Music- Riding on the backs of popular artistes
Apr 22, 2010
PROBABLY every artiste in Uganda has, at one time collaborated with another to produce a song. Collaborations give singers diversity and help them expand fan bases. But while making collabos is a side-show to the careers of most artistes, there is a whole group for whom they are core of their music
PROBABLY every artiste in Uganda has, at one time collaborated with another to produce a song. Collaborations give singers diversity and help them expand fan bases. But while making collabos is a side-show to the careers of most artistes, there is a whole group for whom they are core of their music careers. All the tracks that grant them status as remarkable players in the industry are in the form of collaborations and their solo efforts have been successful. Joseph Ssemutooke looked out for these specialised ‘collaboration singers.’
VIBOYO
This is the guy who arguably threw the best lines on the Goodlyfe track Nyumbani. Undoubtedly talented, he has been around for years, but for some reason his only impact has been where he has featured other artistes.
Nyumbani aside, Viboyo also made a mark with his cocky flow on Mr. DJ, and he has a promising new release with Leila called Muziki. But as far as his solo efforts go, he has had no success at all.
NUBIAN LI
He has two big differences from the other ‘collaborators’ here, that his many collaborations have been with only one artiste — Bobi Wine. His solo efforts have not been flops even though they have not exactly succeeded either.
But still he remains a collaboration artiste It is also not debatable that Li’s biggest tracks to date, are the duets with Bobi Wine — Abalungi Balumya, Ghetto, Adam ne Kawa. However, it is worth noting that on this list, Nubian is most likely to make it on his own.
VAMPOSS
He was part of the duo, Benon and Vamposs. When Benon quit singing to concentrate on production, the duo collapsed. Vamposs also quit the studio and podium. However, Vamposs is back to the industry as a solo artiste, and this time round he seems to bring chiefly collaborations.
As testified by his appearances on one of Radio and Weasel’s latest Tell It, Zarie’s Jukira and American-based Antonio Burkur’s Kyeko. We are yet to see what becomes of his single Twekunyakunya
RENAH
Since she went solo, the most successful efforts of the former Dream Galz member have been Tebamanyi which she did with Chameleone and Empisa Zo done with Henry Tigan. Through her solo efforts Omukwano Gwo and Namufunye have been modest successes. The collaborations are largely responsible for her current status.
DIZZY NUTS
Who has forgotten Dizzy’s thunderous barritone alongside Bebe Cool on the 2008 chart-burster Fire Burn Dem? He had another less popular collaboration with Bebe Cool called Mungatto, before the two artistes fell out, and now in his life after Bebe Cool, he continues to supply his barritones on collaborations. Only none of them has been a hit.
MOSH
Having literally built his name as a musician featuring on other artistes’ tracks, Mosh is the king of the kraal here. It is just hard to think of a solo track from him. Over the years, we have enjoyed him on the Obsessions’s Nod Ya Head, Ngoni’s Digi, Dorothy Bukirwa’s Nubian Queen, Sweet Kid’s Abizaayo, on the All-stars’ A Little Bit, on Weekend Party with Desire Luzinda, but none of his
RACHEL K
She is disadvantaged in that she is not a first speaker of Luganda. It follows naturally that she would have to work with someone else if she is to make impact. The result: Her most successful songs are collaborations like Unanuimiza with Radio and Weasel, I Love the Way You Move with Karen and Muyaye with Iryn Namubiru.
MICKIE WINE
Bobi Wine’s baby brother no doubt has a voice with both the flair and power that superstar singers are made of. But unlike big brother, Mickie has struggled to make a hit of his own. Rather he has been most successful where he has worked with other artistes, like on Yanimba with Eddie Kenzo; No1 with Cindy; Juliana with Marlon and his latest Bali Bana with Marion and Marlon. Mickie, we are still waiting for a hit solo from you!
TICKIE-TAH
He is the guy of the Bwosaba and Nayimbaa Nasinzanga Yesu fame, his biggest tracks to date on which he featured Jose Chameleone. The gospel artiste has also had a collaboration with Bebe Cool, Praise God, while his other collaborations include Kanyimbe and Bwaaba Gwe, which both feature Bebe Cool and Crystal Fabulous. However, it seems like collaborations are all he is good at.
