Music changes and so do the game’s dynamics. Gone are the days when it was a must for artistes to chest thump to show fans and industry enthusiasts how fresh they were or how epic their sound was. Today, the music and the vibe is the craftsman’s mouth piece and if there is anybody embodying this, it is new kid on the block, Kasozi Batende James, best known when he switches up character as VIP Jemo.
Hiphop has switched lanes world over from the hardcore poetry to associated genres like trap, drill and grime and it has not been any different in the Ugandan music capital. There was a time when hardcore Lugaflow ruled the airwaves with spitters like GNL being the poster children of the genre and when Hiphop had gone into a recession, a new sound emerged and we did not know who to associate it with. Musicians like Fik Fameica are a product of that sound and now we have a challenger in VIP Jemo.
Rap style
Jemo’s rap style is effortlessly smooth and distinct. He keeps it playful regardless of whether he is dropping a lethal bar or a double entendre. He embodies the spirit of the vibe even when placed in a genre that calls for hardcore beats. He manages to get away with it not mentioning his crafty but clever wordplay.
One song that particularly stands out is Sima. On the second verse he goes bananas while dropping an arsenal of rhyming words about how the music takes over the spirit but still manages to keep his composure.
He then catches himself insanely rhyming only to remember that he has business to take care of so he smoothly diverts his guns to this girl who is driving him nuts. It is wildly genius.
His vibe and art of style/fresh
This kid is insanely fresh. His style of fashion is a fusion of what most rappers on the UK grime scene rock fused with the spirit of a cool kid next door. In the Sima visuals, he rocks colourful sports jackets in shades of neon, yellow and pink. He compliments the look with skin tight jeans or alternative track suit pants.
He maintains his swagger as he seems to be all about having a good time. When he feels like, he drops an ill dance move and when he doesn’t, he sucks on a lollipop while swerving the vintage steering wheel of an ice cream Volkswagen van.
He does pull off some braggadocio when he rubadubs a fine girl in a bandit mask, it is a move not even your best rapper could pull off.
This kid is undoubtedly the future and we have our eyes and ears open what he has in store for us.