GNL, Country’s Hip-Hop Philosopher
IN hip-hop music, there is no such thing as upcoming. You are either there or you die trying. For that reason, there are not many finished hip-hop products to brag about locally.
However, one artiste who is fast on the track to becoming one of Uganda’s few hip-hop finished products is multi-faceted GNL Zamba (Ernest Nsimbi).
At 24, GNL is a respected lyricist among Ugandan hip-hop loving audiences and critics alike; his forte being his ability to fuse his native Luganda with English to express himself, while still making sense.
Zamba, whose initials GNL are drawn from the Aztec civilisation meaning, “At the highest degree of self-expression, you achieve Greatness of No Limits” is one who loves philosophy.
It is apparent in his songs, Ekikufuula Omusajja (What makes you a man) and Luka taken off his six-track Koyi Koyi (Riddles of life) album. In the first song, he argues that patience and perseverance make a man. He further argues that in life, there is nothing like a poor man.
He views complaining about poverty as a sign of laziness which he strongly despises.
A songwriter and poet with a desire to get into the feature film industry; Zamba also adopts a signature poetic style in Luka, where he employs rich imagery and rhyme.
The keen critic will, however, point out that in Luka; Zamba tries hard to rhyme without as much as sounding meaningful in the protracted message.
Where Luka and Ekikufuula Omusajja are better listened to, Go Get ‘Em, a collabo with Papito from (Klear Kut), sounds belligerent.
Zamba sings about deeds of valour, borrowing the characters of Solomon and Samson from the bible. This is a song that will get you grooving on the dance floor.
“Zamba expresses African pride and love for African culture in his carefully woven stories. His lyrics are not only humourous, but they also evoke social consciousness and the spirit of Pan-Africanism,” producer Sam Lamawa of Roota Records says.
Besides featuring on the hip hop all stars’ Mother Africa hit, he has emerged the best free style rapper in Kampala, performed on the hip-hop canvass project, (music and message) and had a hand in a song about modern slavery with Klear Kut, Sylvester and Abramz, Emma Katya and Lyrical G, which will be released soon.
[Via New Vision]
