Klear Kut
Encyclopedia
Klear Kut is a five-member Uganda
n ensemble consisting of Navio, Papito, Abba Lang, JB, and Tha Mith.
Klear Kut was formed in August 2000. The group started by performing at karaoke
s around Kampala
and quickly gained a reputation for their original performances. They soon started performing at bigger events and caught the eye of local producer Steve Jean, with whom they recorded their first single, “Nothin’ Wrong Wit’ A Lil’ Doe.” The group became the first Ugandan hip hop group to be accepted among mainstream artists .
Klear Kut then teamed up with Dawoo & Daudi (D&D) Productions to record the full-length album “Mind, Body & Soul.” The album proved to be a huge success for the group, spawning the hits “All I Wanna Know” featuring Juliana
and “Superstar” featuring Bebe Cool
. The singles topped the charts in Uganda
, Kenya
, and Tanzania
.
The video for “All I Wanna Know” pioneered modern video production in Uganda. It earned the group two nominations at the prestigious 2002 Kora All Africa Music Awards
in the “Most Promising African Group” and “Revelation of the Year” categories. This also made them the first Ugandan group to be nominated at the KORAs.
Klear Kut was also nominated at the 2003 Pearl of Africa Music Awards
and won the award for “Best Hip Hop Group.” The group also released another album, “K2”, which featured the hit single “Mon Coeur/Murder of Crows.” The video was on heavy rotation on WBS as well as TV Africa before the station's demise. The video topped the EATV Top 10 music video charts. The video would further create new records by being the first Ugandan music video to be featured on MTV
http://www.musicuganda.com/galleries1/klear_kut_zim.htm. The album features Bebe Cool
, TID
, Benon, Rania, E-Von & Poetic.
Klear Kut has built a solid reputation as live performers and has performed at a number of live outdoor events including the Shaggy Boombastic Concert, Miss Uganda, Tevin Campbell New Year Concert, Sanyu Carnival in Uganda, Miss Kenya and Coca-Cola Race Day in Kenya, Bongo All-Stars in Tanzania, Sauti Za Busara
in Zanzibar
. They have also performed at the Harare International Festival of the Arts
(HIFA) alongside African greats such as Femi Kuti
(Nigeria) and Habib Koite
(Mali).
The group has been featured in the production of both audio and video commercials for companies such as Coca-Cola, MTN, PSI Protector, BB Soda, Allied Bank, Celtel, Guinness, and Pepsi. Klear Kut has also been involved in AIDS awareness and anti-smoking campaigns, performing and speaking to youth about those issues.
At the 2008 Kisima Music Awards
Klear Kut was nominated for the Ugandan Video of the Year category for their video "Klear discussion"
tegory at the 2008 Kisima Awards
Uganda
Uganda , officially the Republic of Uganda, is a landlocked country in East Africa. Uganda is also known as the "Pearl of Africa". It is bordered on the east by Kenya, on the north by South Sudan, on the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, on the southwest by Rwanda, and on the south by...
n ensemble consisting of Navio, Papito, Abba Lang, JB, and Tha Mith.
Klear Kut was formed in August 2000. The group started by performing at karaoke
Karaoke
is a form of interactive entertainment or video game in which amateur singers sing along with recorded music using a microphone and public address system. The music is typically a well-known pop song minus the lead vocal. Lyrics are usually displayed on a video screen, along with a moving symbol,...
s around Kampala
Kampala
Kampala is the largest city and capital of Uganda. The city is divided into five boroughs that oversee local planning: Kampala Central Division, Kawempe Division, Makindye Division, Nakawa Division and Lubaga Division. The city is coterminous with Kampala District.-History: of Buganda, had chosen...
and quickly gained a reputation for their original performances. They soon started performing at bigger events and caught the eye of local producer Steve Jean, with whom they recorded their first single, “Nothin’ Wrong Wit’ A Lil’ Doe.” The group became the first Ugandan hip hop group to be accepted among mainstream artists .
Klear Kut then teamed up with Dawoo & Daudi (D&D) Productions to record the full-length album “Mind, Body & Soul.” The album proved to be a huge success for the group, spawning the hits “All I Wanna Know” featuring Juliana
Juliana Kanyomozi
Juliana Kanyomozi, popularly known by the mononym Juliana, is a Ugandan female musician, entertainer and actress.-Background:She was born in Uganda on 27 November 1981. She attended Namasagali College in Kamuli District, for her high school education....
and “Superstar” featuring Bebe Cool
Bebe Cool
Bebe Cool is a ragga musician from Uganda. He started his career around 1997 in Nairobi, Kenya, but a few years later he moved back to his native country...
