He can really be crazy, he can spit rhymes to inspire a rebel movement, dont say he's crazy, he is Krayzie Native aka Sabasaba Mutaka. Krayzie Native was born on the 5th August 1977 in Jinja town. He went to Kabojja primary and later Kasasa Secondary where his hiphop career kicked off after he met Lyrical G, one of the members of their defunct crew Bataka Underground. Krayzie's first taste of the mic was in 1992, a few months after he listened to this record called 'beat street'on 'wild style' hiphop dance video. The game changed for Krayzie native in 1994 when he hooked up with the rest of what became Bataka Underground. On the team was Babaluku, Momo MC, and Lyrical G. These were later joined by Newton, Chagga, Shillingz, Furious B from Burundi, Larat, Lyn, and Slob MC the youngest of the crew.
Krayzie and the Bataka crew recorded what was supposed to be their first album in 1996 at a small studio in Jinja which got burnt a few weeks after they had recorded the songs. The crew then had their first major performance in Mwanza Tanzania the same year where they rocked the then hiphop virgin Mwanza. They then recorded what was their first actual single 'ATOOBA'produced by Mukalazi which was their skills manifest.The single was only able to make to the scene and hit the airwaves three years later.This was as a result of the low level of hiphop appreciation and the negative stereotype associated with hiphop back then and it was thus very had to get a hiphop record on radio.The song became a favourite on the underground hiphop scene and is still regarded as a Ugandan hiphop classic. The song was also the first major luganda hiphop song.
In 1997, Krayzie Native with Bataka Underground recorded their second smash hit, ‘Ssesetula' which got them on a stage rampage spree from Club Pulsations to Lido Beach, Club Silk, Botanical Gardens, Little Flowers, Bingo Cinema, Sharing youth Center and loads of other places allover the city.
In 1998, Krayzie Native and the Bataka crew continued to dominate the hiphop scene and later that year in December, Krayzie beat a long list of musicians of the day including members of his crew and won the ‘Mr. Silk' Contest for his social-political ballistic rhymes of the day.
In 1999, the Bataka Crew was at the climax of their game rocking at most of the major events of the time. ‘Bana Beka' one of their other songs got crowds bobbing heads to the sound of one of the realest Ugandan hiphop songs.
The same year, Krayzie Native changed his style of rhyme from the braggadocio lyricist to the social political conscious rapper. They then began working on their major project, the overdue hiphop album from Bataka, ‘Foundation'.
‘The Foundation' album was released in 2000 and hit the underground hiphop scene containing songs like ‘Ndimubi'(Am bad), ‘Lets ride', ‘The Foundation', ‘Eno Ensi'(This world), the hit singles ‘Ssesetula' and ‘Atooba' and other songs.
In 2001, Krayzie, Chizo, Dj Benarda, longside some of the Bataka crew, went for a tour in Kigali and Bujumbura. Bujumbura gave Bataka so much love and are still revered up to today.
The same year, they hooked up with ‘Niga Soul' one of the best rap groups in Bujumbura and had several performances together in places like Havana, Casanova and a lot of other places.
Back from the tour in Kampala, Krayzie with his crew hooked up with a British rap/poetry crew by the names of ‘Shrine' and had two huge concerts.
From 2002 to 2003, Bataka, was silent a while and Krayzie continued solely for a while. Some of the members left the country, while others worked on solo projects.
Today, Krayzie Native is one of the founder members of the Uganda Hiphop Foundation.
In his own words today, Krayzie says "i'm really happy that i was there when this hiphop movement in Uganda began and i witnessed all these memorable moments".
Recently, he released a single and video ‘Tujjababya'. Currently Krayzie Native is working on an album titled ‘Tujjababya the hardway' which highlights the tribulations of a Ugandan hiphop artist. Tujjababya is now a hiphop community anthem celebrating the suppressions of the local hiphop artist by the main stream media. He is also working on the Bataka Underground compilation album which is coming out in July.
Some facts about Krayzie Native
• He has performed in Burundi, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Kenya.
• In December 2004, he was part of the Uganda Hiphop Foundation delegation to the Tanzania Hiphop Summit.
• As a delegate of the Uganda Hiphop Foundation, he Performed at the ‘Rock against Aids' concert in Nairobi, Kenya.
• In 2003, he was selected to perform alongside world famous West African rap group, Positive Black Soul.
• Krayzie Native is a one of the founder members and an active member of the committee of the Uganda Hiphop Foundation.
• He is the cofounder of Bavubuka Allstars, an African hiphop record label.
• Krayzie Native also runs a small youth anti drugs and poverty eradication project based in the Kisenyi slum.