MR. X
You surely know him from the 2005 single Baby Gal on which he features Chameleone. But can you name any other big song he has done since? Well, Mr. X has left Leone Island Crew and is now a member of the Goodlyfe Crew, but even at Goodlyfe, he is still very much a man of collaborations featuring on other singers’ tracks — never mind that those tracks have not been hits either.
VIBOYO
This is the guy who arguably threw the best lines on the Goodlyfe track Nyumbani. Undoubtedly talented, he has been around for years, but for some reason his only impact has been where he has featured other artistes.
Nyumbani aside, Viboyo also made a mark with his cocky flow on Mr. DJ, and he has a promising new release with Leila called Muziki. But as far as his solo efforts go, he has had no success at all.
NUBIAN LI
He has two big differences from the other ‘collaborators’ here, that his many collaborations have been with only one artiste — Bobi Wine. His solo efforts have not been flops even though they have not exactly succeeded either.
But still he remains a collaboration artiste It is also not debatable that Li’s biggest tracks to date, are the duets with Bobi Wine — Abalungi Balumya, Ghetto, Adam ne Kawa. However, it is worth noting that on this list, Nubian is most likely to make it on his own.
VAMPOSS
He was part of the duo, Benon and Vamposs. When Benon quit singing to concentrate on production, the duo collapsed. Vamposs also quit the studio and podium. However, Vamposs is back to the industry as a solo artiste, and this time round he seems to bring chiefly collaborations.
As testified by his appearances on one of Radio and Weasel’s latest Tell It, Zarie’s Jukira and American-based Antonio Burkur’s Kyeko. We are yet to see what becomes of his single Twekunyakunya
RENAH
Since she went solo, the most successful efforts of the former Dream Galz member have been Tebamanyi which she did with Chameleone and Empisa Zo done with Henry Tigan. Through her solo efforts Omukwano Gwo and Namufunye have been modest successes. The collaborations are largely responsible for her current status.
DIZZY NUTS
Who has forgotten Dizzy’s thunderous barritone alongside Bebe Cool on the 2008 chart-burster Fire Burn Dem? He had another less popular collaboration with Bebe Cool called Mungatto, before the two artistes fell out, and now in his life after Bebe Cool, he continues to supply his barritones on collaborations. Only none of them has been a hit.
MOSH
Having literally built his name as a musician featuring on other artistes’ tracks, Mosh is the king of the kraal here. It is just hard to think of a solo track from him. Over the years, we have enjoyed him on the Obsessions’s Nod Ya Head, Ngoni’s Digi, Dorothy Bukirwa’s Nubian Queen, Sweet Kid’s Abizaayo, on the All-stars’ A Little Bit, on Weekend Party with Desire Luzinda, but none of his
RACHEL K
She is disadvantaged in that she is not a first speaker of Luganda. It follows naturally that she would have to work with someone else if she is to make impact. The result: Her most successful songs are collaborations like Unanuimiza with Radio and Weasel, I Love the Way You Move with Karen and Muyaye with Iryn Namubiru.
MICKIE WINE
Bobi Wine’s baby brother no doubt has a voice with both the flair and power that superstar singers are made of. But unlike big brother, Mickie has struggled to make a hit of his own. Rather he has been most successful where he has worked with other artistes, like on Yanimba with Eddie Kenzo; No1 with Cindy; Juliana with Marlon and his latest Bali Bana with Marion and Marlon. Mickie, we are still waiting for a hit solo from you!
TICKIE-TAH
He is the guy of the Bwosaba and Nayimbaa Nasinzanga Yesu fame, his biggest tracks to date on which he featured Jose Chameleone. The gospel artiste has also had a collaboration with Bebe Cool, Praise God, while his other collaborations include Kanyimbe and Bwaaba Gwe, which both feature Bebe Cool and Crystal Fabulous. However, it seems like collaborations are all he is good at.
MR. X
You surely know him from the 2005 single Baby Gal on which he features Chameleone. But can you name any other big song he has done since? Well, Mr. X has left Leone Island Crew and is now a member of the Goodlyfe Crew, but even at Goodlyfe, he is still very much a man of collaborations featuring on other singers’ tracks — never mind that those tracks have not been hits either.