Samuel Onapakol best known by his stage name, Sparo is a 22-year old rapper based in Soroti. His rap style brands him as Eminem of Uganda.
Monday Times‘ Samuel Opio caught up with ‘Attack on the rappers’ hit maker and here he is talking about his Music and the musical atmosphere in Eastern Uganda.
Monday Times (Samuel Opio): When did you start doing music?
I started rapping at 9 years of age but I didn’t see myself as a rapper
When Eminem released not afraid under his album recovery in 2010
It made me feel in control so I kept on listening to his music while rapping along to his songs till 2017 when I recorded ‘my brain’ with King Featherman.
He taught me a lot about vocals and gave me the strength to keep going then after doing two collaborations with Zipo Jezz that’s when I went for killing it my first hit single
Monday Times (Samuel Opio): What kind of music do you do?
I do Hip-Hop but I’m so creative and I listen to all kinds of music so because of that I also do RnB, Ragga, and Dancehall including reggae.
Monday Times (Samuel Opio): What is it like doing music in Teso?
It’s not as easy as it seems because I get negative energy from the people that are supposed to motivate me but its dope because I got support from my fans, they always got my back.
Monday Times (Samuel Opio): Do you have plans of coming to do music in Kampala?
Yeah! I think about it all the time. I believe I stand a bigger chance of winning in that city.
Monday Times (Samuel Opio): Do you consider yourself the best artiste in Eastern Uganda?
I don’t because people do different genres and Hip-hop can’t be compared to other kinds of music.
I just respect every kind of music because they all got different things they bring to the table.
Monday Times (Samuel Opio): How is the music industry in Eastern Uganda and what are some of the challenges?
Well the main challenge I have as a hip-hop artist is pushing my music to the other parts of the country and getting airplay, and video play on the TV stations.
Lack of financial support from our political leaders that could change the whole music industry
And the other thing is that many people aren’t yet updated with the internet and YouTube so it’s hard to spread music online and earn from the internet.
Monday Times (Samuel Opio): If you are to work with any artiste in Kampala, who would that be?
I am really looking forward to working with Fik Fameika.
Monday Times (Samuel Opio): Upcountry artistes say artistes from Kampala do not want to work with you?
They don’t because I haven’t made a name for myself Countrywide so it’s easy for them to ignore my tweets, messages from Facebook, Instagram etc
Monday Times (Samuel Opio): What was your breakthrough in the music industry?
When I recorded ‘Killing’ it and I made it a dope video with my brother Wolf, it caught waves especially after the Vjs in Teso helped me work on it.
The song got Airplay on NBS and Step TV I can say it’s my breakthrough track
Monday Times (Samuel Opio): Where do you see yourself in next few years?
I see myself signed to a major record label in or outside the country
Monday Times (Samuel Opio): How many songs do you have so far?
I have 4 singles and 9 collaborations
