The long teased album, Kabalega is out now. The album came out at midnight, Friday 24th May. The 11 tracks LP features Zex Bilangilangi, Andy Muzic, Truth256, Chief (of the Clansmen), Felicity, Yvvone Kushe, Zoe Star, Afrigo Band, Wonder JR, Ray G, Rickman Manrick, Ykee Benda and Beenie Gunter.
“Katrina (No Job)” doesn’t make the cut on this album. A quick good listen!
This is a first impression of the album after a 35 minutes listen.The album is themed around the Bunyoro – Kitara great hero Omukama Kabalega Chwa. Ruyonga is saying he is, King at this thing called rap.
The album opens with the cinematic Intro with vocals of Yvvone Kushe. A proper openning for an album themed around a great leader of the Banyoro who defied the British influence on Uganda. Not sure if Ruyonga is saying he is a great fighter or leader but in rap maybe.
“Kitara” drops in with featuring Ruyonga’s younger rap brothers, a generation he is ushering in to us or reintroducing. The Kitara nation of rappers? We witness Runyoro and Runyakole flows from Ruyonga, Truth and Chief respectively. The track sets the tone for the album, more viscious, the rappers break down their roots and what they set out for: any smoke?
Don’t get it twisted his verses are solid!
Ruyonga recently popularised the phrase nonstop or Rruu nonstop and Anaza one with the weekly freestyles since last year. As usually a rappers rapper for some and in that style “Teli Kuzikiza” alerts us there’s no holding back. Andy Muzic offers a brilliant backdrop for the “fire” flow for Mr. Ruyonga Edwin. I asked my self however why did he use that hook? The “Terikuzikiza” phrase which is also the title of the song that MC Ollo has used and sung almost at the same cadence as Ruu does – it is tired. Recho Rey has a debut song with a similar… let me let it be there. The song was better off with Andy Muzic’s fire adlib. Don’t get it twisted his verses are solid!
Spirituality and reflection are at play when “All I Want” hits. Ruu speaks on family, his daughters, culture and things he wishe(d)s for. On this he features felicity. It is the most vulnerable part of the album.He talks rapping in different languages to show how African he is and says he doesn’t wnat to seem forced tbecuase he always represent his culture. It also takes us further back to Voice of My Father as he speaks to His father but from a reflective point of view.
“Sunset” is a perfect 90’s throw back for every one who grooved to music from that era. To anyone inquisitive and younger it offers you a sound Ruu likely alludes to, his beginnings. It is a decent timestamp sound. It is nostalgia! It is Hip Hop, a rap move. Zoe Star offers the necessary hook. The song is bright, it’s that vacation type of sound.
“Jim” tries to relive the classic Afrigo “Jim Wange”. The message is appropriate. I feel the pedigree of the original song does the trick. It is memorable for sampling Afrigo’s original song (think Joanita Kawalya’s voice). To sample a great song needed more from Zoe Star? It is one song that may easily get a miss or hit depenidng what scope you are using. It is a bridging of the gap song and I applaud Ruyonga for sharing some of the vibes from the legendary band.
Ray G does exactly one thing: make singing about love sound easy and pure, like a continuation of the previous song and a precursor for the next (song) thematically. The two deliver on “Akamuli” a dear love laden and beautiful, mellow song. The song is bright as the lovers they describe to being like a flower.
“Saala” is a standout single that we have heard before. Ykee and Ruyonga should make more music together. The song is a display of creative synergy and harmony. Sound is distinct. It sounds like they made the song in 30 minutes and knew they made such a powerful song, a fan’s pontential favourite. I love it!
For “Kwettega” toast to Ruu for having a younger artist on the project to tap into the younger audience. This is the song that killed the hype “Parte Yani” had because it came out a few months after and Ruyonga diverted the attention. (This is a marketing take forgive me). The song however is playful and less rapping rappity Ruyonga. It is good to see that side of him and matching the Rickman Manrick approach. This is not Gospel Ru, It is commercial Ruu and that is the album Kabalega. The first half is more in tune to culture however he is simply saying I’m king and a man (see album cover).
The follow up song is “Burn Up” with Beenie Gunter screaming we are “too lyrical” and you know what follows? Ruu taking up different styles Patois Ruyonga, Dancehall Ruyonga and it is one for the clubs.
To carry on the energy: “Parte Yani” is the most popular song on the album. His hit song that could have had way more potential to crossover. I get why he ends with this song. He seals the whole album conversation with the song that actually is a banger as said on the song. Zex’s utterance “Ruyonga Yo Bad” reinforces how skilled a rapper Ruu is. It works for the album! Imagine a remix was on here?
At the end of the album, there’s so little the album offers except a reminder Ruyonga has so many styles and can evoke his Krukid, party, chill, vulnerable side and multi lingual self when he wants to. It feels more like a compilation much as it is about him being Kabalega, love and relationships and less of rap. AND that is all that matters!
For a newer audience it is a joyride, easily digestable and for core fans it’s yet another decent half hour body of work to celebrate Ruyonga since his previous album Voice of My Father (Jan. 3rd 2018).
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