He is unassuming, with an almost immediate social charm adding to his towering and massively built size. Meet Paul Rodney Omondi, a Kenyan hip hop artist popularly known as RoDo or Big Boy Rodo who loves charity. With the Easter holidays coming, he is readying to give back to the less privileged through music. A bubbly Rodney is currently working with Save The Street and Smile Child Organisation through its founder Mwihaki Njogu. He previously worked with Mama Ngina Children’s Home in Kisumu and Kenyatta University Hospitality and Tourism Organisation in his charity events.
All this is courtesy of his music. It makes up a huge part of his life, so does the business that helps him go about his life in Kenya’s capital, Nairobi. However, Rodney’s life is a classic cocktail of talent pushing boundaries, something he looks back to with some sense of pride and satisfaction.
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Who is Big Boy Rodo?
Paul Rodney Omondi is a Kenyan hip hop artist popularly known as RoDo or Big Boy Rodo. Photo/Rodney. Photo/Bog Boy Rodo/IG
Paul Rodney Omondi is a Kenyan hip hop artist currently based in Nairobi. He was born in Central Kenya, Kiambu County in particular but grew up in Kisumu, in Nyanza. Kisumu is famously known as the Lakeside City and this lake city shaped his life beyond his academics.
How Did Big Boy Rodo Start His Music Career?
Rodney’s elder brother Wesley stirred his passion for music when he was a teenager. Wesley created multiple sample tracks and he rhymed freestyle over them. This gave him the confidence to walk to a studio and record music which he did, only that he did gospel music at first. He had achieved a target in the first phase of his music career. His admission at Kisumu Boys High School birthed yet another phase in his artistic career. Together with his classmates, they formed a dance group, Steppers Harmony. This dance group gave Rodney and co a chance to perform in sporting, musical and cultural events.
In 2008, released his first song Mikono Juu with a kapuka influence which was at the time a big sound in Kenya’s music industry. Three years later, Paul Rodney Omondi released ‘Snap Vidole’, a breakout track with a deep crunk beat to it. It is this song that bagged him his first ambassadorial job for GBS TV in Kisumu and many important functions courtesy of the Nairobi County Government. He credits his musical success to among others, Wil Eye who he met years back while in his corporate exploits. Wil Eye changed Rodney’s music trajectory after his varsity days with outstanding beats that gave him a sound rebirth evidenced in “Wasemoke”.
What’s Rodo’s Music Career Like?
His hit ‘Wasemoke’ is a feat of success and it mirrors the progressive journey of his music career. The song’s title comes from a Luo word loosely translating to energy and enthusiasm.
“I birthed and wrote the concept when listening to an Afro-instrumental beat at home. So, on that day I called music producer Vinc On The Beat, we did a session and just by starting to record, these two powerful stars Katapilla and Hassan jumped on it. It was crazy; the studio session was so turned up,” Paul Rodney Omondi relives the recording of ‘Wasemoke’ which is a hit.
Paul Rodney Omondi, aka Big Boy Rodo is a Kenyan hip hop artist. Photo/Big Boy Rodo/Instagram
Hitherto, the ‘Snap Vidole’ artist has several collaborations with big names in Kenya’s music industry. They include Katapilla, Kushman, FemiOne, Scar (Wakadinali), Verbal, and Oksyd among others. Rodney has a catalogue of over 100 songs, three albums and an E.P. Big Boy Rodo plans to drop an album every year, but most importantly, never lose the human touch in giving back to society in his way. One thing Rodney doesn’t believe in is celebrity status, a concept fuelled by fellow Kenyan artists. He believes in simplicity and above all, the fear of God and charity.
Popular Songs
- Wasemoke
- Heshma
- Noma sana
- Kumenuka
- Mad society
- Ting’ Badi Malo
What Should You Expect From Rodo?
“We are currently releasing the mp4 for the Album we released last year, on YouTube, then we have two more Lyric videos we will release next coming month. Our team is also working on a dance video with some big names including miondoko masters and Moya David.
“We also have a show in Machakos at the Ayimba Cup this Saturday. We will also release a super Banger Music video in May. Again, in October 2023 we are releasing an Album Dubbed “SELF-MADE”.
