Lyrical G’s Grown man perspective

For a teenager that spends his afternoons listening to rap on Hot 100, Radio city, X fm and the like, the name lyrical G might not easily click.
What this kid doesn’t know is that, before Navio went solo, Keko learnt how to do it or Big trill pushed harder, hip-hop had its lyrical Genius in Jeff Kintu.
Jeff aka L.G (Lyrical Genius) is one of the Rap/hip-hop genre pioneers in Uganda. He’s a double PAM Award winner who has locally collaborated with artistes, Juliana, Mesach, Blu*3, Nandujja, Petermiles, Steve Jean among others.
He’s also opened for international acts like, Awadi, Mafikizolo, Proverb and hip-hop sensation and two time BET awards nominee Resheeda.
His rare style of rap has seen him perform at the Zanzibar international film festival fest and he’s co-stared in a hip-hop documentary with South Africa’s proverb.
“Music has enabled me to travel around the world,” he says.
On March 8th, Lyrical G will be releasing his seventh studio album, Grown man talk. The album is dropping on the date which is also doubles as his 35th birthday; it’s more educational than the usual swag rap.
“The album is celebrating my career, from the time I came out with Bataka and now,” he says.
“I want people to tell the difference between a 25 year old and a 35 year old Lyrical G,” he adds.
The inspirational album focuses on the struggles of the youth, partying and Lyrical G becoming a fully grown man.
He did all the choruses of the album songs.
The album opens with his introduction: Grown man talk, it sets the mood for the entire album. Lyrical G uses his intro to defend his career path as a rapper than law or medicine. Further into it, he continues to mourn his mother.
“I had a very close relationship with my mother so, I continuously, pay tribute to her using my music. I want to make her proud,” he says.
The album also has songs like Hey girl; it’s on such songs that Lyrical G shows off his versatility by singing his own hooks, verse as well as rap. Its one song that would get Drake unsettled.
Have mercy is a hip-hop / Reggae fusion with Kemishan and Nutty Boi of the Ami she want fame, it’s a danceable song that will definitely get many on the dance floor. Survivor is a song about a struggle and has cameos of Black, I am Enygma and Tasha.
Unlike the 25 year old Lyrical G, at 35, he has an 18 months old boy, like all proud fathers, he did a song with his son and for him. The song features sounds of his son, Jarl trying to speak, he aptly named it Daddy loves you; song for Jarl.
The thirteen track album has more than one highlight; the project features some of the strongest Lyrical verses the Ugandan audience has ever heard. The cypher 2013 features some of the most talented underground rappers in the industry like St. Nellysade, Jhay Efekts, Rugged and Crac. His collaboration with Big Trill, so crazy is a typical blend of old and new skool rap.
He sums it up with monster, his MC track. According to him, an MC talk is the most important song on any rap album.
“Am MC track, is a battle song, all rappers have such songs where they assure other rappers calling them whack.” He says.
The album was produced by rappers Easy Tex, Lyrical G, J.T of Yego studios and Urban accent music under his GMC entertainment.
Grown man talk is meant to inspire young rappers to follow their dreams no matter what.
“Am talking from a grown man’s perspective, the up coming rappers should keep their heads on their shoulders. If they have a dream, let them go ahead to chase it. No goal is too hard to achieve,” he says.

THE HOSTEL SERIES PREMIER ON UK TV

There are many reasons for both the Hostel series crew and their fast track producers to smile.

First it was their fellow actor Mathew Nabwiso getting nominated in the prestigious Africa Magic viewer’s choice awards. Mathew, also known on Gilo in the miniseries was nominated for the best supporting actor.

And, before the dust could settle, more news came in that the Hostel series would be airing on a UK TV Station.

The show, which must be making its creators proud, is said to be the most successful in Ugandan TV history. It has been aired on NTV Uganda, NTV Kenya, Zuku TV and the continental pay TV pioneers, DSTV’s Africa Magic.

It seems, the show is not about to slow down and, the Observer, can confirm that the show is broadcasting on Ben TV (Bright Entertainment Network). Ben TV is a British television launched in 2003; it’s aimed at informing, entertaining and educating expatriate Africans living in Europe.

On Monday 4^th, the hostel premiered in the UK on the Uganda vision program, which airs on Ben TV. According to the Ben TV website, Uganda vision, hosted by Solome Kazaana and Paris Yipan is one of the most popular programs on the channel.

