After months of intensive mentorship, songwriting and recording, the six Base to Billboardz (B2B) artists made their long-awaited public debut on Friday at Nairobi’s K1 Klub House, unveiling original music for the first time since the program kicked off in February.
The B2B Jam Session gave fans an exclusive preview of the original music created by the six artists, Muringi Matheri, Manasseh Shalom, Zawadi, Chris Barr, Njuguna and Ras Amor, while offering a glimpse into their growth ahead of their album launch as a collective later in August.
The intimate showcase attracted an enthusiastic audience of music lovers, industry stakeholders and fans, who filled the venue and created an electric atmosphere throughout the evening. Cheers, singalongs and resounding applause followed each performance, reflecting the strong reception to the artists’ original music and building excitement for the upcoming collective album launch
Commenting on the performance, Brigid Wambua, Senior Brand Manager for Tusker at Kenya Breweries Limited (KBL), noted:
“These artists have challenged themselves creatively, refined their craft and gained the practical skills needed to build sustainable careers. Seeing them perform their own music before a live audience is a powerful reminder of what can happen when talent is matched with the right support, mentorship, and platform. This is only the beginning of their journey, and we are excited to see how they continue to grow beyond the album launch.”
Unlike a traditional music competition, B2B is an initiative by Tusker, designed as a career accelerator for artists who have already demonstrated momentum through released music, live performance experience, at least one million career streams and a growing fan base. Through mentorship, industry exposure, and professional development, the platform is helping bridge the gap between emerging talent and mainstream success.
The six artists emerged from an initial pool of 30 musicians shortlisted by Bien, together with a panel of industry experts, before public participation and further evaluation narrowed the selection to the inaugural B2B collective.
Since joining the program, the artists have undergone intensive coaching led by key mentor Bien and other industry professionals, covering vocals, songwriting, dance, performance and the business of music. They have also benefited from professional recording sessions, master classes, and curated industry exposure designed to prepare them for sustainable careers.
The Jam Session builds momentum towards the highly anticipated B2B collective album launch in August this year, after which the artists will continue their journey as part of the Oktobafest 2026 artist lineup, performing across the country. Beyond the program, Tusker will continue supporting key career milestones as the artists build lasting careers in the music industry.
The B2B Jam Session showcased the next generation of Kenyan music talent while reaffirming Tusker’s commitment to investing in home-grown artists and the future of the country’s creative industry.
