Flex D'Paper

Flex D'Paper
Background information
Birth name Alex Julius Kwesigabo
Born Kampala, Uganda
Occupation(s) Rapper, Producer
Associated acts Dasper Cosine, Klear Kut, Aethan music, GNL Zamba, Navio , Keko , Allan Toniks , Apass
Website www.flexdpaper.com

Alex Julius Kwesigabo (born 19 January 1990), better known by his stage name Flex D'Paper, is a Ugandan rapper and songwriter born and raised in Kampala.[1] Starting off his music career, Flex D'Paper was part of the high school rap group, The Rapaholix, which he started with friends, Dasper Cosine and later joined by Apass as an affiliate with whom the trio put out a mix tape, The Eviction Notice[2] that included chart topping singles like "Burning", "Party Life" and "Follow Me" (with Allan Toniks) which topped countdowns in Uganda such as NTV and Sanyu FM.[3][4]

Flex D'Paper at Sanyu Fm in Uganda, after topping the countdown with the hit single Follow me featuring Allan Toniks, hosted by Big Ben and Denzel

Flex D'Paper's hip hop can be described as Uga Flow, a style created by Navio and his rap group Klear Kut.

Flex D'Paper was part of the 2014 UG Cypher including the finest Ugandan rappers: Navio, Keko, Big Tril, Don MC, AirporTaxi rappers (Tucker and LLyboc) St. Nelly Sade, GNL Zamba, DJ Global, JB, The Mith, Ruyonga, and Atlas.[5][6] Navio has given Flex D'Paper credit on many occasions, as the rapper to watch out for and also respects his hard work,[7] Flex has also collaborated with Kyle, a BigBrother Africa 7 housemate, and released a song, "Yansakata".[8][9]

Early life and education

Flex D’Paper was born on 19 January 1990 in Kampala. He comes from a family of eight children. He studied his primary school from Greenhill Academy and his secondary school from Seeta High School for Ordinary Level and St. Mary’s Kitende for Advanced level. He later enrolled to Makerere University for a degree in Information Technology.[10]

Career

On an interview with Hot 100.9 fm in Uganda, Flex D'Paper explained how he got his name from being flexible because of the different styles of music that he can write and ghostwrite for people, while Paper is a name he got for being motivated to get the money, which he calls paper.[11] He gets his influence from BIG, T.I among other artists.[11] Together with the group, they performed at many High school occasions and later went ahead to release a joint mixtape in 2012, with Ugandan chart topping singles like "Shutting Down Towns" featuring Martha Smallz produced by Aethan, a top hip hop producer in Uganda.[12] and "Follow Me" featuring Allan Toniks. In 2013, Flex D’Paper went ahead to do solo music, and followed it up with the hit "More" featuring Kemishan. Produced by Baru.[13] He put out only one single as he completed work on his yet to be released album, The Kampala Boy.

In 2014, he released the single "Leader" with Sheila Wya[14] which premiered on Mckenzie's Weekly top twenty countdown,[15] a popular radio personality and number six in Africa on Channel O list.[16] It was also played and featured on Mister Deejay's SNMS show,[17] a popular radio personality in Uganda and Africa who made it to the Channel O top radio personalities list.[18] Flex D'Paper released the video to "Leader" in 2015, a song that has gone ahead to make it to most countdowns in Uganda and East Africa as well.[19][20]

In 2015, Flex D'Paper was invited by the American Embassy in Kampala, Uganda to rap and perform alongside the Next Level group while in Kampala, An initiative of the US State Dept & UNC Music Department to send artists around the world to use hip-hop as a tool for cultural diplomacy & conflict resolution.[21][22]

He has shared a stage and performed alongside some of Uganda's and East Africa's best artists like Navio, GNL Zamba, Allan Toniks, Keko, Chameleone Bebe Cool, Octopizzo from kenya [23] [24]Radio & Weasel among others and opened for international act, Ne-Yo.[25][26]

Flex D'Paper with rapper Navio at the Neyo live in concert show 2015, in Kampala,Uganda.