• Krayzie Native voluntarily contributes to the welfare of a one year homeless kid in Kiseny a slum in the outskirts of Kampala.
• Krayzie Native co-manages the hiphop nite a project of the Uganda Hiphop Foundation.
• Krayzie Native was the chief organiser of the 2004 Annual Uganda Hiphop Summit.
For details on Bataka, visit
www.bataka.8m.com
To contact Krayzie Native, call: +25677863385
Email:krazynativ@yahoo.com
www.ugandanhiphop.com
Profile courtesy of www.ugandanhiphop.com
Uganda Hiphop Foundation
Krayzie replies
It is unfortunate that Bataka Squad is being accused of using a song from Sylvester and Abrahms. In 2005, director 3rdi (Brett Mazurek) began filming for a documentary on hip hop in Uganda . The film 'Diamonds in the Rough', not yet released, evolved into a documentary focusing on the efforts of Bataka Squad to use their music to raise social awareness. This was a choice made by the director of the film. During the initial filming process Sylvester and Abrahms got an opportunity of having their video done by Brett . A trailer was created in early 2006 with a variety of footage including Sylverster and Abrams as part of the documentary. In late 2006, Sylvester raised concerns and accused Bataka Squad was stealing their music by using it in the documentary.Which documentary they were part of. Director 3rdi has stated to Sylvester and Abrahms that he will remove footage of them and their music if that is what they want. If their music remained in the documentary they would have received full credit once the final film is complete. It is a shame that an effort to highlight their work in the documentary has turned into an ego battle and now their work will be ruined to appear in a film that is slated to be shown around the world at numerous festivals. If we hope to take Ugandan hip hop to the next level we need to be supportive of each other's work .Lets wake up make a change instead of stabbing those trying to making a change to put our music on an international level.We closer than ever to lifting the Uganda flag to the world map
Peace, Saba Saba
Saba Saba & Babaluku to perform live at Afro Funke' Rocky Dawuni After Party for SM Pier Show
Saba Saba, Ugandan hip hop artist & cultural activist, has been performing since 1994 performing as Krazy Native he was a founding member of the Bataka Squad, a Ugandan hip hop group that originated the use of the Luganda language in hip hop music (Lugaflow). Saba Saba established himself as a solo artist with 2005 release of Tujja-Babya, a song on his album by the same name. Tujja-babya, meaning to breakthrough in Luganda, earned him a nomination for best hip hop artist and song in the 2006 Pearl of Africa Music Awards. His music addresses daily struggles and triumphs of African life, while honoring his African culture through the use of his
native language and musical references to traditional music and drumming.
PODCAST: Modiba Afrikast #3 brings you words and music by hiphop ambassador and activist Saba Saba of Uganda. Bringing positivity with a hard edge, sharpened by the suffering on the streets of Luganda and throughout the continent, Saba Saba – a member of legendary Ugandan hiphop crew Bataka Squad, in which he is known as Krazy Native – drops some insights about the past, present, and future of his conscious brand of socially- and politically-minded hiphop.
SHOW: And if you are in the New York City area, you have a chance this weekend to see not one but TWO LIVE PERFORMANCES on offer from this charismatic lyricist. First, it’s in an appearance TODAY, Saturday, August 5th at the Brooklyn African Music and Arts Festival with the African Underground All-Stars, an ensemble that also features MCs CHOSAN of Sierra Leone and KG of Kenya, among many other great African musical acts throughout the day. The activities get started at the Prospect Park Celebrate Brooklyn! Bandshell at 2pm, and just outside the bandshall is a marketplace avenue of African art, food, and music booths
BENEFIT: Then, on Sunday, August 6th, Saba will be performing a solo set at a benefit concert for the food shortage crisis in East Africa. The East African Benefit Concert 2006 will bring together hip-hop artists from across Africa and the African Diaspora to raise awareness and funds for the East Africa famine, which currently affects more than 3.5 Million Kenyans. IO
Saba Saba a.k.a. Krazy Native is one of the members of the legendary Bataka Underground, the originators of Luganda rapping and one of the oldest hiphop groups in Uganda, representing since 1994...
Saba Saba Releases new song.
"New inspiration feeling great mind right sometimes yo don need to fight it stay humble it will all break even."
Saba Saba might quiet here but he is definitely still representing. He has released a new single titled "Harambe" featuring E Dee. The song is described as Afro-Hip Hop and is currently under the Tujababya record label. Saba Saba was one of the pioneers of Hip-Hip and Luga flow in Uganda.
