Soundlykbb: Uganda’s Afro-Fusion Wildcard Is Poised for a Breakout Moment

By the time Soundlykbb’s hooks start ricocheting through Kampala clubs, it’s already too late to pretend you haven’t heard of him.

From the lakeside calm of Entebbe, Uganda, a new voice has been quietly sharpening its edge—one freestyle at a time—before spilling into East Africa’s playlists, dance floors, and award-winning collaborations. Soundlykbb, an Afro-fusion artist whose sound pulls from Afrobeat, reggae, dancehall, trap, and contemporary R&B, is no longer just one of many rising names. He’s beginning to look like the next inevitable one.

Made in Entebbe, Built Online

Soundlykbb’s rise doesn’t start with a record deal or a radio push. It starts online.

In 2020, during the long isolation of the pandemic, he began uploading freestyles and short-form tracks to SoundCloud, leaning heavily into raw lyricism and agile flows. Those early releases—often stripped down, sometimes improvised—quickly found traction across East African social media. According to regional music profiles, his freestyling ability and creative flows were what initially caught attention, helping him build a loyal digital following almost overnight.

That online momentum became the foundation. Streams grew. Mentions spread. By the time physical venues reopened, Soundlykbb already had an audience waiting.

A Genre-Fluid Sound That Refuses to Sit Still

Trying to box Soundlykbb into a single genre misses the point.

His music blends:

• Afrobeat rhythms
• Reggae and dancehall influences
• Trap and Afropop production
• Contemporary R&B melodies

Just as important, he moves fluidly between English, Luganda, and Swahili, sometimes within the same track. Songs like “IDK” glide between languages without ceremony, reflecting the lived reality of East African youth culture rather than a marketing strategy.

Critics have described his style as Afro-fusion with a distinctly Ugandan core—music that’s rooted locally but designed to travel. It’s the same tension that defines his imagery too: one of his most recognizable visuals features a shadowed silhouette marked with a bold “X”, signaling both anonymity and intent.

Early Releases: Personal, Proud, and Loud

Soundlykbb’s first major body of work arrived in 2023 with Made in Entebbe, a mini-album produced alongside longtime collaborator Khxli. The project leaned into Afro fusion, trap, and Afrobeat, but its emotional center was unmistakable: home.

The title track, “Made in Entebbe,” doubled as a statement of identity—part hometown anthem, part declaration of arrival. Other tracks revealed different shades:

• “Differently” showcased his melodic instincts and soulful delivery.
• “Zaabu” (“Gold”) emerged as a high-energy favorite, built for movement and repeat plays.

Rather than chasing trends, the project positioned Soundlykbb as an artist comfortable turning his origins into his brand.

SOUND, Vol. 1: Built for the Night

If Made in Entebbe established identity, SOUND, Vol. 1 made one thing clear: Soundlykbb knows how to move a room.

Released in late 2024, the four-track EP is unapologetically party-ready. Each song runs under two minutes, optimized for replay value and club rotation. Critics described the project as rhythm-first, confidence-heavy, and joy-driven—the sonic equivalent of a Friday night spilling into Saturday morning.

Key tracks include:

• “IDK” — flirtatious, multilingual, and melodic.
• “Tuliwano” (“We Have Arrived”) — an upbeat celebration of success and momentum.
• Tracks laced with dancehall references, including nods to Demarco, reinforcing Soundlykbb’s Caribbean-African crossover instincts.

The EP didn’t just perform well online—it cemented his reputation as an artist who understands energy, timing, and crowd psychology.

Collaborations That Changed the Trajectory

Breakout moments often arrive disguised as features.

In 2025, Soundlykbb appeared on “Nias In Fashion”** by Axon & Denim Cartel (featuring Tai Dai). The track went on to win Song of the Year at Uganda’s 2025 hip-hop awards, becoming one of the most recognizable anthems of the year. Soundlykbb’s hook played a key role in its mainstream appeal.

He followed that with high-profile collaborations including:

• “Diamond” and “Room Temperature” with Baru, one of Uganda’s biggest pop stars.
• “Thursday” by Kaboo featuring Tai Dai, a club staple across Kampala and beyond.

These collaborations didn’t just add streams—they plugged Soundlykbb directly into larger fan ecosystems, accelerating his visibility across the region.

Numbers That Signal Momentum

For an artist still largely covered by regional press, the metrics are telling:

• ~45,000 monthly listeners on Spotify
• Over 730,000 cumulative streams across platforms
• Rapid growth across Instagram and TikTok, where studio clips and snippets regularly circulate

While not yet global-mainstream numbers, they reflect something more important: consistency. Soundlykbb isn’t spiking once—he’s climbing steadily.

Industry Recognition and Peer Validation

Soundlykbb’s name now appears regularly in conversations about Uganda’s next wave.

• Media outlets have listed him among artists to watch in 2025.
• Fellow musicians and tastemakers cite him as part of the new generation reshaping Uganda’s sound.
• Platforms like Apple Music and Shazam group him alongside peers such as Kaboo, Baru, Tungi, Denesi, and Agaba Banjo, reinforcing his placement within the region’s emerging mainstream.

This isn’t hype built in isolation—it’s validation echoed across scenes.

What Comes Next

Soundlykbb hasn’t yet released a full-length studio album. That restraint may be strategic.

Recent singles like “Nakulabye”, “If Only,” and collaborations such as “Heaven” (with Chxf Barry) suggest an artist refining his sound while expanding his reach. With club traction, award-winning features, and a genre-fluid identity that travels well beyond borders, the pieces are aligning.

The pattern is familiar: online buzz → regional dominance → cross-border attention.

Soundlykbb is standing right at that threshold.

Whether the next leap comes via a breakout single, an international collaboration, or a definitive album, one thing is increasingly clear: this isn’t a local story anymore.

Made in Entebbe, yes—but built for everywhere.

Sources & References

• Regional artist profiles and streaming data
• Music reviews and EP coverage (SOUND, Vol. 1)
• Award records (Uganda Hip-Hop Awards 2025)
• Apple Music & Shazam artist listings
• East African music commentary and rising-artist roundups