Mmaso

Description

Since the breakthrough of his first cult hit "Tuli Banyo" released on Hakuna Kulala in 2018, the conscious Ugandan rapper and MC Ecko Bazz has challenged perceptions of the thriving rap scene in East Africa. His style is hard to categorize, blending elements of grime, dancehall, and American hip-hop while distorting politically charged lyrics in Luganda that explore violence, religion, drug addiction, and poverty in Ugandan slums. This persona anchors his debut album Mmaso, an explosive call to action that balances his manic presence with productions from Debmaster, collaborator of MC Yallah, Kenyan futuristic club producer Slikback, Berlin-based Japanese beatmaker DJ Die Soon, and the inimitable DJ Scotch Rolex. Mmaso is driven by Ecko Bazz's kinetic performance on the mic. Anyone who has had the privilege of seeing him live knows what to expect, and his raw, hard-hitting flow immediately focuses on the abrasive title track. The rapper freely alternates between sober truths and hyperactive shouts, shifting from one intensity to another from verse to verse. On "Lwaky?", a haunting beat from Debmaster supports Bazz's visceral hedonism, twisting his rhymes and stretching his voice like a gymnast to the rhythm of an 808. There’s a moment to breathe on the more intimate "Mugulu E' Yo" or on the relatively contained "Empungo Mubanga," where Slikback provides a breathless, minimal midnight trap rumble to accompany the rapper's surreal exuberance. With "Bikuba" from DJ Die Soon, Bazz mimics the bouncing synthesizer to impose a presence that refuses to let you forget that, even in his most claustrophobic moments, he makes music that comes alive in the club. This has never been more evident than on "Nkoowola," an exceptional track that appeared on the compilation Nyege Nyege – Soundcloud Music for the Eagles. Brilliant, powerful, and charged with a rebellious energy that resonates in East Africa and beyond.