Genge emerged in 2000s Nairobi, Kenya, fusing hip-hop, dancehall, and African rhythms performed in Sheng slang. Producer Clemo formalized the genre, with Jua Cali and Nonini popularizing its energetic beats and socially conscious lyrics addressing poverty and corruption. Ethic Entertainment's 2018 breakthrough revived the genre as gengetone, giving voice to marginalized Kenyan youth.