Uganda Vision stared airing in March 2011 and has been a runaway success with an estimated audience of more than 500,000 viewers across Europe. The show that show cases Ugandan tourism, culture and music has hosted a range of personalities from president Museveni, Energy minister Irene Mulomi, first lady Janet Museveni, singer Judith Babirye and Uganda’s high commission to UK and Ireland HE Joan Rwabyomere.

The hostel airs every Monday at 7pm UK time.

Ben TV is also a home for Uganda alive, an entertainment program that focuses on issues around Ugandans and Africans in the Diaspora. The program is done by the Ganda Boys, formerly the Da’twins.

Kenyan artiste attacks Bebe Cool over plagiarism

It’s a common trend and news when Ugandan artistes are attacked for sampling other African Jamaican and American beats without permission.

Sometimes it’s a beat and the other times the entire song, save for the language. Back home we’ve seen our artistes counter attack each other because of allegedly stolen songs and beats.

It’s a vice that has lived with our industry since time immemorial though, it first came to light when Rwandese vocalist Sean Paul. Samputu accused one Ronnie Kavuma for plagiarizing his song to create the runaway hit mujune.

The pressure from the Rwandese artistes must have taught the local artistes never to try the copycat route.

Years down the road, our artistes were at it again copying song after song like it was a legal business. Over the years we’ve seen works of plagiary in Bobi wine’s abalungi balumya, Goodlyfe’s bread and butter, Ray’s kasenyanku and of recent, Raga Dee’s Swititi.

In Uganda, plagiarizing is hailed as an art that such songs don’t only win hearts but even our national award……… yes they do.

After years of perfecting the art of deceit, the chicken have come back to roast one of their own.

News reaching The Observer desk, is that this unorthodox act may have claimed its newest victim, the larger than life, one and only Bebe Cool.

He is being attacked and accused by a Nairobi’s based artiste of stealing a track / beat.

Dusky, an upcoming act is accusing Bebe Cool of allegedly plagiarizing instrumentals to his 2008 song Rasasi.

“Bebe Cool’s Joanita was produced using instrumentals similar to mine,” said Dusky who claims to have documentation to prove his case.

However, Bebe Cool chose to differ claiming that the artiste is merely seeking attention.

“He trying to be famous and I think that’s very stupid of him to say,” says Bebe Cool.

“Does he know when Joanita was recorded?” which year is this? 2013 and he’s talking about a song he released in 2008? Shouldn’t he be looking on how to record new music”, wondered the Ndiisa buti star.

Bebe later revealed that his Joanita hit was recorded in 2005 and a video shot at his father’s place though, a deeper investigation by this paper reveals that the song was released onto youtube platforms at the beginning of 2009; the song was widely believed to be about Zuena considering the fact that the two had parted ways.

Meanwhile, Bebe cool last week released his highly anticipated edutainment single Obuvunanyizibwa the reggae song talks about people’s need to respect their jobs to fight poverty. The reggae production is spot on though; it’s the kiganda dance interlude that takes all listeners by surprise. Nice song, wonderful message.            

  

GOODLYFE INVADE KATOGO

If any artiste is enjoying 2013 so far, it’s the Goodlyfe boys. While we are barely into the first quarter of this year, goodlyfe’s Radio and Weasel have all these big songs respectively dominating our airwaves.

From Obudde, Fitting, Ba customer to the 2012 crossovers like can’t let you go and Fantastic, it’s clear that Radio and Weasel are set to regain their position in the Ugandan music industry.

On Friday 22^nd, Goodlyfe added  already big 2013  CV, a role of being TV presenters when they sat in for Douglas Lwanga to host his famous Katogo music show, the program airs from Monday to Friday between 4-6pm.

The Observer caught up with the highly syked duo before they hit the lights and camera to do the show.

According to Bushington, the duo’s manager and the producer of the day, the show was a way of connecting to the fans directly.

“This is the first time we are going to talk to the fans. They have those burning questions; they want to hang with us and today, they have us for 2hours, said a jolly Bushington.

During the show, the duo did a countdown of their top ten songs by the other artistes and a couple of other songs. It was intense as the face book posts kept guessing whether they could put Bebe Cool or Chameleon onto their number one spot.

The show turned inspirational when Radio preached perseverance to upcoming artistes like Khalifa, Gravity Omutujju, Rema…… among others.

“Hold on, don’t let anyone discourage you. We too faced at us now”, he said.

As you could imagine, the show couldn’t go down without controversies, the boys used the platform to hit out at their enemies which caused a storm on the Katogo fan page as Goodlyfe and the rival fans exchanged insults.

Off the camera, Radio and Weasel danced to all the songs they played, they even tried to mimic Jose Chameleon Badilisha dance when the song was playing.

