We are officially living in the Spyda MC era. Following the sensational success of break out hit “Abantu Mukisa” earlier this year, Spyda has now consolidated his position as the most conscious rapper in the Pearl of Africa with his new album “Uganda Nedagala Lyayo”.
The new album, released on 1st November, sees Spyda continue to establish himself as the master of making deep and highly technical rap music. You will not find any mindless bubble gum club bangers, but you will find plenty of thought provoking music. One such example is track number three from the new album. Titled “Baako Nekomo”,it is a commentary on the dangers of excessive social media usage in the Internet Age.
The message itself is not new, as many observers, both expert and novice, have warned of the negative effects that smartphones and their wide array of applications have on well being, but Spyda MC, as a modern poet, adds flavor to the substance that should make that bitter truth more palatable to a target audience that might not like it, but desperately needs to hear it.
He starts out as he intends to go on, introducing the song by sternly, right after a perfectly placed horn that summons the listener’s attention the way a school bell does for pupils, asking that they put their phones down and be productive.
“Yo ba chapiri mwana…obwedda muli ku ssimu mwana muvve ku ssimu mwana…tunalya massimu…eh eh” is delivered with both friendly camaraderie and parental firmness, with the choice of “ba chapiri”,which is street slang for friends, and the repetition of “mwana”,which can be accurately translated as “bro”, providing the former, while the “tunalya massimu…eh eh” at the end startles you with a reminder of typical African parent sarcasm.
It is also a precursor of the message to come, as Spyda communicates the importance of using the time wasted glued to our screens to fend for ourselves, because at the end of the day we will not eat the phones.
The opening verse follows in the same spirit, as the “Amakula G’Ewaka” rhymer paints a picture of a person who wakes up and first thing in the morning, opens their smartphone to fire off fresh updates to their social media family. Spyda then reveals the person to be a former version of himself, who later, through wisdom that has come with age and experience, realises he doesn’t need to prove himself to the world, but is instead held back by the obsession to do so.
He calls upon the listener to hustle in silence and only show evidence of their motion through their work. He points out the virtue of a private life, extolling the peace that comes with immersing yourself into your work. It is a great amalgamation of the modern phrase “Real Gs move in silence like lasagna” and the classical psychological concept of “flow state”.
Spyda showcases his technical ability on the mic with a series of hermetic rhymes, proclaiming “…bwetwezanya kalata/Sente twaziteka mu data/Omutali matter…”.It is a fitting description of our lives, which we spend complaining about the scarcity of money, while using the little we have to buy internet data bundles so we can browse content that is ultimately irrelevant.
One of the most adverse effects of social media on mental health comes from measuring yourself relative to the idealized portrayals that others post on their pages, which makes sense considering that comparison is the thief of joy. That is Spyda’s next item to tackle,as he calls us out for fixating on delusions of who is better or worse than us, while the time flies by.
That wraps up the first verse, and leads into the chorus, where Spyda adopts a distinctly more authoritative tone to communicate the core message of this song, advising the listener to have a limit on their consumption of social media.
In the modern world where the internet is a part of virtually every aspect of life, total abstinence would arguably be just as harmful as excessive use. So the logical thing is to use it, but in moderation. Just like any other vice. One ought to be careful not to overconsume, which is why Spyda ad-libs “Leka tokisusa naawe”.Don’t overdo it, please.
The second verse continues where the first stopped, with Spyda revealing his realization of the fact that he doesn’t have to talk about what he has to do, but instead has to just do it so that it is self evident for whoever cares to see. And you can’t really argue with that because actions speak louder than words.
He resorts to imagery again to make this point, drawing an example of a person who is under self inflicted pressure after promising netizens that the next year he/she would buy a car. But now the time is passing and the promise remains unfulfilled, prompting the netizens to remark that this youth speaks imprudently.
He then warns against making empty promises about one’s steps, advising against the sharing of plans that haven’t even been transformed from the mind into reality. He advises the listener desperate for online approval to earn it legitimately by doing great things, rather than fake it, a sentiment he confirms by saying “Mwana tozanya kyotali bredda!”.
A refrain of the first part of the second verse follows, before Spyda rounds out the song with another repetition of the chorus.
Spyda’s genius, both in this song particularly but also his music in general, lies in his ability to be both relatable and authoritative. He is your buddy, yes, but he will also not hesitate to check you. His seniority adds to his legitimacy, and he ends up coming across as the cool uncle who gives you the same advice you would reject from another authority figure, but packages it so well you can not ignore its wisdom. That is what convinces me that “Baako Nekomo” will reach the youth and impart some very important knowledge to them.
