By Nimusiima
It seems Uganda’s Hip-Hop has staggered off its deathbed where it had been for a longtime breathing through an oxygen mask, shoving larger-than-life pills down its sore throat. It’s evident in the way Hip-Hop has taken the front seat over the years. And it has steadily continued its long battle in trying to out-compete its bitter nemesis, what folks call, ‘kidandali’ music. We have seen Hip-Hop artistes inviting others on the table for a tipple (read: collabos). Benezeri wasn’t left behind. He joined the movement. The highly-ranked young rapper, here, merged talents with Santana – a lad who has been at the apex of Uganda’s Hip-Hop lately.
One word describes Abeyo: awesome. An unfamiliar voice opens it. I am certain it’s the largely unknown Glen Fame who hisses on the beat. Benezeri falls in unannounced, spitting bar-after-bar. There is the way Benezeri raps as though he can do it in his sleep. Effortlessly. Like he pats his lips and words omit out with reckless abandon. However, later, the song takes a different angle. It takes a seemingly dancehall path when Santana falls in. You’re tempted to jump someone’s bones, to take it to the dance floor. I think that’s what makes the song stick out. Its ability to digress and reluctantly remains hidden in the dancehall setting and delicately avoids to come off as wack, as an attempt at a good song. It’s a good song with a slight unadulterated feel to it. I mean, Santana is renowned for his witty and mockery approach to music. It’s worked for him. He merges with Benezeri on this, Abeyo, which literally translates as ‘of those ends’ and, it seems, it’s not a shabby piece of music. Good job, lads. Good job.
Listen to the song below: