Slum Talent Trust is an organization that is aimed at promoting the slum artistic talents. It cuts across gender ensuring that slum children and other disadvantaged children lead a better bright future. The slum talent trust has in the recent past seen to the birth of a new young talent group: T-S-I whom they selected in Huruma, Kariobangi, Mathare and Dandora. This group comprises of very young talents between the ages of 12-18 years old. Through music, the children highlight the various problems faced in the today society as such: their own challenges, poverty, environmental issues, gender inequality, Health, education, etc, giving a message of hope and prosperity. All the members in the group come from severely disadvantaged backgrounds from which they can only hope to escape through their musical talents and education. Here is an overview of what they had to share. For Dickson Oyugi,18 says art drives him on a day to day basis this is because of the undying love he has for music. He supposes that this will determine his future, while trying to model others artistic talents through music and other genres like poetry and acting. He sings music that touches on other peoples’ lives in one way or the other while focusing on the ghetto life because that is exactly where he is at the moment and thus he does not want to wear shoes that does not fit him by trying to put on a mask, he has no time trying to make comparisons with the life faced by the others. He says that music is a talent but artists have to seek advice on how best they can invest for their own future and the future of their families. Oyugi adds that education is a lifetime investment which has no retirement age, it thus has to be taken seriously. All he wishes to do is to uphold high standards of integrity and respect while aspiring to be an internationally known musician hitting the market with real music. As the founder of TSI, initially it was not easy trying to bring the group together but at the moment he is grateful especially to the sponsors of the group and the members of the group for trudging along while trying to build a future that best fits them, “ TSI gives me morale.” He states. Coming from a single parent, he does not want to live a 50-50 life for he has a duty to support her jobless mother and the siblings. Oyugi, boasts of his personal songs hip- hop and only fools fall in love lyrics. In the hip-hop song it is basically about the erroneous belief about dead hip-hop, while on the latter he narrates through his song that there are so many ladies in the ghetto who are misleadingly lured in to fake love only to be left devastated with diseases, early pregnancies and frustrations in life. He advises the youth never to give up as long as they know what they want, the secret is to get real for sky is the limit. She says she is not terrified nor is she afraid, “I am a musician and am enthusiastic about it.” Rachel Wamboi, 12 says. Rachel says music matters to her and it will still matter in many years to come, as young as she is she says that life is what happens to you while you are in the process of making other plans. Key boarding and dancing are her additional talents, she does not want to wait for tomorrow for to her tomorrow is another day. She declares that she is so passionate about music and she foresees sticking to it as her career, Rachel is not brought down by anything but she accepts feedback and refuses retreats. She guarantees that she will be strong even in the face of misfortune, her personal song speaks a lot about her indirectly as it narrates how setbacks comes when they are least expected this comes as a result of having lost her parents at a very tender age, she shyly says that life can give you a challenge, that it is a hustle. Rachel further declares that the ones who have it easy don’t have a hell of a lot going for them, “while you have your parents be grateful.” Her eyes soar. She is heartily thankful to TSI and the group’s manager for having an unflinching belief in her and for being her source of encouragement. Today may be the last chance to showcase what you have, she holds on to this saying, She gives confidence to others not to get tied up in making a living or just taking care of the day to day routines but think dearly of others. Gilbert Okus is 16 and an artist who is into music. He is so passionate about freestyle and hip hop music though he says, he is also open to venture in to other genres of music. He takes life as it is and as it comes day after day but he is still optimistic that he has a bright future, for all he sees is a bright star shining for him. Okus proclaims that he sleeps music and wake up with music in his head, “It is in my blood, this is what keeps me going. “He proclaims. Though he asserts that the talent he has to be well blended with education for this is the core of reasoning and while he thinks music he aspires to be an architect one fine day. At his age he already knows that life is not some bed of roses , it is hard having undergone a number of experience which to him have been an eye opener and he strongly believes that the experiences have prepared him thus he moves on and never gives up even in the face of trouble. He says that he can only sing real life experiences while passing the message across to the world through music, but he still has to pass a message to the rest of the world that ghetto life should not be despised even for a single second because that is where real talent is. On the other hand, Francis Demesi, 17 as an artist is disciplined, patient and likes himself a lot while for him God comes first. Just like Okus education is of the essence and should not be taken for granted for any reason. He openly says that music holds a future so bright for him, he is open minded and works hard on his music talent because for him work is not easy to come by and for those who have a God given talent it is mandatory to work on it, Demesi knows that music will take him far but he is also determined to pursue his education while he has the chance to do so for this can never make things go wrong however long it might seem to be, that is why he is keen on balancing his career as a mechanical engineer with music, he says it is all about planning for there is a time for everything to materialize. Demesi is thankful for every single moment he spends with the group for the members are a source of inspiration for him. “I do not have room for idleness and have no time to think evil for I get what I want from here.” He declares. He says that it might not be easy at times, he still gets the necessary support and inspiration from his family. He sings what life is all about and he says that life is real when we get realistic, Demesi passes a message of togetherness and peace to his audiences through music for this is what creates a sane nation. Mary Ndunge is not only an artist but her own ambassador of women, she speaks strongly about the position of the women in society through her special song “MAMA”. She says “ I am music, all i aspire to be is a renowned R n B and hip hop face of the world ”. Music comes from her heart not the head, she looks forward to going far music-wise while she strongly believes she could protect other musicians by law so that their rights are looked into and this she wants to achieve by being a lawyer. TSI as a group has been an eye opener to her for she gains day by day from the group while being inspired through different ways, she is glad to be whom she is. She bases her success on determination and support from the significant others, through music Mary has been able to chip in family expenses at only 15 years thus this has been a driving force in her life and this is exactly what she sings, she does not believe in singing about the life she does not know anything about. Mary says to the youth that they should and must keep on trying, they should not give discouragement any room, she adds that without education talent does not get enough room to grow thus it is imperative to focus on education. She introduces herself as a musician from the ghetto and apart from music her passion of movies cannot go unmentioned, music drives her day by day because through this she would like to make a better place for the other disadvantaged kids and other people who believe in themselves. She thereby works towards being not only a local or ghetto musician but someone who can be emulated by others and that is why she advocates for people to come out and work on their talents without feeling shame or fear, Esther’s beauty also drives her towards being a beautician and a model for she trusts that art is all about believing in yourself and working towards the talent. Esther Njeri, 13 is an up-coming artist who strongly believes there is room for improvement while basing her trust on the group that has always been on the forefront in helping her make decisions and moving forward. It is mesmerizing when she narrates how life is a struggle and nothing should be taken for granted in life, respect for life is fundamental. Esther courageously says that she always believes in trying so as to uplift the life of her family and others, being focused in life could bring someone from nothing to something. He is one of the fascinating artists, who manages to live up to his artistic talents.Ericko Mukunza is a true artist. For him, life is all about being in the spotlight with different lyrical compositions, poetry and other works of art. He is also passionate about communication (the spoken word), rapping and other issues pertaining media. Ericko has been involved in a number of projects like television productions, for him being an artist means being curious and also multi-talented. Art is his business and it is never too late for him to make his business run. He is driven by the social predicaments, both positive and negative having had a contrasting childhood, he thereby understands his surrounding and the perspective and contents he focuses on. His talents and passion towards art is in-bone though he nurtures them through compositions and different performances that bring to public view the real him. You need to know that he is the personality behind TSI compositions and graphics. He wraps it up by saying “I am a writer and an artist, not a fighter.” A music producer and a simple person who is passionate about music production, Kevin Omondi affirms that this is whom he really is. As a person he has had his sad and happy moments even as far as production is concerned but he trudges along and empathizes with the artists especially in the production industry this is due to the fact that he is hit by different productions which sometimes are so emotional especially when they are done by the people who are hard hit by different predicaments and thus express it through art and music specifically. Kevin boasts of a number of achievements ranging from coast awards in the song of the year category, while he is also thankful and hopes that nothing thwarts his career along the way for he anticipates to take his production at an advanced level and to be an international producer. Kevin believes in talent tapped from the grass root and he is pleased as he already envisions this among TSI group which he is delighted to be working closely with, for when a child’s career is apprehended at an early age it gets manageable. He has been growing with them and the different situation in their lives inspires him to work even more and trudge along for to him life should not be faked for we get to learn new experience every day, we thereby should think wide and have a sense of direction. Some of the productions they have include: Fools fall in love/get smart/ghetto live/hunger/jail song/kidz 4 kidz in Haiti/Mama/poverty/E+R song/sisi soti/ trash is cash/unite/water/my dream/corruption/Crime and passion/my love/street life/street child/control/ one love/me and my bike/Hip-hop/lost star/ghetto children/flying toilet housing