The Track: We Are Their Problem – Khalifa ft. Iryn

No. No. No. This is just not the way we are used to hearing Iryn Namubiru sound like. And of course we have to accept that it is too early to tell, but it is also hard to ignore that Namubiru is a little out of character here, trading her more comfortable zone in the arena of Afro-pop, for an attempt at a boldfaced ragga-dancehall do. I invite you to be the judge.

Khalifa Aganaga is the easiest person to blame; he comes across like the young boy taking their elder sister from another generation, through a song or dance style that is common with his peers. And yes, of course, Iryn’s musical abilities are not under question, so she somehow pulls it off. But because we know how she sounds like when at her best, it is easy to tell she is not at home here.

She is attempting a ragamuffin rap, all wearing the persona of a “rudegyal”, Queen of dancehall, and no, the effect comes very close to comical. Aganaga, on the other hand is simply having a fun day out, oblivious of the torment he is taking his elder sister through. No. No. No. This is not the way we are used to hearing Iryn Namubiru sound like.