JB [JBaller] DISCUSSES GAME OF THRONES [Vol.1], HIS ALBUM AND THE HIGHLY ANTICIPATED KLEAR KUT ALBUM.

Games Of Thrones Vol.1 [Cover Art]

By Byaruhanga Felix (@TheNinjaFelix)

On 18th October 2013 JB a.k.a JBaller (C.E.O Blackstorm Ent.) was supposed to release his Game Of Thrones Vol.1 Mix-tape but due to some features and material that was supposed to be added to the mix-tape  was pushed a few weeks ahead (date to be announced soon).

 

So, I decided to catch up with him to see the progress of the mix-tape  production and our conversation went along these lines.

What's good boss?! Where have you been it's been a minute since you made a major appearance on the UG hip-hop scene? What's keeping you busy these days?!

JB: Im good man hustling day by day. Yeah I’ve been a little quiet working on Game Of Thrones, and my first solo album. When I get into my creative mode I kinda go into my creative cave lol. A couple things have been keeping me busy. I’m in the process of talking to some international management in Canada. A few people have heard my material and are interested in what I can offer. So I’ll be able to have my music heard more on an international level, not just on the UG/East African scene.

So, let's talk about your upcoming mix-tape "Game Of Thrones", why the name Game Of Thrones?

JB: Well while I was in the studio and writing the material I was watching the Game Of Thrones series. I chose to entitle the mixtape the same, cause I kinda compared it to the hip-hop game. Every mc/artist want to be number 1, be the king. It’s a competitive business sometimes you have to go to war to get to the top, or defend your rightful place in the game.

Briefly walk us through the making/recording of this mix-tape, generally the whole experience.

JB: Well I’ve been working with a young talented producer called Play1. I did most of the recording at the new Baddi Studios in Makindi. The process I took to start on this project myself and Play went through his whole hard disk of beats. This guy has hundreds of beats from different genres, styles, and sounds. I also had material that I had written to other known songs. So I told Play to remake a beat around the original instrumental I wrote the song to with the same tempo. I also have some pretty nice features on this project like Rabadaba, Keko, Klear Kut, Lillian, and more. It was nice working with them usually we’re hanging out with each other but never got the chance to work with one another. So once we got into the studio the chemistry was already there cause we’re close and know each other.

Nice!!! When you returned to the music scene you dropped a mix-tape "The Prequel" now it's Game Of thrones we(as the fans) were hoping for an album what's taking you long to drop one?

THE PREQUEL MIX-TAPE

JB: I am working on the album. Creating an album is a little more complicated than a mixtape. There’s allot more that comes with an album, and when I drop mine I want it to be perfect from production, quality, art, and marketing of the project. Probably the album will drop next year summer.

What should your fans expect on this mix-tape that you haven't delivered to them yet and what makes this mix-tape different from the previous one?

JB: The fans can expect a more developed JB as far as being an artist. My delivery, subject matter, and writing skills have improved. On this project I’m giving you a glimpse of what you’ll get on the album to come. I get more personal on life, spiritual issues, and love. I believe the fans will not be expecting that side of JB so it will be real interesting I know they will love it.

How much is it going to cost and where can people get it both online and offline?

JB: You will be able to pick up the CD at Bold in Kisementi for only UGX 10,000. You’ll be able to get the other locations where it’s sold from my social media accounts.

What makes JB different from other rappers in the industry?

JB: My style, life experiences, how I can take issues and from the western world and relate them to matters here in Africa that we go through. I guess it's an advantage growing up on both sides of the world. I fell in love with hip-hop in the south in the states, and developed my style there. So when someone hears me they hear the emotion that southern hip hop artists have in their delivery.

What do you think about the current state of the Uganda hip-hop industry?!

JB: The state of the industry now has come a long way. From the days of DV8 in the early 2000’s UG has developed some good hip hop talent and has managed to get the genre to the fore front of the corporate market. We still have a long way to go in developing better musicians, producers, and even film production. We are getting there. Uganda has some of the best raw talent in East Africa. With the right molding in the next few years and us as an industry, country, and people sticking together we will go further than anybody in Uganda would have thought. Not even just hip hop but as Ugandan music in general.

Which (mainstream or underground) hip-hop artist has earned your respect and why?(One who is not from Klear Kut)

JB: There are a couple guys that have got my respect. Ruyonga is one, its good to see him getting his success cause he’s one of the mc’s that have come up from back in the day with us. Enygma is nice. I really like Tucker HD from AirportTaxi. He is going to be a beast in the next couple years.

