Let’s be honest, this year has not been the best when it comes our musicians. A whole lot of them have released lacklustre songs that make you wonder why they even wasted time and money to go to studio and make that kind of music. Well, it is their money and time so we will let that go.
Nevertheless, there have been some musicians that have put in the work and made some really good music, and Matooke Republic has selected 10 of the best that have come out this year. Brethren and sistren, prepare your ears for what is about to befall you.
- Parte after parte by BigTril
There is literally nothing we are going to say about Parte after Parte that has not been said, but all we can say is this is hands down our song of the year. Parte after Parte has topped charts almost everywhere on the continent, has had music heavyweights like Davido, Don Jazzy, Wizkid, American rapper Cardi B and her husband Offset vibe to it and endorse how big a tune is.
Parte after Parte also Topped BBC Radio 1Xtra’s Top 5 songs at the beginning of this month. The song, just like its title, highlights the party life of Ugandans, who go for party after party, after party after party.
2. Wire wire by Bebe Cool
Putting his controversial Silent Majority aside, Bebe Cool has been on top of his game this year producing hit after hit, but it is his Wire Wire song that stood out for us.
Written and produced by Ronnie and mixed and mastered by HerbertSkillz, Bebe Cool’s vocals fell almost perfectly on the dancehall beat and he accompanied it with one of the cleanest videos we have seen this year.
3. Gutujja by B2C featuring Rema Namakula
Released in April this year, this song predicted what would occur in the lives of one of the artistes in this song Rema Namakula and her then lover, Eddy Kenzo. Putting that aside, Gutujja was nicely done as B2C boys had their voices blend so well with Rema’s.
Nessim’s production is marvellous, and the accompanying video shot by the in-form Aaronaire did not disappoint. This song has produced two catchy phrases; love nigga and semyekozo that have trended in the last quarter of this year.
4. Squeeze by Voltage Music ft Fille
Voltage Music and Fille gave us this banger and went to bed, musically speaking. They have not had a better song after releasing Squeeze you would think they squeezed out all their creativity on this song.
Going by the title, the story runs along the lines of asking for a ‘squeeze’ dance from a lady, and other things like promising the lady anything if she goes on to give the man her number.
5. Bango by Rickman and DT Timo
All Rickman did was to freestyle on a beat and boom, a hit! Produced by the young and talented Artin Pro, Bango is a ghetto-inspired song that gives a nod to the high standards that have been set by people who live or grew up in the ghetto in the different spheres of life.
On its release, this song took the country by storm, and has continued to do so the entire year.
6. Omusheshe by Ray G ft Spice Diana
It is safe to say that this is the song that launched Ray G’s career in other regions of the country apart from the west where he was already a household name.
Sung in both Luganda and Runyankore by Spice Diana and Ray G respectively, Omusheshe has done amazingly well this year.
7. Chikibombe by Levixone
This is the only gospel song that has made it to this list because of one thing: It cuts across all secular and gospel music boundaries because it is simply a good song. Levixone did tremendously well on this Daddy Andre-produced track.
The song glorifies what God has done for Levixone, and its video has a host of other Ugandan celebrities making cameos while singing a line or two from the song.
Chikibombe is a joy to watch, and a pleasure to listen to, even if we don’t know what the word ‘chikibombe’ actually means.
8. Nkuloga by Grenade Official
Put aside the controversies that have surrounded Grenade in the last months of this year, his song Nkuloga was a smash hit from the day it was released.
This is the song that has launched Grenade into the deep waters of stardom, as the song literally took him places, and one of those places is the top of several charts on TV stations and Radio channels.
9. Do dat by John Blaq
Another artiste of the year contender, John Blaq’s unique style in the delivery of lyrics in his songs has earned him a spot on the table of successful musicians this year.
His song Do dat produced by T.O.N has been played almost everywhere and has been on almost every DJ’s playlist ever since it was released in the last week of May this year.
With an entertaining video shot by again, Aaronaire, it has racked in more than 1.5 million views on YouTube. Not so bad a feat to achieve for a breakout star that John Blaq is.
10. Love yo by Feffe Bussi
Slowly moving into the big void left by his inspiration and mentor GNL Zamba, Feffe Bussi has cemented his spot as one of the most creative and in-demand Lugaflow rappers in Uganda. He has appeared in remixes and on joint projects with other artistes but his solo effort Love yo has stood out for us this year.
Produced by Route of Bomba Musik, Feffe Bussi actually sings instead of rapping on this one, and we can say he executed it pretty well.
Bonus Tracks:
- Boom Party by Cindy
- Omu Bwati by Fik Fameica ft Patoranking.