- In a solo press conference following a poorly attended concert at Lugogo Cricket Oval, GNL stated that the hip-hop industry has declined by over 95% since his departure.
- He attributed the fall to a number of issues: internal conflicts between artists such as Klear Kut, Babaluku, and Sylvester and Abrams; lack of media platforms that fairly support artists; and government inaction in supporting youth through creative industries.
Rapper Earnest Nzimbi Zamba, popularly known as GNL Zamba, has recently been in the spotlight, and he is once again making headlines with an aim to revive the Hip-hop genre. Following his unsuccessful concert at Lugogo Cricket Oval, the Baboon Forest Boss held a solo press conference where he stated that the rap industry has experienced a decline of at least 95% since his departure.
He elaborated on the visible issues contributing to the decline of the Hip-hop scene. GNL mentioned that unnecessary conflicts among hip-hop artists, including himself and Klear Kut, as well as Babaluku and Sylvester and Abrams, are part of the problem.
Moreover, GNL highlighted the government’s lack of investment in youth initiatives. He also criticized the scarcity of media platforms, which seem to only cover artists in times of controversy.
In addition, he pointed out the exploitation prevalent in hip-hop, where some individuals seek to collaborate with artists only temporarily for their own gain.
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Another significant issue he raised was the matter of royalties, where artists do not receive revenue from their work.
“I cannot deny that since stepping away from the Hip-hop scene, the genre has seen a significant decline. There are numerous evident issues that hinder our growth, such as the absence of facilities and systems to nurture artists, inflated egos leading to rivalries instead of collaborations, as seen with Babaluku and Sylvester and Abrams, and myself with Klear Kut. Furthermore, there is a deficit of media outlets, which only focus on us during turbulent times. Additionally, fans expect albums to be released while showing reluctance to purchase them,” he expressed in part.
It remains uncertain whether GNL intends to lead the efforts to revitalize a genre that has struggled to gain mainstream acceptance.
He was, without doubt, a key figure in making hip-hop—specifically Lugaflow—a popular choice in the late 2000s and early 2010s. However, many Lugaflow artists have shifted towards Kidandali, claiming that hip-hop is not a profitable venture in Uganda.