Lastly we know that klear kut is working on a joint project( album), can you leak something about the project or something we should expect? Is it going to have Abba Lang (Langman) and Papito on?!

JB: Yeah it’s going to be crazy. The only reason it’s taken so long cause of our schedules and we want to get everyone on the project. Plus we want to make a classic album. We can get in the studio and put tracks together that’s nothing. We could give you two albums like that by December. But we want to put together a master piece, but don’t worry its coming real soon. I believe we’ll leak some tracks to tease the fans in the next couple months, or weeks. Yes Papito and Langman will be on the album the whole Klear Kut crew all five members.


JB  was born January 16th 1985 in Montreal, Canada. With Jamaican background, at the age of 4 JB and his parents moved to Kampala Uganda. He always had a love for music learning how to play the drums at an early age; he would play during the Sunday morning services. Later on in his life he gained an interest in rap and decided to further his talents in rapping. Returning from school in the States he linked up with old school friend Navio and formed a group called Killa Millz. Not too long after they linked up with three other friends named The-Mith, Langman, and Papito and formed Klear Kut.

With Klear Kut, they managed to release 3 albums (Mind, Body And Soul, K-Squared and Klear Discussion) that have received critical acclaim. ‘Mind, Body and Soul’, their first album garnered them 2 nominations at the all Africa KORA... Awards (Best Hip-Hop Artist and Revelation of the year), making them Uganda’s first ever group to receive such success.Like they say the rest is history.

Now back from  the States after years, JB is in the studio and he released his first solo project THE PREQUEL which is going to be followed by Game Of Thrones, his solo album and a joint album with Klear Kut.

Connect with Jb;

Twitter: @JballerUg 

Facebook: J Baller Ug

Get his music on hulkshare: Free Downloads

Follow
Twitter: @TheNinjaFelix
Faceboook: Byaruhanga Felix Felifed
Em@il: felixbyaruhanga@gmail.com

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TOP INFLUENTIAL UGANDAN RAPPERS

By Byaruhanga Felix (@TheNinjaFelix)


Before I dive deep into the details oft he article, I want to define the meaning of the word “influential” because I know by now you have scrolled down to the bottom of the list and you are protesting that a particular MC is not supposed to be on this list (btw you are free to come up with your own list too).

In.flu.en.tial:
Having or exercising influence.


in·flu·ence

noun

noun: influence; plural noun: influences

1.

the capacity to have an effect on the character, development, or behaviour of someone or something, or the effect itself.

This isn't a list of the best, most skilled or most successful, necessarily—so please don’t confuse being influential with being successful. So to me the rappers below have left a mark on the UG hip hop scene. They may not have a hot record on air but when they talk about Ugandan hip hop they have done a lot to impact the fans and inspire the young upcoming rappers. Now that I have gotten that out of way I present to you the top influential UG rappers in no specific order;

LYRICAL G

With the music culture of Uganda putting out 7albums and staying relevant to the fans/listeners isn’t easy because the genre keeps changing as young rappers join the industry and as the competition becomes stiff. Lyrical G has managed to stay consistent and improve as an artist. You can tell the difference between his first album LIVE FROM EAST AFRICAN in 2004 and his most recent album GROWN MAN TALK. He is a 2time PAM award hip hop artist of the year and founder/CEO of GMC Entertainment a hip-hop independent label which is a home to rappers like St.NellySade, AK47, Aggie.

BABALUKU

Babaluku is one of the pioneers of hip-hop in Uganda and originator of the LUGA FLOW. He is the founder of the Bavubuka All Stars Foundation an initiative that believes connecting youth music and the arts can transform lives and unify diverse communities, he is also the co-founder of THE BATABAKA SQUAD a Ugandan hip hop group that was formed in the mid-1990s that
went ahead to win the 2007 PAM award of best hip-hop single (“U take Anthem”). He is known for paving the way for most of the Luga Flow artists in Uganda through his BAVABUKA ALL STARZ FOUNDATION. His work has been recognized both locally and internationally such as Buzz Teen Awards Best Hip Hop artist; he was honored by the Ugandan Cultural Association for his excellence and also chosen as Pioneer of the year by the Words Beats and Life Remix Tech- In Awards.

