HIP-HOP as a cultural movement includes rap music, break dance, graffiti art and slang. In Uganda, hip-hop music is fast-picking, thanks to artsites like Sylvester and Abramz.
Despite the few fans of hip-hop in Uganda, the budding rappers have remained true to it. They do more than rap: break
dance and graffiti. They remind us of the inventers of hip-hop music like Dr. Dre who composed songs with messages that were meant to uplift black communities all over the world.
“We know that hip-hop is less appreciated here, but we won’t give up. We have remained faithful to real hip-hop,” says Abramz.
Indeed, their song, Lemerako (never give up), reflects their persistence. Lemerako encourages people to persist in whatever they are doing.
Sylvester and Abramz say they want to take hip-hop back to its original flavour and give Ugandan hip-hop its own identity that an average Ugandan can relate to.
The Lemerako video was shot in places including Kasubi (where they live), Nakulabye, Mulago, Kisenyi, Owino Market and Kimathi Avenue. The video features the life of the average Ugandan.
