You’d be correct to identify Toxic Lyrikali as part of a growing cast of talent reconfiguring the music coming out of East Africa. But to do so would also temper the fact that the MC is already reshaping Kenyan (and East African) urban culture in his specific image, thanks to a subversive fusion of hip-hop and dancehall heard in songs like “Backbencher” and “Hongo Ya Karao.” On Lyrikali’s latest project, ABUNDANCE, the MC upholds the frenetic energy that powered his rise, calling out his opps, promising retribution, and dreaming of more wins. Nowhere is this invincibility more palpable than opener “Most Wanted,” where Lyrikali revels in his status as Kenya’s top dog, laughing off his competition. As a child raised in Nairobi’s infamous Kayole region, the rapper knows a little something about the cost of rising above one’s station; he exudes that combative edge on “Mafia Boss,” laying out his feelings about street politics and wrestling for his place at the top over synths that add a darker edge to his delivery. When he gets sentimental, Lyrikali does so with the intensity of his more nihilistic concerns. Take, for example, “Time,” a pledge not to lose touch with his core principles. “Me no rush greatness,” he raps. “Me no waste time, restless.” On “Reminisce,” he looks back at some of the challenges he’s overcome to achieve his status. If you want definitive proof of how Lyrikali ended up at the forefront of East African music today, look no further than “Mbebe,” a left-field declaration of affection sure to tug loose even the tautest of heartstrings.