Click here to listen to music from Keko
Keko-the hip hop inspiration by 1544c Ssejjombwe. (+256-782233273)
Born to Dorothy and Alex Achola, Jocelyn Tracy Keko (which means early in the morning in her native language), grew up with a vision of becoming a force to reckon with in the music industry and making it she’s doing because her three singles are fast receiving regional approval.
So who is Keko?
Keko is a Ugandan artist who comes from Tororo and a Japhadola who happens to love music.
A sneak peak into your Background?
Born to Mr Alex and Dorothy Achola, Keko is the last born of 3 girls and schooled from Rock view primary school, St Noah and Maryhill High School before pursuing a Bachelor of Commerce at Makerere University.
This is one question I always ask artists especially when it’s my first time to interview them. Why music and not any other profession?
If memory serves me correct, I had a passion for music ever since I can remember and that is basically why I always party crashed ceremonies with an excuse of performing.
I believe I was born to do this.
Why hip hop in a country dominated by “Kidandali”?
I wanted to be a different female artist altogether because most women have failed to put a stamp on the scene especially in hip hop. So I got up to the challenge of being that one particular person who represented the female gender in the hip hop category.
So who inspired you to join this kind of profession?
My first inspiration is my late mother Dorothy Achola but musically, I’ve always been inspired by artists like Loraine Hill, 2pac, Nicki Minaj, Game, Nas the list is endless.
Which Record label are you signed to and what is their role in your music career?
Apparently, I’m not signed to any Record Label but Crystal Klear Entertainment owned by Steven Ochola acts as my C.E.O and the management bit of it is taken care of by Platinum Entertainment.
Already, you’ve made your mark on the musical scene as one of the best female Hip hop artists ever. What are some of the songs that pushed you to be considered among the top hip hop artists?
So far, I have three singles namely “Hey Hey, How we do, and Alwoo (cry for help).
I’ve also appeared on a few collaborations like “Let’s go green alongside Angella Katatumba, Fallen heroes, and of course “Kwekunyakunya” remix which is my best collaboration. My next project is with Market makers.
Do you think it was a wise decision for you to take up hip hop in a male dominated kind of music?
Absolutely because I like challenges and generally I wanted to be an inspiration to the female gender.
Every one in the music industry has faced some challenges one way or the other. So what are some of the challenges Keko is facing?
Wow (looks up) let’s see challenges!! Well, the first challenge I’m facing is the fabricated stories from the media which damage our reputation
I also find it hard for my music to penetrate to all the places I want it to be. Like to my fans everywhere, radio and TV station, to every club, hang outs and happening places.
What are you doing for a living besides music?
That’s a good one! Okay I’m a graphics designer, I pen down lyrics but strictly vocals. I’m behind Juliana’s verse in Kwekunyakunya rmx.
“Fallen heroes” which by the way is one of my best collaborations this year going by the cause in the song wasn’t even among the nominees in the Pam Awards. What’s your take on this?
Let’s say it was the best song missing out in that category basing on the musicality. I believe it’s the best hip hop song apparently because every instrument was played live but all that said, Congs to the eventual winner. Although “Fallen heroes” deserved the accolade.
What is your general view on the ever increasing Awards in the country?
Awards are good for music but my concern is the categorization. Basically the criteria the organizers follow when making the categories. Awards are good for business because the competition gets us serious.
Which particular artist would you love to work with in the near future?
First on my list is Afrigo band, then Qwela band, female vocalists like Juliana again, Susan Owiyo, Lady Jay Dee and if an opportunity arises, Maurice Kirya.
How would you want to be remembered in the music industry?
So soon? Anyway I want to remembered as an artist who inspired young females to reach their wildest imagination.
Why the ray ban shades all the time?
Because I have a thing with lights, I’m forced to wear shades and ray bans only for your information. My eyes become teary every time I’m exposed to so much light. It’s out of necessity not luxury.
All that said, what’s next for Keko?
