Without producers, rappers’ rhymes would merely be words on a page, in an iPhone’s notes app or even a freestyle that remains in the artists’ heads. And while going a cappella or delivering lyrics to no beat hold a certain level of significance in hip-hop because it showcases lyrical ability, it’s the person behind the rhymes who completes the package by adding their signature sonic sauce to the mix.
By many accounts, the full-length album is declining fast as both a standard listening format and a cultural touchstone. From music journalists chronicling waning album sales to the omnipresence of digital streaming platforms that favor playlists built of individual songs, the album is undoubtedly facing challenges like it never has before.
Now, having quietly and patiently worked with a wide range of talent over a span of three years, Ugandan music producer Skinnie has poured his heart and soul into the making of his maiden project, a 15-track album dubbed “Infinit3 Universe” that debuted on Tuesday with its album listening party happening at a one spot in Bugolobi, Kampala called Gabz Lounge Bar and Restaurant.
Born Andrew Kyalwazi, Skinnie is a Ugandan audio-visual producer with over twelve years’ experience in production. After graduating with a BA in Information Systems and a postgrad diploma in Business Management, Skinnie traded the corporate life for art, embarking on a journey to fulfil his lifelong dream of making music. That dream has since come to fruition in the form of his debut album Infinit3 Universe, a genre-bending, urban-inspired collection of 15 bangers featuring a mix of both seasoned and up-and-coming Ugandan talent that’s ready to shake up the world.
The genre-bending album, produced under Skinnie’s Kampala-base label Infinit3 PowerHouse, offers a unique blend of afro-urban sounds delivered in different styles and languages by some of the freshest Ugandan artistes that are ready to claim their stake on the African stage. With a total of 23 artistes featured on the album, Infinit3 Universe is sure to serve up a thrilling experience for all types of music fans – there’s just about something for everyone, from avid clubbers, to the broken-hearted, to those seeking something completely new in the world of music.
Ugandan Hip-hop music, by virtue of how it’s consumed, is typically more accessible than a movie or a novel, and because of that we often want the best stuff to reach the widest audience possible; or we insist that, if it is the best, it will reach that audience. There’s evidence for this—see Byg Ben Sukuya`s “Yvett” and Play 01`s “Aura”. These battles about quality and audience aren’t monitored so closely in other mediums. If a movie is perfectly released but doesn’t make noise at the box office, it won’t be held against it by critics and fans. But this can become a demerit in the conversation around the rap canon.
I didn’t make up these rules, it’s my inheritance and so I won’t rail against it. But on hearing a few songs on Skinnie`s album like “Nsonyiwa” that has Jerry Dee, “Emotions” that guests Titan Mukasa, Qureaus and Erina H Bagala plus my favorite “No Fear” that has two of the most fierce female rappers I know in Tushi Nabakyala and Shirly May.
I project the album to become an instant classic; its body of work is of high quality and it has the ability to impact Ug`s Hip-hop genre as you can already read its ripple effects, like rings on a cut tree; and it will without a doubt dominate. True, some albums take time to find their rightful place, but “Infinit3 Universe” will surely find its way to succeed as one of the top UG Hip-hop Albums we hadnt had in a while.
Other songs on the album include “Yimuka Ozine” that features Shaba, “The Universe” that has Paapa T, “Utopia” that again guests Tushi Nabakyala, “Miles Away” with Owabajajja, Lil Rich and Elana among other songs like “Amakula G`ewaka” that hosts Spyda MC and Survivor but you can get the full traclist below.
Infinit3 Universe will be available for download on all major music streaming platforms starting March 2023.
