Last Friday and Saturday saw the return of Green Ferry Music’s return of the ‘I am hip-hop’ festival, an annual event created to promote all the richness of hip-hop culture, happening since 2017.
This year’s event brought together rappers, DJs, breakdancers, streetwear designers, BMX riders and graffiti for two days of shows and exhibitions.
Day one was more of a warm-up for what was in store with performances from Skidd, Insibika, White Monkey and Red ink. Saturday’s show was even more exciting with household names like Bull Dogg, B-Threy and Ish Kevin on the lineup.
The avenue made the experience more engaging as seats were mere feet away from the artists and those in attendance could even suggest tracks to the artist performing.
The opening act came from Trizzie96, who energised the crowd with familiar tracks like “Indamu” and “Fancy,” resonating deeply with fans of the Rwandan trap movement that brought artists like B-Threy and Bushali into the spotlight.
The second act featured Romeo Rapstar, who came in hot with his new hit singles “Ikivi” and “Umuzungu w’Igikara” from his “Umuzungu w’Igikara” album. His five-song performance amped up the rap fans, setting the stage perfectly for the next artist.
The Dice Kidd took the third set, followed by Icenova, who had the crowd hyped with hits like “Umukoro” and “Abahungu.”
Next up was Ngaara, who, despite not being a household name, had a surprisingly large fan base among the attendees. His performance was the most electric of the evening, with tracks like “Sin-buka,” “Birds and Cages,” “Ntilikina,” and “Nguruka” featuring Slum Dripp, getting the whole crowd singing along.
Slum Dripp then took over the stage, receiving a huge ovation from the eager fans. As one of the original Kinyatrap artists, he delivered memorable tracks like “Muri Humye ” featuring Bulldog, with fans rapping along to every lyric.
Bull Dogg, widely regarded as a legend in the Rwandan rap scene, was next to light up the stage. He delivered performances of familiar tracks like “Nk’umusaza” and “I Ndera.”
One of the most notable aspects of the event was the seamless organisation and camaraderie among the rappers. Each artist introduced the next one, often performing together for a bit. Bulldog invited B-They on stage for their hit feature “MOOD,” which sent the crowd into a frenzy.
A live performance session with Berrick and the band followed, with Ice Nova returning to perform “Irizi Waririzi” and “Rwa Rukundo” featuring B-Threy. B-Threy then delighted fans with “Nicyo Gituma,” performed alongside Ice Nova.
The excitement continued to build when B-They brought Bull Dogg back for another unforgettable set. For the next performance, B-Threy invited Angell Mutoni, a familiar name in rap circles, to the stage for their feature with Ice Nova titled “Love and Hate.” Angell Mutoni then performed “Tera Shot,” another B-Threy feature.
The live performance element made the artists’ music more interactive, with rappers coming off the stage to rap along with fans. Angell Mutoni took over from B-Threy with tracks like “Step In Like ” and “Bounce,” one of her latest releases.
Slum Dripp then took the stage with Ice Nova, performing their hit tracks “Intsinzi” and “Intwari.” Slum Dripp and B-Threy followed with their viral hit single “250,” one of the most recognizable tracks of the “Kinyatrap” era, and “Ni Tuebue,” another viral hit from the same period, bringing an end to the live music session.
Next up was Ish Kevin, who started with his hit single “Amakosi” to the excitement of many. He followed up with “Twari Broke” and “Umubago,” performing alongside Ririmba.
The last set featured memorable performances by Logan Joe, who graced the stage with “Ibitambo” and “Bro Code,” alongside Ish Kevin and Pro Zed’s captivating rendition of “Coupon Couper.” As the event came to a close, those in attendance were visibly satisfied with the evening’s performances.
