Veteran Ugandan rapper Spyda MC has stirred debate after declaring that Gravity Omutujju should not be classified as a hip-hop artist despite acknowledging his impressive rapping ability.
Speaking during a recent interview, Spyda MC drew a distinction between being a skilled rapper and being a hip-hop artist, arguing that Gravity's music does not fit within the hip-hop genre.
"Gravity is a very good rapper, but he is not a Hip Hop artist because the kind of music he makes is different," he said.
Spyda MC, however, gave credit to fellow rapper Fik Fameica, saying his catalogue contains enough hip-hop records to earn him recognition as a hip-hop artist.
"Fik Fameica has a few Hip Hop songs in his music catalogue, so he qualifies to call himself a Hip Hop artist amongst his fans," he explained.
The veteran rapper also used the opportunity to highlight Uganda's underground hip-hop scene, saying many talented rappers across the country remain underappreciated despite their lyrical ability.
His remarks are expected to reignite the long-running debate over what defines a true hip-hop artist in Uganda and where artists such as Gravity Omutujju fit within the country's evolving music landscape.