. The singles topped the charts in Uganda
Uganda
Uganda , officially the Republic of Uganda, is a landlocked country in East Africa. Uganda is also known as the "Pearl of Africa". It is bordered on the east by Kenya, on the north by South Sudan, on the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, on the southwest by Rwanda, and on the south by...
, Kenya
Kenya
Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
, and Tanzania
Tanzania
The United Republic of Tanzania is a country in East Africa bordered by Kenya and Uganda to the north, Rwanda, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west, and Zambia, Malawi, and Mozambique to the south. The country's eastern borders lie on the Indian Ocean.Tanzania is a state...
.
The video for “All I Wanna Know” pioneered modern video production in Uganda. It earned the group two nominations at the prestigious 2002 Kora All Africa Music Awards
Kora Awards
The Kora Awards are music awards given annually for musical achievement in sub-Saharan Africa. Founded in 1994 by Ernest Adjovi, they are comparable to the American Grammy Awards in intent...
in the “Most Promising African Group” and “Revelation of the Year” categories. This also made them the first Ugandan group to be nominated at the KORAs.
Klear Kut was also nominated at the 2003 Pearl of Africa Music Awards
Pearl of Africa Music Awards
Pearl of Africa Music Awards are annual national music awards in Uganda. The awards were first held in 2003. Since 2006 there has also been categories for musicians from other East African countries ....
and won the award for “Best Hip Hop Group.” The group also released another album, “K2”, which featured the hit single “Mon Coeur/Murder of Crows.” The video was on heavy rotation on WBS as well as TV Africa before the station's demise. The video topped the EATV Top 10 music video charts. The video would further create new records by being the first Ugandan music video to be featured on MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
http://www.musicuganda.com/galleries1/klear_kut_zim.htm. The album features Bebe Cool
Bebe Cool
Bebe Cool is a ragga musician from Uganda. He started his career around 1997 in Nairobi, Kenya, but a few years later he moved back to his native country...
, TID
TID (musician)
TID is a Bongo Flava musician from Tanzania, whose real name is Khalid Mohamed . TID is an acronym of Top in Dar, in which "Dar" refers to Dar es Salaam, his hometown. He is best known for his hits "Zeze" and "Siamini"....
, Benon, Rania, E-Von & Poetic.
Klear Kut has built a solid reputation as live performers and has performed at a number of live outdoor events including the Shaggy Boombastic Concert, Miss Uganda, Tevin Campbell New Year Concert, Sanyu Carnival in Uganda, Miss Kenya and Coca-Cola Race Day in Kenya, Bongo All-Stars in Tanzania, Sauti Za Busara
Sauti za Busara
The Sauti za Busara , also known as Zanzibar Music Festival, is an African music festival that is held every year in February in Zanzibar, Tanzania. The main venues of the festival are the Old Fort and the adjacent Forodhani Gardens, in Stone Town, the capital of Zanzibar, but side events take...
in Zanzibar
Zanzibar
Zanzibar ,Persian: زنگبار, from suffix bār: "coast" and Zangi: "bruin" ; is a semi-autonomous part of Tanzania, in East Africa. It comprises the Zanzibar Archipelago in the Indian Ocean, off the coast of the mainland, and consists of numerous small islands and two large ones: Unguja , and Pemba...
. They have also performed at the Harare International Festival of the Arts
Harare International Festival of the Arts
The Harare International Festival of the Arts is one of Africa's largest international arts festivals. Established in 1999 by Manuel Bagorro the festival takes place each year in late April or early May in Harare, the capital of Zimbabwe...
(HIFA) alongside African greats such as Femi Kuti
Femi Kuti
Olufela Olufemi Anikulapo Kuti popularly known as Femi Kuti, is a Nigerian musician and the eldest son of afrobeat pioneer Fela Kuti....
(Nigeria) and Habib Koite
Habib Koité
Habib Koité is a Malian singer, songwriter and guitarist. His supporting cast, Bamada, is a super-group of West African talent, including Kélétigui Diabaté playing balafon.- Musical style :...
(Mali).
The group has been featured in the production of both audio and video commercials for companies such as Coca-Cola, MTN, PSI Protector, BB Soda, Allied Bank, Celtel, Guinness, and Pepsi. Klear Kut has also been involved in AIDS awareness and anti-smoking campaigns, performing and speaking to youth about those issues.
At the 2008 Kisima Music Awards
Kisima Music Awards
The Kisima Music Awards is an annual awards program that recognises musical talent in East Africa. Despite being Kenyan-based the scheme awards artists from a variety of countries, predominately Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania, and incorporates a range of music genres.-History:Named after the Swahili...
Klear Kut was nominated for the Ugandan Video of the Year category for their video "Klear discussion"
External links
tegory at the 2008 Kisima Awards