The-Mith: 'The Week of September'

HIP-HOP continues its dominance of the music industry in Uganda. It’s no longer accurate to simply say it’s on the rise; it took over ages ago, and as one word-play MC said in a marathon track, the competition (from other genres) is SO dead.

The Week of September, The Mith’s latest album, defines this dominance, managing to ride with a wonderful cross-over feel which will make it popular with a wide selection of music aficionados while still staying true to the hip-hop genre.

It also shows a cleaner edge to the Mith’s rhymes. He was always easily an astute urban poet, rapping with an ease that would want to make you take notes but he now links his lyrical prowess with an ear for the beat that was often lacking in his earlier work.

Improved production probably explains this new sound, but that would be taking away credit from an artiste who has been coming into his own for some time now.

The album features an impressive star cast of artists: GNL on the track Where I’m From that sounds so UG!); Don MC, Navio (on Boss Vaawo); Tickie Tah (on the daring reggae-esque track, Fire); Unique’s soothing vocals (on She’s Telling Me, and the simply outwardly Amina Mina); Lillian Mbabazi and the beautiful authentic sounds of Percussion Discussion (on the hard-driving Toast To Life); Klear Kut (on the urban jam Fresh) and Bobi Wine and Vampino (on the track Big Is Me, a song that I am sure Bebe Cool will be interested in listening to).

DJ Alludah also lends some turn-table cred to the album on Line 4 Line and Kampala Si Bizimbe.

In his Intro track, The Mith drops this marker: “I pushed the industry further…” On The Week of September, Tom Mayanja certainly does.