#CODESalute-Greenhill At 20!

By Byaruhanaga Felix (@TheNinjaFelix)

"1,300 voices still ringing in my ear. Three floors of people all on their feet, a tidal wave of cheers. The staff members came to party The students rapped word for word and almost out-sung Essie.Music is a powerful thing but NONE of my previous performances can compare to today's SHUT IT DOWN performance. And as i took my seat after the show, the last stage item was a prefect's tribute performance to the old students.Then I hear: "We came to party..."

A tribute to me! Honestly, I went to Greenhill Academy today to give back, but the level of love and loyalty they have shown me was too unreal. Definitely a career highlight for me.

Extend your horizons"

---CODE(Monday After The Greenhill Ghosa Performance)

Every person has one of those winning moments in their career and we at The Tribe UG believe that this was one of them for CODE (real name- Timothy Muhumuza). We have been closely following his musical journey and judging from CODE's open letter above, its clear that June 23rd will forever remain etched in the heart of this talented MC. CODE was humbled with an invite to perform at the Green Hill Old Students Association week event. Greenhill being CODE's former high school, stands as one of the building blocks that helped to create the Revolutionary artist we have come to respect and established himself as one of the core flag-bearers of "New School Urban UG Music".

We got in touch with CODE to tell us more about the Monday morning performance.
"Imagine walking through those navy blue gates down to a school that you haven't been in for 3 years. Looking for familiar faces and immediately being thrown back to time when you were a student. Hearing your name being announced at the same assembly you used to attend from third floor outside the arts class. Performing on stage to a crowd of 1,300 students. Now imagine each and everyone of those students rapping your first hit single word for word and singing the hook like they learnt it in class. And finishing off with a wave of enormous applause. That was Monday for me."

When asked about his time in Greenhill, CODE recalls his high levels of wit and fun that went down during his literature classes and how he seems to have fallen in love with words at that time.
"Literature was MY TIME to shine. I always had an answer for everything I was asked. It's like I was never short of words. Sometimes, that confidence got me more attention than necessary but to me, it was always great feeling to play  with words, expand knowledge and to read widely....And it shows in my music. My poetry classes had Rhythm and Rhyme lessons in them. Rhythm And Poetry=RAP!!!" CODE says.

He also praises Greenhill for being the birthplace for his major hit, Shut It Down. "Shut It Down wouldn't have happened if I didn't meet Ms .Ariho Esther at Greenhill whom you know as Essie. She sang everywhere man you name it. At assemblies, talent shows, sunday services, everywhere. We clicked and i told her that one day when we left high school, we would do a song together."
SHUT IT DOWN became that song and flung CODE into mainstream UG Hip-Hop. We now see why CODE loves Greenhill so much.

For those of you who couldn't catch CODE on Monday, don't miss the  Kwivuga Finale, a fusion of poetry music and art going down tonight at Gatto Matto. CODE announced that he will be performing a snippet of his upcoming single "ENTER THE RING" that features Apass. Show starts at 8pm!

Connect With CODE
Facebook (Artist Page) : CODE 

Facebook (Group) : www.facebook.com/groups/Army Of CODE 
Twitter : @TimothyCODE 
Instagram : @timothycode 
Reverbnation - www.reverbnation.com/CODEUG 
Soundcloud - www.soundcloud.com/codeug 
MyZiki - www.myziki.com/code 
Tumblr - timothycode.tumblr.com 
Google+ - Timothy CODE 
Youtube - www.youtube.com/user/TimothyCODE

Contact Writer;
Facebook: Byaruhanga Felix
Twitter: @TheNinjaFelix
Email: felixbyaruhanga@gmail.com

Read More

OFF THE MIC-CODE [Interview]

 

By Byaruhanga Felix (@TheNinjaFelix) 

As we said, every Thursday will be #CODEConnect in which  CODE gets to interact with his fans. Last week we had #AskCODE in which fans asked CODE questions which went ahead to be among the top trending topics on twitter in the country . In case you missed it just go search for the hastag #AskCODE. This Thursday we have CODE back again under the segment of "OFF THE MIC". Off The Mic s a segment in which CODE takes  his audience behind the scenes of his rap journey as an artist documented through pictures, short videos and interviews of the people around him and CODE himself. So, this week he waalks us through his studio sessions and writing process.

QN: First tell us about how you develop your concepts?!

I like writing songs. Like actual songs. So for me its more about what am going to say than how i will say. The Illest Punchlines give you respect in a day but a song with meaning gives you loyalty to your brand. Concepts normally arise from a personal experience but in writing i broaden the view so that more people can relate. For example, the concept of Shut It Down is a Celebration of Youth. And alot of people especially in Kampala can relate to a party setting or a celebratory mindset. And the verses reflect that. Verse 1 could be the Alpha Male in his crew who loves music and loves to party. Verse 2 is the same Alpha Male approaching a Female at a Party and playfully flirting with her. Common Scenario and everyone can relate. Thats how i develop concepts.

QN: How is a typical CODE studio session set up like?! Any special treatments you get before jumping into the booth?! Weed, vodka?!

Walk In. Spit Bars. Walk Out. Hehehehe on the real tho, I come to Studio prepared. I practice my verses at home. Go over them. Master the differences in tone so that i know how to say it in the booth. All Except Writers Club (Twawambye Remix) - I wrote that in the studio and recorded the same day. I like clean sessions. No weed No Vodka. Same with my performances. I believe in Clean Energy and it runs from the booth all the way to the stage. Depending on the song, i sometimes do more than one take just to compare. All the Shut It Down Remix verses were done in one take. But i do switch it up occassionally especially if i have a change of tone in the verse. After the first take, its mostly Tweak This, Adjust that. Back-Ups and Ad Libs. I let the producer work his magic with effects after that. I am big on arrangements so when i hear a vocal that i like, i ask the producer to place it where its most suitable. Thats a CODE Session.





QN: Let's talk about your latest project REVOLUTION, its getting a lot of airplay and attention.What's the secret behind it?! Tell us about how it came about. (Download Revolution Here)

Revolution started as a discussion i had with Enygma based on a beat from Josh SB. The beat which eventually became Revolution was initially called Krazy Flow. Because i just wanted to flow Krazy on it. But Enygma decided we can do more on the song. We began bouncing ideas around and the "Life of a Hip Hop artist" came up. Challenges. Obstacles. How we are perceived. What is expected of us. And i centered both my verses on that. Enygma took a more current grass-root approach. Seeing the song from the Ugandan eye. I wrote my first 8 bars of the first verse in my room . Then changed the next 8 bars to reflect what a typical conversation about a rapper would sound like. Can He Freestyle ? Is his flow sick ? Can He Battle Rap ? Punch a Line Quick ? All these bits when put together reflect the life of a hip hop artist. I wrote the hook based on the thought pattern most artists have. Asking themselves whether what they do is worth doing. Worth fighting for. Spotlight on them 24/7. Do they entertain or Do they explain whats on their hearts ? I can say Revolution was written in a very introspective mindset.



Connect With CODE


Facebook (Artist Page) : CODE
Facebook (Group) : www.facebook.com/groups/

Army Of CODE
Twitter : @TimothyCODE
Instagram : @timothycode
Reverbnation - www.reverbnation.com/CODEUG
Soundcloud - www.soundcloud.com/codeug
MyZiki - www.myziki.com/code
Tumblr - timothycode.tumblr.com
Google+ - Timothy CODE
Youtube - www.youtube.com/user/TimothyCODE

Contact Writer;
Facebook: Byaruhanga Felix
Twitter: @TheNinjaFelix
Email: felixbyaruhanga@gmail.com

Read More