The show turned out to be one of the most successful since Katogo’s premier back in 2009 attracting very many calls from fans, producers and fellow artistes trying to talk to the Goodlyfe crew.

“The phone lines have never been this crazy, to accommodate the callers. We made sure no video would be played for more than two minutes”, said an overwhelmed Douglas.

Mean while, straight from playing TV hosts, the boys rushed to club Venom to premier their video magnetic. It’s good on colour and just like fantastic and can’t let you go, this too is spot on as long as editing, lighting and production are concerned. The video features a number of prominent models and famous singer Sheebah. The piece was produced by Kenya’s Razor wire, directed by Andrew Macharia and co-produced by Ph-Ny. Andrew Machari is the director behind Camp Mulla’s fresh all day, Sauti sol’s money lover and Keko’s make you dance. He has also worked with bigger names such as Akon, Young Jeezy and Frankie J among others.    

Jamal bounces back with Abakyala balabye

The first time I met Jamal Wasswa was in the 2000s, he was talking and laughing with then famous artistes Rocky Giant and sweet kid. It was rumored in the club that he too was an artiste but even with those heavy locks and talking to celebrities, he didn’t look the part.

I would later see this dreadlocked guy singing the hook to Rocky Giant’s Mulembe gwa balaasi (Rastafarian era), and still I didn’t pay any attention to him.

By 2008 Jamal was getting a hold of his turf, doing versatile genres of reggae RnB African contemporary and pop, he forced us to listen to him.

“I don’t want to attach a specific genre to my music, am versatile and for me, my voice is key, as long as people can hear it and identify me, am okay”, he says.

Jamal has since released hits like “akagambo, Oba wuwo, Soka osabe and almost everyone’s Abakyala bazira” he went on to release more songs empowering women.

“There are more reasons to sing for the women than the men, they through a lot and the society just give a deaf ear, I feel obliged to say something”, he says passionately.

He also notes that he has got a strong fan base among women though; he notes that even men who truly believe women emancipation love his songs.

The year 2012 was a tricky one for the artiste, not that his mind went blank on lyrics but, on a publication that alleged that the singer had abandoned his mother and now living in a miserable state. For a person who sings for the ladies, the publication was such an image damage.

“These are challenges one meets once in a while but overall, 2012 was still a good year and am not complaining. If only 2013 can be like that and more” he said.

After the storm Jamal made an emotional comeback with his Omusomesa hit, the song got and still gets respectable air play, the video went on to top local music charts.

As the song continues to gain momentum, Jamal has followed it up with yet another women advocacy song, Abakyala balabye. The song talks about different issues women face in life. In an afro pop melody, Jamal addresses issues like sexual harassment, and disrespect of women.

People have gone through these things, I have seen some happen” he says, he also notes that the inspiration for this song was the general public behavior.

Even when he usually sings in Luganda, Jamal is one of Uganda’s most traveling artistes. He has performed on world and African contemporary music, and Reggae festivals in Denmark, Netherlands, German, Sweden, USA and more.

This could explain the huge number of whites who flock Jamal’s shows in Uganda.

Despite doing many advocacy songs, Jamal is not affiliated to any women organization, though he notes he’s been working with the Red Cross on some protects.

“I would be happy if any organization picked interest.” He says.

Jamal’s music sounds so sweet that even when you can’t come to terms with a blurred vision of his dreads, you will appreciate his adorable sensational voice.

This year, he hopes to follow up Abakyala balabye with a couple of songs and eventually a concert.

“I hope to do more musical and live concert, I want something different from the “Abakyala bazira” concert in 2010, and I hope to bring in many of the artistes I perform with abroad.” He says.

Unlike many of the Ugandan artistes, Jamal is not a collaboration prone artiste; you will wait for ages before you find him on someone’s song.    

“Collaborations should be for a reason, right now I can only sing with a person taking me places,” he says. Jamal has since collaborated with Joel Sebujjo an African contemporary artiste and Jah Couxtic, a German Reggae act.

Besides music, Jamal is passionate about football; he plays with Kisugu United and trains everyday with the team. The soft spoken artiste explained to me that Kisugu United is still in the regional. Then, he explained the entire soccer hierarchy of big league and eventually the Fufa or the other league.

“If Kisugu United makes it to the league, I won’t become a professional footballer.” He says with a smile.

From the field to the stage, Jamal is truly a multitalented Ugandan, when you see him play his midfielding role in number seven; you will truly not believe it’s the same guy who belts out tunes like “Lllllove firimu y’amasasi......”