In 2015, Flex D'Paper was once again among the top rappers/ emcees to be featured on the official Ugandan rap cypher (Ug Cypher 2) that included Navio (rapper) the mith RuyongaSt. Nelly-Sade among others.[27][28][29]

Musical style

Flex D'Paper describes his hip hop as Uga Flow (Ugandan flow) rap just like in his single "Burning", he says "And I'm doing Uga Flow but what you do is karaoke."[30] It is a blend of western rap and African traditional beats.

Discography

Singles

Single Year Details
Burning 2011 (featuring Dasper Cosine & Tracee) produced by Aethan
Party Life 2011 (featuring Big Tril & Daisy Ejang) produced by Aethan
Follow Me 2012 (featuring Allan Toniks) produced by Aethan
Shutting Down Towns 2012 (featuring Martha Smallz) produced by Aethan
More 2013 (featuring Kemishan) produced by Baru Beats
Leader 2014 (featuring Sheila Wya) produced by Aethan
Victory Song 2015 (featuring Ruyonga, Levixone, Andy Music and Ninja C) produced by The Weezy
Everywhere We Go 2015 produced by The Aethan

Mixtapes

Eviction Notice with Rapaholix group. (2012)

Rapaholix clothing line

Ugandan rapper Navio rocking a Rapaholix snapback by Flex D'Paper's clothing line

In 2012, Flex D'Paper created his own clothing line, The Rapholix wear because of his love for fashion.[31] The brand has grown into a popular brand among the youth and different public figures.www.flexdpaper.com

Endorsements

One Million Campaign Against Cancer (1MC)

In 2015, Flex D'Paper together with other artists, Keko (rapper), Daisy Ejang, Nava Grey, comedian Pablo among others joined the One million campaign against cancer, a campaign by Uganda Child Cancer Foundation aimed at supporting children and young persons suffering from cancer in Uganda.

Flex D'paper, with rapper Keko and singers Naava Grey and Daisy Ejang (ambassadors for the one million campaign against cancer)

Ambition Mission

In 2015, Flex D'Paper was also among the young artists and public figures that represented the Ambition Mission. Some of the artists include Juliana Kanyomozi, Eddy Kenzo, Mun G among others. The non government organization was behind campaigns like "I Am Ambition Mission, Sili Taaba'' an anti Tobacco campaign.[32]

Viva con Agua de Sankt Pauli In March of 2016, Flex D'Paper was part of the artists in Uganda that joined Viva con Agua de Sankt Pauli a charity based organisation located in St. Pauli/Hamburg campaigning for fresh water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH). The organization held a concert where the artists including Flex D'Paper performed alongside some international acts like Octopizzo from Kenya, Ghanaian Stallion, Lady Slyke, Sylvester & Abramz among others. [33]

Personal life

0n May 17, 2015, Flex D'Paper was shot at in the hip at approximately 5:00 am at a residential complex in Wandegeya, Kampala by the place's Security.[34][35] This was due to a misunderstanding between the two after Flex was denied entry into the place. Only close friends and family were allowed to visit him at the hospital, His manager later revealed that his injuries were not life-threatening and said he was "fine" and recovering. [35][36][37]

