{"id":2000104018,"date":"2026-03-03T13:53:36","date_gmt":"2026-03-03T11:53:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/?p=2000104018"},"modified":"2026-03-03T13:53:37","modified_gmt":"2026-03-03T11:53:37","slug":"e-t-ndahigwa-talks-top-5-albums-studio-pet-peeves-and-goated-kigali-food-spots-video","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/e-t-ndahigwa-talks-top-5-albums-studio-pet-peeves-and-goated-kigali-food-spots-video\/","title":{"rendered":"E.T. Ndahigwa talks top 5 albums, studio pet peeves and goated Kigali food spots (Video)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Known for his precision and &#8220;music geek&#8221; tendencies, E.T. brought a level of intensity to the conversation that borders on scientific, diving deep into the records that shaped his DNA and the specific behaviours that can instantly get someone kicked out of his recording sessions. It was a rare look at the man behind the music, revealing an artist who is as strict about his studio etiquette as he is passionate about a good plate of food in Kigali.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1080\" height=\"1440\" src=\"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/SnapInsta.to_630138847_18563692078023600_2591862882483091911_n.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2000104020\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Music is perhaps the centre of E.T.\u2019s universe, and he describes albums as his &#8220;everything.&#8221; <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Music is clearly the centre of E.T.\u2019s universe, and he describes albums as his &#8220;everything.&#8221; When asked to pick his all-time greats, he pointed to Kendrick Lamar\u2019s Good Kid, M.A.A.D City as the definitive classic that drew him into hip-hop back in 2012. His taste is a sophisticated blend of influences, ranging from the technical brilliance of Isaiah Rashad\u2019s The Sun\u2019s Tirade to the timeless soul of Stevie Wonder\u2019s Songs in the Key of Life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>He even revealed his technical side when breaking down his love for SZA, noting that her unique 5&#215;5 verse structures are what set her apart from standard writers. Rounding out his list with Kanye West\u2019s Graduation and a nod to his peer K-Shot, E.T. proved that his ear is always tuned toward longevity and craft.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, that love for the craft comes with a very high standard for anyone entering his workspace. E.T. was remarkably candid about being &#8220;high-maintenance&#8221; in the studio, emphasising that when he is &#8220;cooking up,&#8221; it is strictly a &#8220;men at work&#8221; environment. His biggest vibe-killer is the presence of people in the studio for no reason, especially those who talk or distract the room while he is trying to capture a moment on the mic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1080\" height=\"1440\" src=\"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/SnapInsta.to_634925811_18563692018023600_3375858518127218601_n.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2000104021\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">For E.T. Ndahigwa, the studio is a sacred space for focus.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>He told fellow artists to practice before they arrive, noting that being slow or unprepared in the booth is an immediate way to kill the energy. For E.T., the studio is a sacred space for focus, not a place for gossip or sluggishness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When he isn\u2019t locked in the booth, E.T. is exploring the Kigali food scene with a discerning palate. Although he jokes that he shouldn\u2019t give out free shoutouts without a sponsorship, he can\u2019t help but praise the \u201cgoated\u201d spots that keep him fed. He highlighted a Catholic brother\u2013owned eatery in Kicukiro, known for its brochette, and Meze Fresh restaurant. For a more diverse experience, he directed listeners to Mumarangi in Nyamirambo and Gisementi Place, calling it the go-to spot for authentic Arabic and Nigerian cuisine. To him, the neighbourhood is about far more than just the parties; it\u2019s a culinary destination that locals shouldn\u2019t overlook.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Ending the segment on a personal note, E.T. shared the few things he truly cannot live without. He admitted to a self-confessed &#8220;bad&#8221; screen time habit on TikTok, but noted that he feels physically naked without his watch or his headphones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Whether it is staying hydrated with water or geeking out over a new track, E.T. Ndahigwa remains a man of specific tastes and uncompromising standards. It is this mix of local pride and professional intensity that continues to define his rise in the Rwandan music scene.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Watch the full &#8220;Top Five&#8221; segment with E.T. Ndahigwa below:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"696\" height=\"391\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/_8PaftOwp80\" title=\"Album that made him rap &amp; top 5 Kigali food spots: E.T Ndahigwa unfiltered on Hooks &amp; Jabz\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Rwandan hip-hop artist and rapper E.T. Ndahigwa recently appeared on IGIHE\u2019s Hooks and Jabz show for an unfiltered &#8220;Top Five&#8221; session that felt more like a masterclass in hip-hop culture than a typical interview.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":131,"featured_media":2000104019,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[13],"tags":[69],"byline":[192],"hashtag":[],"class_list":["post-2000104018","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-entertainment","tag-homehighlights","byline-wycliffe-nyamasege"],"bylines":[{"id":192,"name":"Wycliffe Nyamasege","slug":"wycliffe-nyamasege","description":"","image":{"id":0,"url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/?s=96&d=mm&f=y&r=g","alt":"Default avatar","title":"Default avatar","caption":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","sizes":[]},"user_id":131}],"contributors":[{"id":192,"name":"Wycliffe Nyamasege","slug":"wycliffe-nyamasege","description":"","image":{"id":0,"url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/?s=96&d=mm&f=y&r=g","alt":"Default avatar","title":"Default avatar","caption":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","sizes":[]},"user_id":131}],"featured_image":{"id":2000104019,"url":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/MixCollage-03-Mar-2026-01-49-PM-7872.jpg","alt":"","caption":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","width":800,"height":600,"sizes":{"thumbnail":{"url":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/MixCollage-03-Mar-2026-01-49-PM-7872.jpg","width":150,"height":113},"medium":{"url":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/MixCollage-03-Mar-2026-01-49-PM-7872.jpg","width":300,"height":225},"medium_large":{"url":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/MixCollage-03-Mar-2026-01-49-PM-7872.jpg","width":768,"height":576},"large":{"url":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/MixCollage-03-Mar-2026-01-49-PM-7872.jpg","width":800,"height":600},"full":{"url":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/MixCollage-03-Mar-2026-01-49-PM-7872.jpg","width":800,"height":600}}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2000104018","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/131"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2000104018"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2000104018\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2000104022,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2000104018\/revisions\/2000104022"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2000104019"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2000104018"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2000104018"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2000104018"},{"taxonomy":"byline","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/byline?post=2000104018"},{"taxonomy":"hashtag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/hashtag?post=2000104018"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}