Click any of the links to read more about Saba Saba
myspace.com/sabasaba45
ditrmovie.com
youtube.com/sabasabaug
http://twitter.com/sabasabamusic
twitter.com/bataka
alexkirya@gmail.com
krazynativ@yahoo.com
DaBet Music Signs Ugandan Artist Saba Saba
By Edward Christman, N.Y.
DaBet Music has signed a deal with the Ugandan hip-hop artist, singer/songwriter and human rights activist Saba Saba in which DaBet will provide exploitation and collection services. The agreement includes an option for future songs written and produced by Saba Saba.
According to the press release announcing the deal, Saba Saba, previously
known as Krazy Native, co-founded the Ugandan Hip Hop Foundation and was a founding member of the Ugandan hip hop group, Bataka Squad. DaBet Music was formed earlier this year by attorney Angela Rose White, the daughter of the late songwriter David Rose and the COO of the David Rose Publishing Co.
In other moves, DaBet also signed to provide administration and publishing services to Irish singer/songwriter Paul Casey, who has had three of his songs featured on the ABC Family Network television series, “Wildfire.”
The company has also signed an agreement to provide publishing services to singer/songwriter Benjamin for his song “If You're Fly.” The agreement
includes an option for future songs written and produced by Benjamin. In
addition to Benjamin, DaBet Music is already administering interests in
songs performed by such artists as The Platters, Ike & Tina Turner, Count Basie, Little Richard, Cher, Cass Elliot, Donny and Marie Osmond, and Dinah Shore.
1 on 1 with Krayzie Native a.k.a Saba Saba
Krayzie a.k.a Saba Saba, commonly known as the one of the founders of the so called Luga Flow opens up and tells his fans what he is currently up and what his plans are. Saba Saba is currently dividing his time between Uganda and US.
The year 2011 is off to a great start for Saba Saba he has been working projects like;
- He is currently putting the final touches on my sophomore album "Cup Of Koffee With..." The first single released in late 2010 was Harambe (feat E-Dee) a dancehall artist from Jamaica who recently released "Out The Gate", a Jamaican film that is garnering international attention. Harambe is generating buzz in UG and here in the states as well, so I'm excited about that. I recently finished a new single, Why I'm So Blind, with my partner, Shakim Williams, which talks about how we as people are blind to what is going on around us. I'm going to be pushing that soon so keep an ear out for it!
Friday, April 08th, 2011
Saba Saba interviews Freeway Rick Ross
We had the real Freeway Rick Ross talking about the positive things he is doing for community. At the offices La talk live on the indie Lounge with my colleagues Phyre Blaze Lane and King Rasheed not to forget Xman victor that is the team for the show Indie Lounge every Tuesday at 5pm- 8pm pacific time on the iTunes radio which is spread to 150 countries. The listening number is growing by day. As the music co-donator for the Indie Lounge I go from USA underground Hip Hop to Africa ,Brazil, Mexico, Trindad you name it. The show started as a stop over for independent artists in Los Angeles with me being from Uganda Bataka Underground and my music was involved till we relieved we had a bigger purpose big than us. Me Victor “Xman” Taylor multi platinum producer for the likes of Ice Cube just took it to the top. We went from talking about Ownership with the likes of Keg Johnson writer/composer/producer to publishing you name it. The show has become a must stop for so many artists in Los Angeles either you independent of Major with team Phyre Blane Lane and King Rashid holding it to the drop. We breaking a lot records from Major labels to indie artists. The indie Lounge yes it is your first stop.
Ross was a key figure in filmmaker Kevin Booth's documentary American Drug War: The Last White Hope. The second episode of the first season of BET's American Gangster documentary series was focused on the story of Ricky Ross and his connection to the Iran-Contra scandal. While in Texarkana prison, Ricky Ross became the first federal inmate to create a social networking website. A new reality show currently in production The show will follow his attempt to regain his former fortune through legal means, while at the same time making difference in the community. Has been doing a lot of positive things from education and a lot more. He will be in Millers Hospital in Long Beach to help save lives of young children in need of blood transfusion. He is working on a Book, Film, a reality TV show and a Foundation to help inner-city youth at risk. With his social networking site, www.FreewayEnterprise.com that he built while incarcerated
www.sabasabamusic.com
Friday, July 22nd, 2011
Lungu Lungu: Remember That Ugandan Track?STORY BY: BENJAMIN LEBRAVE
Nah, you don’t. Uganda—a landlocked country between East Africa and Congo. Swahili culture versus Congolese rumba. The geography doesn’t leave a whole lot of space for Ugandans to develop their own musical identity, and for years Kampala people danced almost exclusively to foreign music. For the past decade, foreign dancehall has dominated, and most Ugandan artists have been making dancehall.
|
