In a recent episode of the NuveyLive Podcast, host Ayella NuveySHAWN sat down with Ugandan hip-hop artist, songwriter and entrepreneur Flex D’Paper. The “Kampala Boy” creator shared profound insights into his career longevity, the strategic “silence” behind his major moves, and the systems he has built to navigate the creative jungle.
Here are the key takeaways from their deep-dive conversation.
1. The Strategy of “Moving in Silence”
Addressing the common perception that he has been “quiet,” Flex explained that his absence from the charts isn’t a lack of productivity but a choice of intentionality [13:44]. Drawing inspiration from a Navio lyric—“I don’t release ’cause you can’t keep up”—Flex emphasized that he refuses to be pressured by the fast-paced nature of the modern music industry [06:42].
He believes that quality work takes time, noting that some of his biggest projects, like “Cheptegei” were held for five years before the timing felt right [08:04].
2. Quality Over Quantity: The “Major” Independent Route
Flex D’Paper is a firm believer in moving like a business, not just an individual. He shared advice for aspiring artists:
- Prioritize Quality: Even with limited resources, your work is a representation of who you are. Focus on clean visuals and professional artwork [20:18].
- Systems & Teams: “Independent” shouldn’t mean “alone.” Flex credits his success to his team, including mixing/mastering engineers like Sam Lamara and creative collaborators who help refine his vision [21:43].
- Move Like a Label: To “move major” while being independent, you must adopt the organizational structures of a major label [22:12].
3. Koncrete Media: Expanding the Empire
Beyond the microphone, Flex is building a legacy through Koncrete Media. He described Koncrete as more than just a music label; it’s a full-service media agency and studio [28:44].
- The Agency Arm: Handles voiceovers, TVCs, content creation, and documentaries [29:56].
- The Music Arm: After years of working behind the scenes for other artists (including Rickman and Navio), Koncrete is gearing up for its own releases, starting with the “Trifecta” EP featuring A-S Max [31:18].
4. Advocacy and Music with a Cause
The podcast touched on Flex’s commitment to social causes. His project “Not For Sale” was a campaign against human trafficking [51:15]. In a unique marketing move, the album art was a scanable barcode that allowed fans to download the project for free, with proceeds from associated events going toward advocacy [54:15]. He also discussed his work with Viva Con Agua to provide clean water and sanitation [52:42].
5. Handling “Cancel Culture” and Peer Opinions
When asked about past controversies, such as crowning Navio as the “Rap King” during a cipher, Flex remained unmoved [45:05]. He stated that while he listens to opinions, he doesn’t let “background noise” affect his stance.
“I know myself… I built this from the ground myself. You have to own your perspective.” [46:04]
What’s Next?
Fans can look forward to:
- “Amnesia“: His latest party-themed single, which is already nearing a million views on YouTube [01:08:02].
- Trifecta EP: The upcoming project from the Koncrete camp [01:08:53].
- Koncrete Conversations: A new documentary/podcast series documenting the journey of creative projects [01:09:02].
Watch the full interview on NuveyLive: Flex D’Paper: Building Creative Systems