SABA SABA a.k.a KRAZY NATIVE

 

He began his career in the 1993 with the BATAKA SQUAD as the co-founder of the group along with Babaluku and Shillingz. His hip hop career is believed to have kicked off when he met Lyrical G who was also a member of the BATAKA SQUAD. In 2000 he changed his style and became a social political conscious rapper and in 2002 he embarked on a solo project. In 2003 joined by Xenson, Jeff Ekongot, Francis Agaba and the late Paul Mawandha a.k.a P-Tech(R.I.P) they formed Uganda Hip Hop Foundation with the mission of promoting Ugandan Hip Hop in Uganda and worldwide. The foundation went ahead to sponsor the first hip hop summit and concert in 2003 which featured a lot of Ugandan artists like klear kut, Bataka Squad, MauriceKirya, Vampino, Benon and others.






 NAVIO

“....Future Rappers Can Use The Mould That I Perfected/
And Hopefully Get The Accolades I Collected/
In fact More, Go Further/ ...”
Navio (Skamaress Remix)

I guess after quoting those bars I don’t need to write more stories about what he has done or accomplished. He is the most commercial rap artist in UG and the most decorated hip hop artist in the country (5PAM Awards, 1Nigerian Entertainment Award, 4CMVAs, 6Buzz Awards, 3Hipipo Awards 4Channel O Nominations etc.). He is known to have influenced and pointed one of the best hip hop artists in the right direction like GNL.

THE-MITH

 

He is one of the best lyricists in Uganda if not the best that there is and he has held the UG flag on his back through his music. The only time Mith won't mention about being "SO UG" or "Representing UG" in one of his songs, is when it's a ladies song but he always reps where he comes from. He dropped his first project which was a mix-tape; September Reign Vol.1 which featured tracks like “SO UG” which turned into a saying, lifestyle and a fully-fledged brand which has him at the top as the CEO (Mr. So UG). The mix-tape was followed by his first studio album “The Week Of September”. He is known to have inspired most of the best
MCs in the country and to give them advice about the industry. He is currently working on his second studio album Destination: AFRICA.

GNL

 

Lugaflow was around from the mid-1990s but it was majorly underground. Through the hip hop canvas and the push given to him by his fellow artist Navio, GNL was able to take lugaflow from the underground onto the spotlight and largely introduced a huge crowd to hip hop world. His first record breaking album “KOYI KOYI/RIDDLES OF LIFE” received critical acclaim all over the
country and also got airplay on radio stations that initially didn’t want to play Ugandan hip hop considering it local and fake. He has won a bunch of awards which include; best male artist of the year Buzz Teens awards, 2best hip hop singles PAM awards etc. He is currently the CEO Baboon Forest Entertainment that’s a home to one of the best award winning hip hop artists like MUN*G, BigTril.

 

 SYLVESTER AND ABRAMZ

This is a veteran rap duo (blood brothers) that has played a vital role in the growth of the Ugandan hip hop scene from the underground to the mainstream. They have dedicated their skills to changing youth’s mindset to positive avenues of thinking through music. In 2003 they won an anti-corruption week theme song competition in different categories like Best rap song, best group and best performance for the song. They have inspired the use of luganda language
as a form of expression in rap music in an era where English has been dominant. Sylvester is currently working on his solo project with tracks like “OMULYA MAMBA” already released and is the Hip Hop coordinator at the Bayimba Cultural Foundation.


I would like also to appreciate the following rappers/personalities cause they have also supported the Ugandan hip hop industry in different ways;

• Shadrack Kuteesa/Founder of Platinum Ent, Hip Hop Canvas, upcoming hip hop magazine (IamHipHop).
• Steve Jean/Fenon Records
• Paul Mawandha a.k.a P-Tech(R.I.P)/Founder Ugandamusiconline.com
• Tshila/member of the pioneering hip-hop group, Bataka Squad.
• Papito, Langman, Jb/Klear Kut Members. 
• JT/founder Yego Productions
• Enygma 
• T-bro/kiga-flow rapper
• Lumix
• Mckenzie a.k.a The UG Hip-Hop Sherif/Founder RudeBoy Music.
• Saint C.A
• Lyrikal Proof

As I sign out, respect to every one  (the media, fans rappers and bloggers) that's pushing the Ugandan hip hop industry and whoever that is making it better than it was years ago.

Get in touch with writer;

Facebook: Byaruhanga FeLix FeliFed

Twitter: @TheNinjaFelix

Email: felix.byaruhanga@gmail.com

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