As it has always been the norm, at the beginning of every year, we forecast. We look at artistes we expect to impact the year, continue the domination and those that may be bubbling under. Over the years, our forecast has produced gems, some of whom have gone ahead to live up to the expectation while others have been a disappointment. But of course that doesn’t stop us from forecasting 2022, does it?
Azawi
If there is an artiste that bossed 2021, it must have been Azawi. Like she said that it was her year, Azawi created a narrative for 2021 and ran away with it. She was the only Ugandan artiste to receive the fund for the YouTube Black Voices Artist Class of 2021, Okayafrica ranked Azawi’s My year, off her debut African Music album as one of Africa’s 20 Best East African songs last year.
Having scooped a number of awards last year, Azawi is destined for greatness but that will all depend on the willingness of her management team at Swangz Avenue. The hope Ugandans have for her this year is not something to take for granted.
Victor Ruz
Victor Wajja aka Victor Ruz has been around for some time but it was last year that he made his mark with songs like Official, Ogeza and Kikomando among others. He’s one of the new breed of artists that shook the industry with smooth ballads but that’s not just it for Victor Ruz, he is a versatile artiste that also doubles as a songwriter. Something that might help him a lot this year. With the industry planned to open a few in a days, performances are going to play an important role in keeping artistes like Victor Ruz afloat and we believe he will have an impact in the process.
Born on the 10, October, 2000 in Jinja, Victor Ruz released his debut 16 track album, Simple19 in 2020.
Rahma Pinky
Rahma Pinky is Team No Sleep (TNS) latest recruitment after the alleged fall out between Jeff Kiwa and his prized singer Sheebah Karungi. There is excitement surrounding her TNS signing with many believing she’s going to be a force to reckon with, thanks to Jeff Kiwa’s management style.
At the moment, many things are playing in her favour, she has the internet talking about her age, the alleged marriage, her choice of music style plus sounding like Sheebah. They say there is no bad publicity.
Born on July 12, 2004, Rahmah Nanyanzi aka Rahma Pinky is not entirely new to the industry. She released her debut song Tukooye in 2019 and later did songs such as Girl Child and Totankula and Omuzadde.
She has since released her first single under TNS, Superstar.
Jose Chameleone
With politics way behind us and the entertainment industry on its way to full reopening, there is nothing much Jose Chameleone is going to do apart from music. He was slated to drop his highly anticipated I am Joseph album on Independence day but that never happened. The album is however said to be dropping this year and having heard some tracks off it, we are certain that it might be one of the best albums this year provided it comes out. Forever which is the first single off his I am Joseph album is not doing badly on the airwaves and that is a good start for this year.
Liam Voice
There is a school for thought that one of the requirements for a successful music career, one needs a godfather. For Liam Voice, that God father is Chagga, the former Leone Island, Firebase and Goodlyf artiste/manager. He has groomed him to become the artiste Chagga would have been. No wonder his career has shone bright with songs such as Love Olinonya, Omwoyo, Guma, Bus and Akafananyi.
Born William Zisabusolo, the 24-year-old started his music career in 2018 with a song Data Cable alongside Weasel. He is also a song writer credited for penning Martha Mukisa’s Tebatukyawa.
Mudra
Mudra was famed for writing songs for Karole Kasita until he decided to disown them and start afresh as a singer. What he did for Kasita he proved he could do for himself in the runaway hit Muyayu. He proved that it wasn’t just luck when he released Onkosa and Gwe Amanyi last year. With songs like that, 2022 might be the year that Mudra is going to make himself an established artiste.
Pallaso
Consistence is what describes Pallaso for the past three or four years now and to the Ugandan music industry, this is one the things an artiste needs to be on top for so long. Bebe Cool, Jose Chameleone, Goodlyf and Bobi Wine have all been able to dominate charts because of their consistency and Pallaso has proved that. He has been holding the Mayanja flag for some time now and he’s not about to stop. His versatility has played a big role in his dominance. He is one artiste that releases inspirational songs that work and dancehall hits that get people moving. It looks like everything he touches works and this year might not be any different.
Zex Bilangilangi
Zex Inch-Kumi Bilangilangi as he prefers to call himself has been around the Fire Base backstage for years. Way before Bobi Wine turned to politics, Zex was there. He tried out rapping but later found his style in dancehall. In 2020, he was one of those that counted their blessings thanks to his breakout hit Ratata, in 2021, he proved it was no fluke with both Nalinda and Magazine. Zex’s biggest weapon is Nessim his producer. Tailored for each other, they are going to give us more hits this year.
Pia Pounds
She has a mountain to climb, not after the success of her 2020 Tuupate single; the song had initially run into walls until it became a meme in 2021. Being voted among the top songs for the year, Pia Pounds needs all the luck in 2022 or else she will also end up like a number of artistes before her. Quex of the Kachumbali fame for instance suffered the same fate last year. However, we could forgive him as he didn’t have time for music only for his books but certainly not Pia who has all the time to go to the studio and make music.
An-Known
An-Known real names Ntege Dalton is a Ugandan R&B and Contemporary singer, song-writer, guitarist and performer who has been doing music since 2019. He signed with FC Records where he released songs such as Doctor, Tonerabira, Burning featuring Shakie Baibe, Run the town and Radio Call 9. With this catalog made him one of the most sought after new artistes. During the annual end of year sQoop awards, An-Known won the breakthrough artiste of the year, thus, you can understand why we believe 2021 was only the beginning.