I’m working embarking on my second album (my mother’s daughter) which will be African oriented with producers like Benon and artists like Richard Kaweesa.
I’m also writing more songs in my native language Japhadola.
Does Keko own a dress in her attires? If yes when does she put them on?
Yes she does and she puts them on especially during dates, weddings, graduations, Kwanjula and formal occasions.
And high heels?
Being six feet tall, I don’t find it applicable to put on high heels though I own a few pairs.
Where has she performed since becoming an acclaimed artist?
2010 Pam Awards, Young Achievers awards, World music day held at Alliance France, Buzz leaver’s rock, Uganda Youth Convention, Forum for Women in Democracy (FOWODE)
Lastly, Message to the fans?
Committed to take them on a musical journey they’ve never been on.
My debut album will be out next year. I’m as well working on a mind blowing collabo with an East African International artist. Just watch the space.
isac44@gmail.com
Tuesday, January 18th, 2011
Benon and Keko rock Ethiopia by 1544c Ssejjombwe. (+256-782233273)
Swangz Avenue’s Benon and Hip hop artist Keko had several musical gigs in Ethiopia courtesy of the Swedish Government last week. We can exclusively report.
The artists flew out of the country last Wednesday for a two day workshop before concentrating on their performance over the weekend.
Info from the Emperor’s (Haille Sellasie) land has it that Benon left an impact on Ethiopia especially with his tracks like “Hope, Osobola, Rise up” with Keko while the lady rapper showcased her talent with “Alwoo, This is how we do it” among others.
Guitar specialist Michael Ouma and other band members couldn’t miss the trip and we learnt that they to had a nice time in Ethiopia.
Benon who’s apparently the hottest Producer in the country is receiving several deals especially from the Electoral commission after tracks like “Osobola, Hope, anew day, Omwana Lwaki Akaba” among others off his “Olunaku Olupya” (A new Day) album sold country wide.
Being chosen among several other artists to represent the country on the project, Benon and Keko are surely rising to international stardom.
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Q & A Keko
What are your real names?
Keko Jocelyn Travis
Who is Keko?
Keko is a down to earth lady, your girl next door. Has a passion for music and art in general.
What does Keko mean?
Keko means early in the morning. I was born early in the morning.
What is your musical journey?
I started singing from when I could say aahh .. I began singing professionally early 2010.
Friday,May 13th 2011.
“How we do rmx” by Keko and the Goodlyf by 1544c Ssejjombwe. (+256 782233273).
It so happens Keko is the hottest rapper in the country apparently and teaming up with the Goodlyf on the remix of her “How we do” track makes it even more interesting.
The three artistes hit Swangz Ave studio some time last month and redid the song with Just Jose, the guy behind the original track but the song hasn’t yet received ample air play unlike the anticipation of the video which was released three days back.
The video was shot two weeks back and we got a chance to look at the final product of how it’s going to come out.
Shot in one of the ware houses in Kampala by Badi films who happens to be a veteran in this field, “How we do rmx”, has a variety of characters involved some of whom include; Just Jose, vampos, Viboyo, Diamond Oscar, Gnl, Michael Ross and Tonix among others.
Keko’s dress and Radio’s attire are the highlight for me in this video. For the first time ever, she puts on a dress while Radio is clad in a military uniform with a pair of binoculars.
The editor played around with the colours (black and white and coloured) and the various spliting shorts are well blended.
With such a video, the song is going to reach places.
Thursday, 26th May, 2011
Keko, Goodlyf for Big Brother by 1544c Ssejjombwe. (+256 782233273)
Keko is to become the first female artiste ever to perform at the Big brother eviction night come the 5th of June 2011.
The Buzz Teeniez Award female and breakout artist of the year will team up with the Goodlyf duo at the gala which will have millions of viewers watching from across the African globe.“How we do” rmx is the probable track the three artists will be performing and a reliable source from South Africa tells us that they can’t wait for the trio’s performance because they’ve been hearing a lot about them.
