Kenya’s next breakout music stars may be coming from the country’s southern coast. Hailing from Kwale County, Afro-pop duo DML 002 are steadily building a name for themselves with soulful melodies, infectious rhythms and a growing list of high-profile collaborations.

 Fresh off the success of their hit single No One and with a new collaboration alongside Scar Mkadinali on the horizon, the pair are proving that the Coast continues to be a breeding ground for some of the country’s most exciting musical talent.

By the time you finish reading this, you’ll want to add them to your playlist immediately. There’s something about the coast that produces artists who don’t just make music; they make you feel things.

And if Deity of Melodies & Love, better known as DML 002, are anything to go by, Kwale County is sitting on a goldmine of talent that Kenya is only just beginning to discover.

These two Gen Z young men; Whity 002 and Dierxy 002  walked into a Nairobi studio recently and the energy they brought with them was unmistakably that of artists who know exactly what they’re doing.

Our editor caught up with them right in the middle of a recording session, and what followed was one of those conversations you don’t forget in a hurry.

Coastal Roots, National Sound

It’s worth remembering that the Kenyan coast has always had its hand firmly on the pulse of the nation’s music.

From Nyota Ndogo to Sanaipei Tande, from Otile Brown to Brown Mauzo, from Susumila to Masauti the Swahili culture has long been a fountain of musical richness, and DML 002 are drinking deep from that well while adding their own Gen Z flavour to it.

They joked with our editor that badly produced music simply isn’t an option for them, then proceeded to sing along to their own catalog to prove the point. The confidence was earned, not borrowed.

The Scar Mkadinali Collabo the country is Waiting For

Now here’s the part that has the streets buzzing. DML 002 are dropping a brand new banger “Kizombi” featuring none other than Scar Mkadinali of the legendary Wakadinali Trio,  and the video is set to hit screens on 4th July. Yes, this July. Mark it.

The collaboration is a natural meeting of worlds, the coastal Afro-pop sweetness of DML 002 colliding with Scar’s signature gritty hiphop artistry. The result, from what we gathered in that studio, sounds like nothing you’ve heard from either camp before.

Scar Mkadinali himself didn’t hold back when singing the duo’s praises.

“Such collaboration boosts creativity and opens up explorations to various options,” he said, clearly impressed by how far the two have come in such a short time.

From High School Hallways to Studio Walls

The DML 002 story is one that feels almost cinematic. The two met back in high school, bonded over a shared obsession with music, and never looked back. What started as a common love for melody has since evolved into a full creative partnership, one that is now turning serious heads across the Kenyan music scene.

“We are a Kenyan Afro-pop duo blending soulful vibes with modern African rhythms that creates music that speaks to the heart and moves the body,” said Whity 002, delivering the line with a heavy Swahili accent that somehow made it sound even more poetic.

And the numbers don’t lie. Their hit single “No One”, released earlier this year, announced them to the world in a big way, racking up a fanbase that keeps growing, drawn in by their signature sweet, melodious love tunes. Ask them the secret to that early success and they’ll keep it simple: discipline and brotherhood.

Wait , what Does “002” Even Mean?

Our editor, naturally curious, had to ask.

“What does 002 in your name stand for?”

The two burst into laughter before Dierxy 002 leaned in to explain.

“That’s our county number. Mombasa is county 001, followed by Kwale, county 002, hence the name.”

Clever, rooted, and proudly coastal. It’s the kind of detail that tells you these two aren’t just making music, they’re representing a whole region.

The Nairobi Run Isn’t Over Yet

If you thought a Scar Mkadinali feature was the only trick up their sleeve, think again. DML 002 have been on a month-long Nairobi studio marathon, cooking up collaborations Barnaba – Haachwi Mtu (already out) and yet to release music with Breeder LW, Kushman and Tipsy Gee, each one promising to push their sound into exciting new territory.

The ocean doesn’t rush, but it always reaches the shore.

DML 002 is moving exactly like that, purposeful, powerful, and impossible to ignore. Keep your eyes on these two. The wave is just beginning.