Hardstone, born 1977, is the first Kenyan solo performer to be featured on a full length CD. The songs on the CD "Nothing But The Stone" were very hot in October 1997. They were constantly aired on the radio. It is Mahmoud Omari, the owner of studio Sync Sound that is the initiator of CD issues of Kenyan versions of global musics. This one is the first.

The Hardstone style is a mixture of ragga, reggae and rap turned African. He says:
I used to listen to a lot of reggae. Different artists like Bob Marley, Yellowman, Josey Wales. I used to get tapes from my friends and also borrowed video tapes not broadcasted on TV.
- - - - -
My CD compiles African, Caribbean and some R&B stuff in Kikuyo, Swahili and pure Caribbean English.
Yes, when performing Hardstone's English is straight Jamaican creole picked up from the records he listened to.

The texts are usually made up by Hardstone, but the combination of text and music is a teamwork with musician/producer Tedd Josiah as a major contributor. Josiah has international experience. He has played with gospel bands Heart and Lifetime and other bands. He first met Hardstone in 1995 and was impressed by his dynamic approach and potential. In 1996 he teamed up with Hardstone.

Hardstone doesn't work with a regular band, but performs live with different back up crews. On stage he has a lot of charisma and can really communicate with a crowd.

Samples from the CD Nuting but the Stone(Kelelel Records ke-31018):

• King Solomon's Mine (.wav format 850 kB) This one sounds a little like the Swahili music taarab. English.
• Uhiki - Kikuyu for Wedding (.wav format 800 kB). In English and Kikuyu.
• Chu We Afi Cry (.wav format 1.1 Mb). On freedom in Africa. Includes sample from speech by freedom fighter and Kenyan president Kenyatta.