This is the second time Radio and Weasel will be perfoming at the “Big brother” event, the first time backing their former boss Chameleon way back in 2006-7 but this time round they are to perform as solo artists.
Having a performance on “Big Brother” and being unveiled by Channel O, Keko’s international exposure is sky rocketing and very soon, she’s going to become Africa’s next big name in the Hip Hop circles.
isac44@gmail.com
Monday June 06th, 2011
Keko joins Baboon Forest as Platinum Entertainment signs Klear Kut by 1544c Ssejjombwe. (+256 782233273)
Keko’s rise to stardom has taken everyone by surprise due to the fact that she has been active in the music industry for only a year. One guy credited for her success is Shadrack of platinum entertainment. But shockingly, we woke up to info last Thursday that Keko has switched management from Platinum to Baboon forest camp. An insider tells us Keko alleges that Shadrack’s failure to book her performances is the main reason why the two fell out. Keko under platinum became a household name in the hip hop genre with just “How we do” and “kwekunyakunya” the remix in which she’s featured alongside Juliana and Cindy. She is the first female artist from Uganda to perform at the big brother eviction ceremony; she recently became one of the few East African artists to be interviewed on Channel O and was a few weeks back voted breakout and best Female artist of the year in the just concluded Buzz Teeniez Awards. Keko has now joined the likes of MunG, Gnl and Big Trill in the Baboon camp. Meanwhile after falling out with Keko, Shadrack turned all his guns to Klear Kut and the latest is that he last Friday secured JB and Myth as his latest recruitments in platinum Entertainment. Shadrack, is the main guy who single handedly lifted the hip hop genre by nurturing half of the hip hop artists in Uganda like GNL, Don Mc, Keko, among others.
isac44@gmail.com
Thursday, August 04th, 2011
Keko for radio show by 1544c ssejjombwe. (+256 782233273)
2010 saw the rise of Keko who has proved to be one of the best Hip Hop artists in East Africa with not more than five tracks. She recently joined Baboon Forest after quitting platinum entertainment, the record label that has been managing her since she joined the music industry. But info fast dropping in is that the “How we do” artist has been given a slot at Xfm formerly vision voice. Keko with effect from the 6th of this respective month will be presenting the “Request line” on XFM. “I’ve always been passionate about music and radio is part of music and this is the best opportunity for me to exhibit my skills on radio.” Keko said about her new adventure.
isac44@gmail.com
Tuesday, November 15th, 2011
Keko/Goodlyf win Channel O Video Music Award by 1544c Ssejjombwe. (+256 782233273)
With just two years in the music industry, Keko has become one of the most successful hip hop artists after she won a channel O music video award a thing most artists have failed to do.
Her “This is how we do” rmx in which she features the Goodlyf duo of Radio and Weasel won the most gifted African East video artist beating P-Unit’s “kare”, “Kigeugeu” by Jaguar, AY ft Ms Trinity’s “Good Luck” and “Action” by various artists.
With three nominations, Navio didn’t win anything as his “Keep moving” video couldn’t match Zakes Bantwini’s “wasting my time” for the Most Gifted Video Of the Year, AKA’s “Victory lap for the Most Gifted Hip Hop Video Artist and D’Banj featuring Snoop Dogg’s “Mr Endowed” in the most gifted male video artist category.
The Awards took place last Friday the 10th with EME Singer Banky W and South Africa’s Dineo Moeketsi hosting the prestigious awards.
Keko joined Bebe Cool and Peter Miles to win a channel O video music award.
isac44@gmail.com
Thursday, December 08th, 2011
Keko leaves baboon forest entertainment by 1544c ssejjombwe. (256 782233273).
Keko, who’s regarded as the best female rapper in East Africa has walked out on Baboon Forest Entertainment (BFE) barely six months into her contract.
She joined Baboon mid this year after leaving Shadrack’s Platinum Entertainment, a record label that natured her to become one of the best is in the music industry.
Keko’s verdict came soon after winning her first ever Channel O accolade and It’s believed her reason for quitting is associated to lack of performances, the same reason she quit platinum entertainment.
