Did Baru popularise the Ugandan trap sound?
You can’t talk about the evolution of Uganda’s hip-hop in the last decade without Baru’s name coming up. Popularly known for his crisp, genre-bending production, Baru has strong collaborations. It is obvious that he is not just a beat-maker. He is indeed a taste maker. But as the trap wave continues to sweep through Uganda’s hip-hop scene, one question still lingers; Did Baru popularise the Ugandan trap sound?
[Baru] always teetering on the edge between hip-hop purism and a futuristic flair.
Trap as a genre in Uganda, has been reinterpreted- infused with local languages, the street culture and even youthful rebellion. It is gritty, bass-heavy, and very introspective. While several artists and producers have played a role in the rise of trap as a genre, Baru’s handprint is definitely hard to miss. Think Pryce Teeba’s “Side Zeno”.
From as far back as the Redefinitions The Beat days, Baru has experimented with what is considered unorthodox sounds- always teetering on the edge between hip-hop purism and a futuristic flair. It was only through projects like Young King, the memorable Kambajulire, African Stories, and his collaborations with Ruyonga, Naxa, Byg Ben and Delboy that he started to introduce darker 808s, skittering hi-hats, and minimalist synths- which are essentially the signature blueprints of trap, but this time with a Ugandan twist.
By the time The New Wave started to take hold, Baru had already built a foundation for what Ugandan trap sounds like. Even when he produced “More” and later “Dear Hip Hop” he showcased his ability to be diverse and influential in main and sub genres.
To say Baru single-handedly created the trap movement in Uganda would ignore the contributions of several other artists that have undeniably played a significant role in the evolution and development of trap. But to deny that Baru has helped define and polish the sound for a broader, more refined audience would also be false. He has laid a brick in Ugandan Hip Hop and continues to do so.
What makes him stand out isn’t just his consistency, but also his ability to adapt trap to different artist’s strengths, giving their projects unique qualities while still pushing the boundaries of what Ugandan hip-hop could be. His work has laid a roadmap that other producers and rappers in the industry have followed or been inspired and influenced by.
If anything, Baru may not have invented the Ugandan trap sound but has significantly helped to grow it. He has contributed to giving it structure, identity- even legitimacy, especially among hip-hop purists who once dismissed trap as lacking lyrical depth.
Today, as a younger generation of artists continues to ride the trap wave, Baru’s influence lingers in the basslines, the mood, and the meticulousness of their production. He may not be the only architect of the sound- but he very well may be its most defining producer.
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