Legendary hip hop crew Tuff Gang, which is among the pioneers of hip hop genre in Rwanda, is coming together again this time looking forward to staging a powerful performance at the highly anticipated ‘Icyumba cy’Amategeko’ concert slated for Saturday, August 24 at Kigali Conference at Exhibition Village. Crew members Bull Dogg, Fireman, deceased Jay Polly, Green P and P-Fla have spent years without sharing the stage and are plotting to reunite and entertain Hip-hop fans at the concert which will be headlined by their mate Bulldog and Riderman, another top Rwandan lyricist and rapper. The concert, which is in line with celebrating Bulldog and Riderman’s collaborative Extended Play (EP), “Icyumba Cy’Amategeko”, will also feature performances by some of the youngsters in Rwanda’s music industry who produce hip hop genre. Other notable performers confirmed to grace the concert include Bruce the First, B-Threy, Ish Kevin, Bushali and Kenny K-Shot, who all grew up listening and drawing inspiration from Tuff Gang. ALSO READ: Tuff Gang members led by Jay Polly set for virtual reunion In his recent interview with The New Times, Bulldogg expressed his confidence about the turnout of the upcoming concert, saying that this is a gift to hip hop audience in the country. “We’ve been in this industry for a long time and have seen it all,” he said adding, “Anyone in the rap game will tell you we’re not doing this for the numbers; it’s for the love. So, no matter what, we’re going to give the best show possible.” Tickets for the event are available at www.maafrica.rw or via MoMo Pay (113355). Early bird tickets are priced at Rwf 10,000 for regular seats, Rwf 20,000 for VIPs, and Rwf 30,000 for VVIPs. ALSO READ: Tuff Gang is back “Icyumba Cy’Amategeko” EP, which premiered on May 30, quickly became an internet sensation. Bulldogg and Riderman, both hailed as pioneers of Rwandan hip hop, have maintained their status as some of the most consistent artists in the industry. Their longevity is often attributed to steering clear of the troubles that plagued many of their peers, such as incarceration associated with drug abuse. About Tuff Gang Tuff Gang, with the help of renowned producer Lick Lick, pioneered street hip-hop and the gang lifestyle of Kigali back in 2008. In mid-2009, the media developed a row with the Tuff Gang accusing them of drugs and violent behaviour. This almost brought the group’s career to a close as their music was not aired at that time. In 2015, Tuff Gang parted ways and every rapper embarked on a solo career, making some of the crew members successful like late Jay Polly and Bull Dog. P-Fla, Fireman, and Green P became notorious for being in and out of prison and rehab over drug abuse. The tension led to the deadliest ‘beef’ on Rwanda’s hip hop scene and made members of the crew release back-to-back diss tracks against other rappers. Tuff Gang released more than 20 songs collectively including ‘Amaganya,’ ‘Kwicuma,’ and ‘Gereza’ among others, all of which continued to be aired on the radio despite the crew breaking up.
