Kampala hip-hopper Kavali King’s Social Introvert II is a contemporary rap cocktail.  Over the course of a whopping 24 tracks, he brings together artists and aesthetics from across the African diaspora to yield a lively and introspective tape. His smokey voice is at home over sunny afro-fusion and crisp trap production, having matured from his first two mixtapes Social Introvert (2018) and Drunk Intelligence (2019). This collection of songs is more likely to make you scrunch up your face and bob your head. Particularly on tracks like Let Me In ft. Omani Reign & Jesse Khingi, and Bravas which boats an electrifying guest verses from UK MC Phil the Pressure. 

The 22 year-old who has made a name for himself as a producer for rising Kampala acts like Mark Mick, Nutty Neithan, Kizzy, and Denzel UG, is a true student of hip-hop. As a child of the internet era, he learned as many lessons from American lyricists 2Pac, Kendrick, and J Cole as he did from Ugandan artists. In an industry that tends to privilege one-off singles and music videos for their profitability, Vali’s hip-hop ethic inclined him to remain faithful to producing complete bodies of work. With each one, he comes more and more into his own. 

We catch up with the young rapper-producer below to learn more about the tape and his perspective as an independent musician in Uganda. 

What’s the inspiration behind your stage name? 

My Uncle had this Roberto Cavalli watch that he gifted me when I was a kid a few weeks before he passed. It was my first designer anything and I liked it a lot. Plus it was better than my other rap name, Luxizzle, that no one could pronounce without making a face.

Where are you from? Can you speak briefly about your upbringing and how you got into music? 

I’m from Kampala, Uganda though I've grown up in a few other districts since my father was a soldier. I was born in a Christian home. Someone was always playing [music] so I grew to appreciate it. In high school, I was always involved in the entertainment side of things since form one. I'd memorize song lyrics faster than my physics notes until I started writing myself, freestyle battle rap, miming and performing other artists songs. By the time I was done with my A level, I was ready to start, I sold two songs I wrote swiftly and used that same money to buy studio time to record my first song back in 2017 

What inspires you to create? Do you do any other creative work other than rapping?

I’m Inspired by real life, the things that happen to me and the lives around me. My goal is to get the listener to relate. Other than rapping, I work as a producer too. I worked on the audio production of a couple of Mick's Music like Safe Boda and several other artists that make it to the studio. I am the founder of Zagang music which is an infant label and urban music collective for young talented artists who aspire to take the Ugandan sound out of the borders

How would you describe your sound? 

If I was to put my sound in one word, I'd laugh and say ‘wavy’ because my music is something you can vibe to anywhere, anytime and in any mood you're in. I've been exposed to several genres and styles in music that have influenced me to create a sound that can cross genres and get the attention of different kinds of listeners.

Tell us more about UG Bop

UG Bop is one of the most effortless songs I made, I was in the studio, hanging out with my guys and the beat came on,I started freestyling the hook basically resonating with the vibe in the room. Heads started bobbing and the rest was history. Calm vibes is my anthem

What has been your experience navigating Uganda’s creative industry? How do you feel about the scene as a whole and how do you and your friends/collaborators fit in? 

The creative industry is still on its knees at the moment. It's under-looked and underfunded, lots of politics involved. The biggest platforms are not really given to real creators but noise makers. It's less about the art and more about the amusement, money or connection. But like any obstacle course, you have to keep moving or fall out. Me and my collaborators strive to improve the dinosaur system and make it fair play for all talented hard working acts by creating the path. Most of the urban music we listen to is imported from anywhere else but here so we are aiming to reinforce the foundation of urban music in Uganda which will open it to new levels of growth.

How much collaboration do you see across the East African countries? Are the scenes in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania etc. united at all?

It's enough to consider as existent but not enough to say united, I think between the three countries you've mentioned there's a lot of great creatives, if the bridge between these countries is renovated,East Africa would make West and South Africa work for their money

Can you name some exciting new artists from Uganda? 

Ceee, Lagum, Mark Mick, Hanny, ZAGANG, Kohen Jaycee, Bantu Vibes, Lamu, 4homies and lots more there's  not enough time to mention everyone.

What have you been listening to recently? 

I've been listening to Santi, Tupac and Ab Soul back to back for a minute now, these artists move on their own lane when it comes to making music. 

Tell me more about Social Introvert II? 

Yeah, I’ve been working on Social Introvert 2. t'll comprise of more than 16 songs, some great features from artists within like Big Ben Sukuya, Illgee, A1, Mark Mick, Jesse,Omani Reign and a few artists not in Uganda like Tmaqq(US), Biko(UK) and Yudita (Spain). Social Introvert to me is a sonic picture of the things I've gone through and seen, the thoughts in my mind, and the stories around me.

How has the COVID-19 pandemic affected your experience as an artist? Has the government offered any kind of assistance?

Physical collaboration with other creators has been crossed out. Travel plans and performances that were the usual weekend schedule have all been ruled out. The only positive is this is a breather to re-organize strategies on how to move out there. I run a studio, so work has been halted of course but creatively quarantine isn’t a new thing.

As an artist, if the government was a truck and I was stranded on the highway, I'd know that truck is not stopping for me.

You can stream Social Introvert on Audiomack and SoundCloud. Keep up with Kavali on Instagram.