Saba Saba
| Saba Saba a.k.a. Krazy Native | |
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Saba Saba
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Alex Kirya |
| Born | 5 August 1977 |
| Origin | Kampala, Uganda |
| Genres | Hip Hop/African hip hop |
| Occupation(s) | Hip hop artist |
| Years active | 1993–present |
| Labels | Independent/Tujjababya Productions |
| Associated acts | DJ Spooky, Bataka Squad, Didier Awadi |
| Website | www.sabasabamusic.com |
| Members | Saba Saba, Babaluku, Tshila |
| Past members | Momo, Shillingz, Laraat, Lyrical G |
Saba Saba, also known as Krazy Native (born Alex Kirya, 5 August 1977) is a hip-hop artist and social activist from Uganda. Saba Saba began his hip hop career in 1993 with the group Bataka Squad. Saba Saba is now a solo artist, but remains a member of Bataka Squad, along with fellow members Babaluku and Shillingz. Saba Saba, who along with Babaluku, appeared in the film Diamonds in the Rough, is currently splitting his time between Kampala, Uganda and Los Angeles as he continues to write, produce and perform. He released his first solo album Tujjababya the Hard Way in 2006, Bataka Revolution in 2008 with Bataka Squad, and is currently featured on 2010s Afrolution Vol. 2: The Original African Hip Hop Collection.
Born in Jinja, Uganda, during the dictatorship of Idi Amin, Saba Saba spent the early years of his life running from place to place with his family to avoid political turmoil and fighting. He went to Kabojja primary and later Kasasa Secondary where his hip hop career kicked off after he met Lyrical G, one of the members of the crew Bataka Underground – later the Bataka Squad – Bataka means "native" in Luganda. Saba's first taste of the mic was in 1992, a few months after he saw the movie Wild Style, a hip hop breakdance video.
The game changed for Saba in 1994 when he hooked up with the Bataka Underground. On the team was Babaluku, Momo MC, and Lyrical G. They were later joined by Newton, Chagga, Shillingz, Furious B from Burundi, Larat, Lyn, and Slob MC the youngest of the crew.
The Bataka crew had their first major performance in Mwanza, Tanzania and recorded their first single 'ATOOBA',written by Babaluku and produced by Mukalazi. The single was only able hit the airwaves three years later, as a result of the lack of hip hop appreciation and the negative stereotype associated with hip hop by radio stations. The song became a favourite on the underground hip hop scene and is still regarded as a Ugandan hip hop classic. The song was one of the first major hip hop songs sung in Luganda or Lugaflow, the native Ugandan language – Lugaflow.
In 1997, Bataka Underground recorded their second smash hit, 'Ssesetula' which got them on a stage rampage spree across Kampala, from Club Pulsations to Lido Beach, Club Silk, Botanical Gardens, Little Flowers, Bingo Cinema, Sharing youth Center and several other locations.
In 1998, the Bataka crew continued to dominate the hip hop scene and in December, Saba beat a long list of musicians of the day including members of his crew and won the 'Mr. Club Silk' Contest for his social-political ballistic rhymes of the day.
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Wikipedia