References

  1. ↑ "Cultures-Uganda - Kwesigabo Alex (Flex D'Paper)". South Planet.
  2. ↑ "Flex D'Paper". Myziki.
  3. ↑ Flex D'Paper. Interview with Kleith Kyatuhaire (5 November 2013). T Nation Season Two Episode 01 Seg 02 Celebrity Corner# Flex D'Paper (Television production). NTV Uganda.
  4. ↑ Flex D'Paper. Interview on Sanyu FU 88.2 (16 April 2012). Flex D'Paper Tops Africa's Finest Countdown on Sanyu FM with Hit "Follow Me". Flex D'Paper.
  5. ↑ "Uganda's Finest Rappers on One Project". New Vision (Kampala). 13 February 2014.
  6. ↑ "UG Cypher Released". HiPipo. 11 April 2014.
  7. ↑ Navio. Interview with Kyle (28 March 2014). Navio Gives Props To Flex D'Paper Calls Him the African Hustler. Flex D'Paper.
  8. ↑ "Yansakata – Kyle ft Flex D’Paper". Kyle BBA7 (Blog). 2 October 2014.
  9. ↑ Segawa Salim (14 May 2014). "New Video: Kyle Ft Flex D'Paper "Yansakata"". Urban Hype (Blog).
  10. ↑ "Admissions, 2010/2011 Academic Year: Faculty of Computing and Information Technology" (PDF). Makerere University Academic Registrar's Department.
  11. 1 2 Flex D'Paper. Interview with King Shovon Malcolm (11 April 2012). Flex D'Paper Talks About Girls, Being Single, Camp Mula, and New Music, on Interview with Shovon. K-Concept Filmz.
  12. ↑ Emma Ikwap (24 October 2013). "Uganda's Hottest Young Music Producers". Sqoop. Kampala.
  13. ↑ Flex D'Paper (30 March 2014). Studio Session, The Making Of More By Flex D'Paper.
  14. ↑ Joash Yose (1 August 2014). "The Track >Leader – Flex D'Paper ft. Shiela Waya". Sqoop. Kampala.
  15. ↑ Rudeboy McKenzie (25 August 2014). Flex D'Paper's New Song #Leader Exclusive Premier with Rudeboy McKenzie on Radiocity (Radio broadcast). Rapaholix.
  16. ↑ "Radio City's RudeboyKella McKenzie Makes It to the Top Ten African On-Air Personalities List". Bigeye.ug. 28 July 2013.
  17. ↑ Mister Deejay (4 August 2014). "New Music from Martha Smallz, Spirit Soul, Code, Aethan & Flex D’Paper". Mister Deejay (Blog).
  18. ↑ Mister Deejay (31 July 2013). "I'm Number 3!!!!". Mister Deejay (Blog).
  19. ↑ Julius Ogwu (29 January 2015). "Ugandan Hiphop Act Flex D'Paper ft Sheila – Leader (Video)". Music Nation. Lagos.
  20. ↑ Nimusiima (29 January 2015). "Flex D'Paper Drops 'Leader' Video". Bigeye.ug.
  21. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VCt-cn17RAc
  22. ↑ http://www.okayafrica.com/news/suzi-analogue-kampala-uganda-on-the-beat-part-1/
  23. ↑ http://urbanhype.net/weloveyouganda-festival-in-photos/
  24. ↑ https://www.facebook.com/bjoernholzweg/posts/533565270145297
  25. ↑ Segawa Salim (4 October 2013). "Yego and Friends Night Second Edition Thrills Fans". Urban Hype (Blog).
  26. ↑ http://www.observer.ug/lifestyle/entertainment/21788-girls-night-out-at-toniks-show
  27. ↑ http://bigeye.ug/talent-africa-releases-ug-cypher-2-video-watch-it-here/
  28. ↑ http://ugandanews.co.ug/entertainment/talent-africa-releases-ug-cypher-2-video-watch-it-here
  29. ↑ http://kampalasun.co.ug/top-rappers-impress-on-ug-cypher-2/#.Vfp2WCCqqko
  30. ↑ "Flex D'Paper - Burning Ft. Dasper Cosine, Tracey Lyrics". Rift Lyrics.
  31. ↑ http://www.sqoop.co.ug/features-profiles/hustler-ronald-aguta.html
  32. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zPwaGoIIbq0
  33. ↑ http://urbanhype.net/weloveyouganda-festival-in-photos/
  34. ↑ http://campusbee.ug/news/mak-alumni-flex-d-paper-shot
  35. 1 2 http://chano8.com/ugandan-rapper-flex-d-paper-shot/
  36. ↑ http://bigeye.ug/tag/flex-d-paper-shot/
  37. ↑ http://urbanhype.net/flex-dpaper-recovering-after-being-shot-in-the-thigh/

External links

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Tuesday, April 05, 2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.