However, rumor has it that she’s on the verge of teaming up with one of her producers to start up an artist management company.
isac44@gmail.com
Thursday, March 15th, 2012
Keko up against Bebe and Bobi by 1544c ssejjombwe.(+256 782233273)
Perhaps she’s Uganda’s finest in the Hip Hop fraternity but the task ahead of Keko’s debut album launch titled “Kekonian” slated to take place on the 4th of May will surely determine her gauge in the music industry not only in East Africa but Africa as well.
This is because Keko is scheduled to launch on the same day as the highly anticipated “Battle of champions” that will see Bebe Cool taking on Bobi Wine.
Being her first time to launch and for the fact that students who constitute most of her fans will be in Holidays, Keko will beyond reasonable doubt get a crowd but going by the high anticipation about the second battle of champions, she has a mountain to climb to be successful.
Keko’s venue hasn’t yet been confirmed but reliable sources say that it will either be Africana or Kyadondo rugby club.
Nigerian superstar Ice Prince of the “Oleku” fame will be joined by Madtrax from Kenya as the guest artists on an event that will also see other Ugandan artists including Vampino, Goodlyf, Navio, Michael Ross and Ngoni support Keko.
On the album she has singles like “How we do”, “Alwoo” (cry for help), “Full circle”, Proud to be”, “Black” and “Hey hey” among others. collabos include “Kwekunyakunya” rmx, “How we do”rmx, “Ug sawgg” and “In the air” and “No letting go” alongside Nigeria’s Celebobo among others.
Having won a channel O music video award last year adding it up to a Pearl of Africa Music Award, East African Music Award, two Buzz Teeniez Awards and a Diva’s music award respectively, Keko is surely the most successful female rapper in East Africa.
isac44@gmail.com
Wednesday, April 11th, 2012
Keko to sue GENEXT by 1544c Ssejjombwe. (+256 782233273)
Keko under her new management supanova music group is suing Genext for unauthorized use of her image in their recent social media campaigns.
This came after the artist was contacted by one of the representatives at Blu Flamingo, the company charged to manage Genext’s twitter and facebook campaigns last December to make a jingle for Genext’s campaigns which was never used.
Besides making the jingle, the “Make you dance” artist was also asked to attend a photo shoot after which her image was run in various media houses without her consent.
This has however forced her new record label take matters to another level after Blu flamingo under Genext totally refused to pay the artist even after claiming to the press that they had given her 60 million shillings for the campaign.
“The matter is ongoing” was the only comment we could get from Just Jose who’s apparently one of the CEO’s at Supanova music group.
Meanwhile, Keko’s management has changed the date of her “Kekonian” album launch from May 4th to the 27th of this respective month and kyadondo rugby grounds will be the main venue with Nigerian RnB singer Tiwa Savage of “Kele kele love” alongside Kenya’s Madtraxx supporting the Hip Hop maestro.
isac44@gmail.com
Monday, May 07th, 2012
Supanova music group postpones Keko’s album launch by 1544c Ssejjombwe. (+256 782233273)
Keko under her management supanova music group has postponed the Kekonian album launch that was due to take place on the 27th of this respective month to the 10th of August.
The record label cited collision as the main reason why they’ve pushed the concert because several artists have their concerts in the same period she was slated to have hers.
Coco Finger and Mun G are planning to launch in the same period while the highly anticipated battle of champions between Bebe Cool and Bobi Wine is also taking place soon.
“There are several shows scheduled around the same. We have therefore decided to switch the dates a bit so that we can give full support to the artists involved’’ said Keko’s manager Just Jose.
The management further said that since most of the artists involved share more or less the same fan base with Keko, she’s going to support them and she also hopes they’ll also be available when she needs them on the 10th of August.
