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Meet S4J Best Hip Hop Artist 2011
Published on 4/1/2012
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S4J original names Lubwama Eric Michael (born March 24) is a Ugandan Hip hop artist.
Despite winning the Olive award for BEST HIPHOP ARTIST 2011 an unlikely story stands behind the man known by many as "S4J". From a humble background to a leader in the movement of urban reform, a rocky road provides a window into the grace he experienced throughout his life, with every situation molding him into the artist and leader that he is today.
Born and raised by his mother Victoria Sarah Bassajja in Kampala , S4J moved around several places giving him the versatile background and cultural awareness he carries with him. Along the way, like many young people in Kampala , he took to rapping as a way of expression. It wasn't until after high school that his hobby became a passion after his hip hop background was redeemed by Jesus Christ. S4J discovered rapping as a musical outlet to help him convey his feelings to others.
When he was 19 he was attacked by an illness for which medical intervention was not succeeding but his sister Namutebi Doreen introduced him to Church where he was healed. Because of this S4J became extremely passionate about Christianity. His strong religious conviction later led him to make a decision to use his rapping skills to tell about the youth of his generation about his faith and positive living standards in the language they understand best ‘rap’.
Graduating from High school as the best science student that year with 22points in the science combination, he got a government scholarship at Makerere University for a degree in Architecture. In his first year at the University under the pressure and influence of his friends, he took his rapping skills to stage, starting from Gospel Nyte a show that happens every week in Kampala . Here he was encouraged by artists to go record his music.
He recorded his first song Nakigudde the backslider which was later followed by Wampologoma sawa meka, which saw a lot of success not only in the gospel scene but also in the mainstream music industry. These were followed by other songs like Prodigal Sebyala, Cypha Entukuvu, Ekibuuzo and others that all lie under a unique style of Ugandan hiphop locally referred to as Lugaflow.
During this time he co-founded Holy Hip Hop 256 a movement of artist dedicated to spreading positive doctrines amidst young people. S4J has performed alongside international artists like Papasan, Michelle Bonilla, Isaac Blackman, Emmanuel Ja and others.
Currently he is still finishing the degree in Architecture alongside the music and working as a presenter on the top Christian TV in Uganda called Channel 44 where he is also a producer of a lively youth show called ‘BOUNCE’, that he says he designed for purposes of reaching out to young people in a smart way. He presents a music show called Gospel Afrik where he hosts fellow local and international artists.
S4J at the moment is working on his album, Wampologoma sawa meka and has just released his latest song off the album called ‘They Say ft. Macka’’. This is S4J’s first English song and he says that for the rest of his music life he focuses on going international as he tells his generation about the truth in Christ and about positive living.
