Welcome to a Special Edition of Off The Mic. This one is
purely for the AOC, the Army of CODE. Riding on the high y’all gave on Tuesday
when I showered with Birthday Love, I feel its time (and its only right) that I
share my best rap moments as CODE, with you. To whoever reads this; please know
that I am glad you are a part of the AOC and that your support means the world
to me. The only way I can repay such loyalty is to promise that I give you
Great Music, Hit after Hit. With that being said, here are my Top 21 Rap Moments (With
Pictures):
1. Meeting Lilian Mbabazi and Peace (Radiocity, Top 10
Countdown) – 2012.
A Shy Kid walked into Radiocity and told Lilian and Peace
that he was going to be a musician and make rap music. Little did he know his
words would prove prophetic in the months thereafter. That was the year the Stay Schemin UG Remix, Hands in the Stadium (Owaye) and Shut It Down were born.
2. Meeting Mister Deejay for the Shut It Down Premiere (Radiocity,
SNMS) – 2012.
I have always been a fan of SNMS and anyone who knows me
knows that. I had just finished recording my single Shut It Down and I badly
wanted the world to hear it. I originally sent Mister Deejay Hands in the
Stadium but he didn’t play it. I think he will if I get a CODE Power Hour but Shut
It Down is the one that he liked more. We discussed Constructive Criticism that
night, something all young rappers need.
3. Cooling with Essie, backstage at the Hot 100 Explosion –
2012.
Essie is like my partner in crime and I call her Lil Sis a
lot because she has had my back from Day 1. Ready to hit stages, we got on the
Hot 100 Explosion at Hotel Africana. C-Minor (my brother) was there in full
support so we weren’t nervous at all. In fact, we almost knew we were going to
rip the stage apart. So when the time came, we did what we always do. We SHUT
IT DOWN.
4. Twawambye
Sessions at GEUrban with Guest Appearences from Enygma and Young Nick – 2012.
GEUrban was
my first musical home when I started out. Met a gang of people there including
Aydee Dumba, one half of the infamous NGONI. Frankly, the first session I was
star struck but the feeling grew less when the sessions finally checked in. The
whole Twawambye Team was present: LP, Levy On The Beat, Young Suma, Essie, Jhay
Efekt. Even Stonetown was there, in spirit of course. Those sessions taught me a
lot about recording and production so don’t be surprised if you hear a CODE
track produced by CODE. We had guest verses from guys like Enygma and Young
Nick. Great exposure for a dude who was starting out in this music thing.
5. One Mic
Cyphers and On Set with Enygma for a Video Shoot (Benezeri's Girls From
Kampala) – 2012.
From
rooftops in Kamwokya to hidden roads in Bunga, One Mic was a journey for me. So
Severe had cats spitting lines like mad men. Found out about a lot of
underground MCs like Nemesis, Testament, Suspekt 92 and Benezeri, who later
invited me to his GFK Video Shoot. I didn’t make an appearance in the video but
again, Learning Experience for me. You know when you hear an MC saying “Man, I
Just been a Student of the Game” – These are moments they are talking about.
Hehehe…..
6. Celebrity
for Charity, Campaign for Life – 2012.
Location:
Royal Suites. Showing support for a good cause. There are types of cancer that I
didn’t know about until that day so I am glad I was a part of it. Knowledge is
Power.
7. KK and I rocking
the AOC sign during the Shut It Down Premiere (XFM, Xzit) – 2012
That has to
be one of the funniest interviews I have done. Dude is hilarious. Almost forgot
to talk about the song while I was there. You never prep interviews with KK.
Its Purely Freestyle. Kenneth, we need to have a chat about your interview skills. Smh.
8. Recording
The Shut It Down Remix with The Mith, Ruyonga, Enygma and Tucker HD (Yego) –
2013
This song
has the most interesting story behind it. I can’t even begin to tell you how it
went down but I will say this, UG needs more tracks like this. (Allow me to
brag). Definitely a Classic in my books.
9. Yego
Night, Performing The Shut It Down Remix for the first time – 2013
The Line-up was
insane that night. A Show with CODE, Navio, T-Bro, Flex D Paper, Big Tril, Jhay
Efekt and Mister Deejay is nothing short of EPIC. And the performances
reflected that. I gave the crowd a first listen to Revolution (LIVE) that
night. Now that I look back on it, I am glad we “held” onto the song a little
longer. The Shut It Down Remix was still banging.
10.
Organising an Independent Gig with Row Records in Mukono. The Hive Experience –
2013
OPU hit me up with an idea to do an
independent gig in Mukono and in October 2013, The Hive Experience was born. I
must admit, I was scared the turn up would be low since we did it on a
Saturday. But it was dope. Great Show, Even Greater Response. Might even do one
this year. Who knows?
11. First
Kwivuga Performance for the Shut It Down Remix – 2013
Poetry Art
and Music in one Event. Totally something up my alley. Priviledged to have
worked with Kinetic not once but twice at Kwivuga. My first time was performing
the Shut It Down Remix at Gatto Matto. Everyone was on stage. Yes, even the
Mith. Plus when the song was done, we jumped into freestyles. Held my ground
during a freestyle with Ruu.
12.
Revolution (The Song and the Session) – 2014
This song
basically set the tone for this year. Enygma and Kushe were brilliant on it.
The story behind this song is insane. Again, I feel i would need another
CODEConnect session just to talk about it but this track is special. Dare I say
it, a Game Changer.
13.
Performing Revolution for the first time – 2014
Enygma and I
put up a stellar performance at the Champion Concert that night. Something
about the darkness and stage lights and not being able to the crowd clearly
made the performance even darker than the actual song. Truth fact: I completely
forgot my lines 10 Minutes before I hit the stage. Had to find a small space to
go over them again with my phone, pacing back and forth till I was ready.
Nonetheless, that performance is one for the books.
14. Kwivuga
Finale – 2014
The Final
Kwivuga Show. You know I had to be a part of it. Dope Night, in my opinion. Gave
the audience a preview of Enter The Ring. Daniel Omara was mad with the jokes
that night. Something about a rat and a Drake song. Smh. (Only Omara, Only YOU)
15.
Performing for my former high school, Greenhill Academy – 2014
Career
Highlight. Definitely in my Top 5, if I had to narrow the list. The response
was nuts. When you have staff members flipping over Shut It Down, a song you
wrote about a year after leaving High School then you know you are doing
something right. Coach Abdul should be in the video.
16. Enter
The Ring – 2014
One of my
best studio sessions so far. The process was seamless and flawless at the same
time . A Pass did the hook with ease. My verses were almost effortless. (No I am
not bragging…..okay a little). We just had a great time in studio. Very
Talented Peeps. An awesome beat. You
know we had to do it justice.
17.Enter The Ring Premiere
Another SNMS Classic. A Pass had me speaking Jamaican on air. Mister Deejay tried as well. *cough cough*. Hehehe.
18.Cypher Session
Nothing beats performing to a familiar crowd. You always have the upper
hand. Thats what went down at Casa Mukono. They knew the hook before i
even sang it !!!! #EnterTheRing
19.Airtel Staff Party
A Corporate Affair / Turn Up. Kazoora in the back on hype duty. DJ Shiru
on the Ones and Twos. Airtel really knows how to throw a party.
20.Reaching to Katalemwa.
Celebrity for Charity. Receive Blessings and Give them back. Glad we put a smile on the face of another.
21.Navio Concert
Safe to say, They Know By Now. I am the Poster Child for New MCs. #EnterTheRing
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