The label however assures the fans that despite the seemingly long wait, everything is in place to put up a flawless show. “In fact, the extra months shall simply be used to organize an unforgettable concert.” concluded Just Jose.
isac44@gmail.com
Tuesday, August 07th, 2012
The price of fame
Yesterday the Music industry suffered from roughly an hour scare. News spread faster than a bullet that Keko had ran mad. She was seen running on the streets on Bugolobi. What actually happened will remain an untold hollywood story. Her tweets say something else but stories from her camp indicate that she was chasing a laptop thief.
Keko's Tweets Worrying
The I'm Gonna Make You Dance star Keko's tweets in the last four hours are worrying now that she is tweeting about an impending threat to kill her. This comes after she had just communicated the news of her being signed to Sony Music Africa. In the scary tweets, Keko says: ''Joze Keep the money, Somebody get me out of Uganda, I don't feel safe. Mutungo road, they are now following me, they want to kill me." Those are the postings on her tweeter account that have led others to conclude that she is running mad. This is something that should not be taken lightly bearing in mind that the music industry has just lost Sera, a young talented singer who was determined to take over in the near future. Once in a while, these artistes are fond of pulling fake stunts but this does not seem to look like one. Some sources say she is okay and yet to brief the press on the rather disturbing developments.
Keko gets contract with Sony Music
Swagged out Ugandan emcee Keko has announced that she has been signed by Sony Music Entertainment Africa. In a post on her Facebook page Kekomusic, the 20+ year old said: “THEY TRIED TO STOP IT I TOOK IT, I AM SIGNED TO SONY MUSIC AFRICA jealous people never win #GOD PROTECTS HIS OWN.” The award winning musician confessed to Capital Lifestyle that she had been signed on but declined to divulge any more details. While explaining her status update, Keko alluded to the fact that there were many people rooting for her downfall, but she stated that that only made her stronger. Keko won a Channel O award last year and has been working on several singles since then, including Make You Dance which featured Kenyan rapper/producer Madtraxx.
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Monday, September 03rd, 2012
Keko a Nomineein the Channel O Music Awards
The sky is the limit for female rapper Keko. A few weeks back, the 'Make you Dance' star had just got signed to Sony Music Africa and last night, her track 'Make you Dance' that she did with Kenya's Madtraxx was on the list of videos that stood out between June 2011 to June 2012. The nominations for the 2012 Channel O Music Awards are out and female rapper Keko is a nominee under the category of the 'Most Gifted Female Vid of the Year'. In this category, she will be tussling it out with Bulelwa Mkutukana from South Africa, Mozambican star Lizha James, Tiwa Savage and Mo 'Cheddah from Nigeria. Last year, 'How We do It' Remix by Keko, Moze Radio and Weasel took the Most Gifted African East Video. Other Ugandans who have made it on the nominations list include: Maurice Kirya's 'I don't want to fight' video nominated in the category of 'Most Gifted Afro Pop Video of the Year'. In the same category is 'Money' by Namibia's Gal Level ft Toniks. Keko's 'Make you Dance' again makes it to the 'Most Gifted African East Video of the Year' tussling it out with Navio's 'One and Only'. This category is so competitive with the likes of K'nan, Camp Mulla and Tanzania's AY. The 9th Channel O Music Video Awards will be held on November 17 in Kliptown, Joburg South Africa.
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Saturday, November 03rd, 2012
Jackie Chandiru and Keko set for 9ja Nite
The Ultimate Diva’s party; dubbed 9ja Nite takes place 10th November in Nairobi, Kenya. Keko Africa’s Queen of Swag and Jackie Chandiru Gold Digger Diva shall be representing Uganda. They will perform alongside Chidinma from Nigeria 9con from Nigeria, Isis from Kenya and LyraOka also from Kenya. The event will take places at the Ngong Race Course. Advance tickets going at Ksh. 1000 and Ksh 1,500 at the gate. VIP tickets at Ksh. 5,000. Corporate tables at Ksh. 100,000 for 10 people, inclusive of food and drinks. The show is sponsored by Taurus Group, Kiss 100, Isis TV and Safaricom
Contact Reenah for more details on +254-722272684
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