Dantez 254

Daniel Simiyu also known as Dantez 254 is a young Kenyan artist born in Kitale Town, Kenya. Many of Dantez Songs became very popular and trendy on social media in line with a great number of streaming and downloads on Boomplay.

Career
In the wake of his father’s untimely death, the then 11-year-old Daniel Simiyu made peace with his estranged mother. He would take to the streets and sing before crowds in Kitale in-between school, all this without his mother’s knowledge. On a good day, he would make up to Sh5,000 from well-wishers and took the cash to his mother to supplement their domestic needs.

That was in 2014. After someone talked to his mother about his talents which his mother knew nothing of even the debut release Mawazo, a 2016 single that costed him Sh3,000, earned through his street and church performances. Dantez was connected to a sponsor and life has now taken a 360 degrees turn for the better.

At 16, he is not the village petty thief he was. And even though his mother still lives in a small one-bedroom house, Simiyu, who now has a new showbiz title in the big city where he is starting to believe again. They call him Dantez 254. His music success is moving him towards his dream; saving his mother from poverty and affording the family a better life.

His latest music video Kuna Kichwa, a Gengetone tune featuring freshmen rappers Zzero Sufuri, Breeder LW, VDJ Jones, and Xray is such a success. One would be forgiven for thinking the urban-styled singer is from the leafy suburbs of Nairobi. Far from it. He has been living with his mother in Matisi, one of the biggest informal settlements in Kitale.

When his father died of a strange ailment, the teenager, who had watched his parents live in poverty, knew something had to give or he would also be dead before long. In fact, the day of his father’s demise, Dantez 254 cheated death by a whisker. He had sneaked into the hostels neighbouring Kitale Technical Institute and stolen three mobile phones before a riotous mob came baying for his blood but it was all a phobia and his manager has taken the initiative of getting him daily therapy for; atychiphobia, the fear of failure, and a hypothetical past.

Four years down the line, Dantez has been with his manager Vusha Muhindi of Maliza Umaskini, the stable that offered to nurture his singing talent. He splits his time between school and music recording engagements; having been given the condition that he would only continue to receive musical support if he gets good grades in school.

He has dropped two singles every year for three consecutive years - In 2018 he dropped Nishike and Nibariki, Mama and Najipa Kwako (2019), and Ova and Kuna Kichwa (2020). The last has become a big Gengetone hit, with music channels like Trace Music playing it on rotation. Vusha says young creative talents need to be encouraged and nurtured with care. She says it is important for young artistes to share their ambitions with their parents to get proper direction and support.

Achievements
Dantez 254 is also one of the most succesful upcoming artist taking the industry with a storm after he was nominated for the 2021 Pulse Music Video Awards under the category of New Artist of The Year on his song Alaa Featuring big artists like Rekles, Trio Mio, Odi Wa Muranga and VDJ Jones. At the tender age of 14 years, he landed himself a Sh60 million music deal after he was rescued from the streets where he was singing in order to feed his family after his father died in 2014.

Follow Boomplay and keep up-to-date with the latest songs of Dantez 254 and information.

Dantez 254 Songs
• Ala ft. Rekles, Odi wa Murang'a, VDJ Jones, Trio Mio
• Alaa
• Kuna Kichwa
• Tam Tam
• Nishike
• Nibariki
• Mama
• Najipa Kwako
• Ova

Dantez Songs are included in Boomplay music playlists. Search, stream, and download Dantez Songs, his latest singles and albums in MP3 only on the Boomplay platform for free.