As it stands, 2014 has been a good year for dancehall music in Uganda. From lamentations of a star struck neighbor, like Mulirwana which later became an anthem and a soundtrack to folks with smoking hot neighbors, to Khalifa Aganaga, Ziza Bafana and the lot. They have done quite well and they should raise their glasses to their good craftsmanship.
However, underneath the mainstream dancehall section lay an underdog who is slowly, swiftly, steadily and delicately making rounds. His name is Apass. Born Bagonza Alexander, Apass is the proverbial new kid on the block. His insanely awesome Tetubatya song is good enough to send the old boys into panic land. I am sure, after hearing this track over and over again, the old lads’ boxers were in a twist; wary and worried of the lad who, like his name, asks them to pave way for him to pass.
Tetubatya is, no doubt, a smart track. Apass, much as he is a bit new on the musical platform, sings with sheer fluidity. He has a rich voice; that commanding voice that seems to say, “I have come. It is my time!” It is a typical dancehall track and if there is anyone grappling with dancehall tracks, then, poor sod, he hasn’t listened to this song.
The producer, here, outworked himself on that beat. A pounding beat that lends the lyrics a comfy duvet where it ducks; the beat feeds Apass’ voice to come off as good as a typical dancehall lad would sound. Tetubatya is loosely translated as “we don’t fear them” and, surely, if you listen keenly, that voice doesn’t sound like a voice intimidated by anything, or anyone for that matter. And Apass, dear folks, seemingly looks to be armed with lyrical arsenals and he sounds as mature as though he has done this for ages. Daggers might come out on the whispering auto-tuned voice that hisses in the background, but, for the heck of it, the little annoying faint, silly, auto-tuned voice is silhouetted in the richness of the track.
Tetubatya, for the lack of a better verb, is as good as they come. It is time for Apass to prove music purists wrong who keep staring at their chromes and clocks for the song to fade off and the artiste to sink in a bowel of oblivion. Prove yourself, Apass. It is your time to shine. The clock starts ticking. Now.
Reviewed by BigEyeUg Team