NAIROBI - We officially say goodbye to what we have known for the past few years as Hip Hope. No, don't be sad. We are only saying bye to the name and not the members. Now we officially welcome Chit Chat, the newest gospel supergroup in the country. The group members include Astar (Richard Njau), Bupe (Christopher Bupe), Dee (Diana Nduba), Rigga (Charles Righa), Michelle (Michelle Kwambo) and Cii (Ciiru Karanja). Why don't we just say that Hip Hope has officially changed its name to Chit Chat? It is not merely a name change but a new direction in their music and delivery. The individual artists are also shelving their solo careers to commit to the group. Why the name Chit Chat? Keep reading, we'll answer most of your questions. Let us first give you the history to better understand what has happening.

Hip Hope started as a Kijiji Records based outfit that featured Astar, Juliani, Rigga and Michelle as well as DJ Vic, DJ Sparrxx and Producer Blackman. Since then, Blackman moved out of Kijiji Records and started Blackman Entertainment, DJ Vic, who was Hip Hope's first official DJ won the Mr Kenya title and moved on. They then got former Family FM's (now Radio 316) DJ Sparrxx but he has since become a Pastor at Mavuno Church. More recently, Juliani left the outfit as he sealed a record deal with Gatwitch Records in the UK.

The group also grew with the addition of Bupe, Cii and Dee. During performances, they would also jump on each others songs as they backed each other up. They then began seeing a bigger vision beyond their solo careers and music. They decided to switch up their music style and came up with the group Chit Chat. They describe their music as Hip Pop (a mix of pop music and hip hop). Their lyrics have also changed quite a bit.

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Taking the example of their first Chit Chat single called Buzzin, Astar who is the group's leader puts it this way. "Before we were all in your face Jesus. Now we spark the questions into your mind and heart e.g. this feeling. Oh this feeling. We make you wonder what we are talking about? When there they ask us what we were talking about, we then bring it out. The feeling that we are talking about it that of the Love of Christ. Just know that what we are doing isn't by our choice. And the change in style of music and packaging of the message is from God... to reach those who are trapped in religion and also those who don't bother to give the gospel a chance because of the way it was presented to them eg. get saved or you will go to hell."

And we swiftly ask whether they fear diluting the message of the Gospel to which he replies that they are not diluting. He adds that the group is 100% gospel and they are just repackaging the same Gospel of Christ in a different way. Not the same way people are used to.

So lets go back to the name. Why Chit Chat? What is it? Chit Chat, as they put it, is taken from their music. The music they will be churning out will always want people to converse and chit chat about the message. Their debut single Buzzin is a jump-up party anthem. It is generally about "a feeling" whose effect climaxes in a captivating slogan "Soo-Sweet-Buzzin-Juu-Kaboo!!"

Listen to their new single and watch the world premier of their new music video from Mike and SK Blue of Sakata Media. Also view pics of the video shoot. Let us know what you think of the new group.