Ecko Bazz feat. Talpah

Spotted by the Ugandan label Nyege Nyege and its division K7 Hakuna Kulala, a leading voice in East African electronic and experimental music — Since his cult EP Tuli Banyo (2018), Ecko Bazz has established himself as one of the most distinctive voices in East African rap, shaking up the conventions of a scene in full ferment.

Whether tackling violence, religion, drug addiction or poverty in Kampala’s slums, this radical MC – with his rather ‘dark energy’ vibe – indulges in every vocal extravagance. His style, which defies easy categorisation, blends grime, dancehall and American hip-hop — backed by producers specialising in rhythmic eccentricities such as Debmaster, Slikback, DJ Die Soon, DJ Scotch Rolex, and more recently STILL and Talpah, who produced his latest EP.

The latter — Talpah, born in ’99 — will be supporting him on this very date. Already noted for his contributions to CLAM, Opal Tapes and Hundebiss, his productions fuse psychedelic and abrasive sounds, ethereal ambient elements and post-apocalyptic landscapes, violently deconstructing dance and hip-hop.

Ecko Bazz has long been one of Hakuna Kulala’s fiercest voices, and here he pushes his style even further, into jagged and unstable territory — a must-see for fans of incendiary rap, right at the intersection of brutal dancehall and raucous noise.