Veteran singer Blackboy has revisited a dramatic episode from Uganda’s early music scene, recalling an alleged confrontation involving Bebe Cool and Red Banton at Club Ange Noir.
According to Blackboy, Bebe Cool confronted Red Banton during the incident and allegedly locked him in the boot of his car before driving him to a police station.
Blackboy said the confrontation was linked to Bebe Cool’s accusation that Red Banton was overly supportive of fellow singer Jose Chameleone.
The incident, as recalled by Blackboy, was part of an era when clashes and confrontations between artists were a visible feature of Uganda’s rapidly developing music industry.
For Blackboy, the atmosphere eventually became too much. He said the frequent fights and conflicts contributed to his decision to step away from music for several years.
“I stepped away because there were many fights and conflicts in the industry. I am not a man of violence, so I decided to quit,” he explained.
Blackboy began his music career in 1999, entering the industry as a young artiste inspired by established names including Shanks and Ragga Dee.
His recollections also touch on the early history of Fire Base Crew, a collective he says he helped initiate alongside Bobi Wine and Toolman.
According to Blackboy, Bobi Wine came up with the name Fire Base and also helped establish the crew’s early identity through paintings on the walls.
He did, however, push back against claims that Bebe Cool was one of the founders of the crew.
Blackboy acknowledged Bebe Cool’s involvement in promoting Fire Base but said his role was promotional rather than foundational.
That distinction offers another glimpse into the sometimes complicated history of Uganda’s early music movement, when artist collectives, rivalries and collaborations helped shape the industry that exists today.
Blackboy’s memories also explain why he eventually chose a different path. While he was part of the scene during its formative years, he says the constant confrontations were ultimately incompatible with the kind of person he was.
For him, walking away from the music industry was less about losing interest in music and more about refusing to become part of a culture of violence and conflict.