THE BEGINNING

Some people may say that Chrispin Mwangale , better known to his musical fans as Big Pin may have had ‘home court advantage’ to justify his increasingly successful musical career.

The late E-Sir, the late K-Rupt and Big Pin are believed to have single-handedly given prominence to ‘South C’, a suburban area in Nairobi, in Kenya’s urban music circles. So proud were the youth in ‘South C’ about their hood that they created a clothing line (developed with catch phrases from their three musical idols, Matatus with their images and catch phrases etc.

MUSICALLY INSIPIRED

Born in 1984, a young Chrispin Mwangale lived the normal everyday life like any other child of his age in primary school. He later joined St. Christopher’s’ Secondary School, Nairobi for his higher education. It was here that his interest in music intensified, especially while serving as the school rugby cheerleader.

GRAND ENTRY

With increasing charm, lyrical prowess, stage presence and personality, he was soon scouted by the Ogopa Deejays who saw his potential as a Solo Artiste.

This earned Big Pin a spot on the compilation album ‘Ogopa 2- Strictly For The Hanyee In You’.It was in this album that Big Pin released his first solo track, titled ‘Big Pin’. This Club and Radio heavy anthem boosted Big Pin’s status as an artiste to reckon with in the competitive Kenya Music Industry.

This song was so big that, in spite of a huge break between this track and his second solo release, during which time Kenyans witnessed the release of E-Sir and Nameless’s album, both of which he featured in, Big Pin went on to command a place in a number of concerts both in Kenya and the  East African region.

The song ‘Big Pin’ enjoyed such a success in the Charts, Dancehalls, Radio, T.V and Commercially that that it was recently used as a ‘soundtrack’ in the brand, ‘Trust’, TV Commercial.

THE BEAST FROM THE EAST BEGINS HIS REIGN

Big Pin has also featured in one of Kenya’s Celebrity Superstar, ‘Nameless’s Album, ‘On Fire’, a strong heavy Club and Radio friendly single, ‘Wailai’, and the Hit took this album to great heights.

In 2004, Big Pin was nominated ‘Best Male Artist’ in both Kisima and Chaguo la Teeniez Awards, this clearly was an indication of better things to come.

Big Pin’s continued prominence in the industry further propelled Ogopa Deejays to yet again offer him a spot, and this time they made it a good double appearance, on Ogopa Deejays third compilation album ‘Ogopa 3-Kenyan Club Classics’ and guest appearance on the album’s lead single ‘Talk To You’ in which he featured with new comer Patonee and Diva Amani, and also recorded his second solo track ‘Natafuta’.

‘Talk To You’ topped several Radio and TV charts, and continues to enjoy heavy rotation on Radio and TV. The captivating video, featuring beauty pageant,  Miss Pinky Ghelani, a celebrity Model and Radio Presenter with Capital FM.

In 2004, the track was voted number 4 by The Beat, Kenya’s most popular, critically acclaimed and Award winning TV Musical that is broadcast on Nation TV, Nairobi. ‘Natafuta’ received heavy rotation both on Radio and TV, and this inspired Big Pin to charter the continent. With the sweat barely dry from his Kisima Awards nomination, he submitted his ‘Natafuta’ song and video to the KORA Awards committee in South Africa. 

As they say,” every dog has its day”. Well, ‘good dogs’ seem to have two, because, in December 2004, Big Pin won the KORA Award for “Best Male Artiste in East Africa” for the song ‘Natafuta’! As fate would have it, unfortunately he could not attend the ceremony, which proved costly, as he missed out on the prize money to the tune of $5000/Kshs 400,000. This was because he was attending his father’s funeral on the very same day the presentations were being handed out.

He has performed throughout Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and has also performed in Rwanda, in a concert dubbed, Intambwe one of the biggest Shows in Rwanda.

In South Africa, Big Pin appeared in the Media Launch of the 9^th Kora Awards and recently came back from a three week tour of the Netherlands performing in Festival Mundial.

The self proclaimed ‘Beast from the East’ has most recently featured in Kleptomaniax’s debut album ‘M4E’ on the industry reality driven single 'Sichimbiki’ He then released another single which is a mixture of traditional and Hip Hop fusion mix never done before called ‘Terra Moss’ a heavy club banger with the best choreographed dance moves by the famed ‘Sarakasi Dancers’.

Barely a month after his last release, another ‘Hit’ was out in the market. ‘Benteba’ which is currently top of the charts on top Radio and T.V play lists enjoying extensive Airplay.

As Big Pin sings in two of his songs “Let Me Pumzika…”, “Breath In Breath Out…”, take his advice and take a breather……..because Big Pin is set to go places with the upcoming album that he is currently recording. Yes, he is currently recording so keep your ears and eyes open as we await another ‘Mega’ release from the Big Man.