The acts in this category didn’t necessarily start their musical journey this year, and neither is it implied that their debut output dropped within the duration of the last year. Rather, this is a recognition of a bump in their rise in 2024; whether on their first major effort or even after a few years on the scene.
- Senté
To start the list off, budding Afro RnB singer-songwriter & producer Senté [pictured above as the face of the piece] is having a moment. From killing it on collaborative projects helmed by the likes of Denesi, Chxf Barry & DJ Khurk, to his impressive April EP “You Wasted Kampala Love”, Senté’s on a major roll in 2024; streams, performances, growing presence on new school X/Twitter and all.
2. Soundlykbb
BB is balling. It’s only been two months since he dropped “Proof of Life” ft Baru; 5 potent bops of the Afro-fusion variety. Taken as a unit, those tracks are emblematic of what he’s doing right. The signs were there on his earlier work, and we can’t wait for what’s in his vault for the future. Good thing is, it appears we won’t be waiting for long; he already features on a new single project, which could be an indication of more of his own music in the works.
3. Tai Dai
It’d be foul to look past genre-bending rapper Tai Dai. Since 2022 to date, she’s woven a cool narrative for herself through strategic collabs & displays of artistic range while at it. Eyes glued for her next move!
4. Jenesis Kimera
The “original jenesis”, as he styles himself, is a man on a mission. Going by the unrelenting pace of his release slate since “Wansi” 2 years ago, his mojo only keeps building up. Case in point, he’s hot off the heels of dropping an adventurous single as recent as 2 days before the penning of this list. Great momentum, we’re all better for it.
5. Kalibwani
Few emerging rappers are as dynamic in focus as Kalibwani. Socially conscious without being didactic, occasionally melancholic without being gimmicky about it, the poetic wordsmith is skilled at morphing in sync with his artistic trajectory. Fans, new & old, & critics alike are taking note.
6. Walter Yt
Afropop musician & entrepreneur Walter Yt (“Yt” for “Young Talent”) is quite the ambitious optimist. There’s always a temptation for younger acts on the scene to up the cool by masking their enthusiasm & joy, opting for a nonchalant aesthetic. That’s not Yt. He’s unabashedly wide-eyed; from demeanor to sound and subject. His feature last year on “Kampala” by A Pass afforded him a much-needed inflection point. And he’s ridden it into 2024 as evident on “Siyina Makosa”, his latest output.
7. Ambroy
Ambrose Ruhindi Ngaruye, call him Ambroy, has emerged as a force on many fronts. While taking in the delight he is, it’s easy to be wowed by his sound & miss how layered other aspects of his craft are. Take for context, he’s not the first rapper in his subgenre to utilize Runyankore. But none before him have centered the language in the way he has, preserving the nuances in its wit & humor while cloaking it in an urban sound. The result is something that’s not a conceptual mash for the sake of it, but a masterful interaction of worlds. Throw in his penchant for intricate visual flare, and you have the beginnings of a noteworthy journey. Nowhere do these interact better than in his banger “Ndongo” posted below. [Dropped a little over a year ago.]
And yet even more buzz has gathered around him for his newly released EP “Enjiri”. You can bet on us exploring it soon.
8. Matt Travers
Unique in comparison to others on this list, Matt Travers doesn’t have a relatively high stream count on music platforms (though we bet that’s bound to change). But all the signs of gathering steam are there; from momentum on X to formidable features and a well plotted narrative. We’re watching, ’cause 2024 is only a little past halfway!
