Ugandan music veteran Bebe Cool stirred debate in the industry on May 30 after releasing his latest album, Break The Chains, a 16-track project dominated by afro-inspired sounds.
The album marks a noticeable shift from Bebe Cool’s trademark reggae and ragga style, signaling his attempt to tap into the growing global influence of Afrobeats.
While some fans have welcomed the experiment, others believe the move comes a little too late, with opinions in the music industry sharply divided.
Speaking during his recent on local TV station, singer Kalifah AgaNaga weighed in on the album and offered candid advice on what he thinks should be Bebe Cool’s next move.
Kalifah praised the song Hidden Agenda but questioned the timing of Bebe Cool’s transition into afro-inspired music.
“There is a song on the album that I like, Hidden Agenda, but I think he did this too late. This is something he should have done during the era of D’Banj and 2Face,” Kalifah said.
He argued that instead of trying to fit into current trends, Bebe Cool would make a bigger impact by investing in and promoting young talent through his record label.
“Right now, I want to see him with a strong record label. Yes, he has Gagamel, but how many artistes are signed to it? I want to see Gagamel sign Joshua Baraka, Elijah Kitaka, Gloria Bugie. I don’t want to see Bebe Cool fighting so hard to fit in,” he added.
Kalifah also pointed out the challenge of appealing to today’s music consumers, noting that image and fashion now play a big role in music popularity.
“Even if Bebe Cool pushes, he is not appealing to the generation consuming music today. Young people want to see drip, swag and trendy fashion, and that’s hard to keep up with,” he said.
He concluded by urging Bebe Cool to focus on mentorship and building a lasting legacy rather than competing with younger artistes.
“My advice is for him to concentrate on a record label and invest in young artistes, like Don Jazzy does. He has the money to do it. I don’t think this Bebe Cool can ever be bigger than the Bebe Cool of the East African Bashment Crew. We want to see him behind younger artistes, not struggling to fit in.”,he said.
Break The Chains continues to spark discussion as fans and critics debate whether Bebe Cool’s bold musical shift will redefine his career or strengthen his legacy off the microphone.
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