda’s rap and music scene”. The release comes hot on the heels of UMG EA unveiling him as the latest act to join their robust roster which also includes Njerae.
On the record, the two mull over a toxic relationship. Ish , who is known for his tough persona and carrying a profile of a rapper that does not speak about love enough upholds that quality on the record. In contrast, Njerae has conjured a career for singing soulful melodies with heartfelt messages that orbit around relationships. Ish gloats about having success, ruminates about the perks his talent affords him with ladies, among other interesting touchpoints such as his vulnerability to open up about how his lifestyle does not allow him to be in a committed relationship.
On the other hand, Njerae emphasizes about how much she is a lover-girl and would prefer a faithful and monogamous relationship albeit she keeps getting men that want the opposite. The record is a testament to amazing songwriting and the depths of relationships in today’s world.
“Music is about connection. The link up happened naturally through respect for each other’s craft, and when we got in the vibe, the song just created itself” Ish mentioned.
The song is produced by his longtime collaborator Valentine Sparks from Trappish Music.
“The inspiration came from the emotions you go through in a toxic relationship where love and pain are mixed together. It’s about those moments when you know something isn’t good for you, but your heart still holds on. We wanted to capture that honesty in the music so anyone who’s been through it can feel understood” Ish continues.
Ish Kevin (born 1997), also known as Semana Kevin( His real Name), is a Rwandan rapper, songwriter, and entrepreneur who has emerged as a leading figure in East Africa’s contemporary hip-hop and drill scenes. He is the founder of Trappish Music, a label and movement that champions a new generation of Rwandan artists blending trap, drill, and traditional sounds with multilingual lyricism in Kinyarwanda, English, French, and Swahili.
Initially associated with the Kinyatrap movement, Ish Kevin later established his own path with Trappish Music, emphasizing themes of ambition, youth empowerment, and celebration over the gritty street narratives of his predecessors. His breakout single “Amakosi” (2021) and the high-energy track “No Cap” both garnered over a million views, with the latter earning recognition from GRM Daily as one of the “7 Hard Drill Tracks from Around the World.
In 2023, Ish Kevin released his acclaimed album BST (Blood, Sweat & Tears), which fused modern drill with traditional Rwandan elements, including samples of Kwivuga vocals and the Inanga instrument. The following year, he dropped the introspective EP Semana, which explored personal growth and artistic ambition. His 2025 single “Africa Rise” further solidified his reputation as a pan-African voice, celebrating unity, resilience, and cultural pride.
Recognized by The Native as one of Africa’s top 12 rappers in 2021, Ish Kevin continues to shape Rwanda’s hip- hop landscape through his music, collaborations, and mentorship of emerging artists.
As of July , 2025, Ish Kevin has officially signed with Universal Music Kenya (UMG Kenya) a major regional label under Universal Music Group. His debut single with them, “Gutsinda II”, was released on that date and is distributed by Universal Music Kenya Limited.