Close To My Roots

The Ship Crew (Kampala, Uganda) getting busy

The Black Star Line - Close To My Roots
is a project dedicated to creating great music featuring African and American artists and exposing the “true” African sound and its musicians to the global music market. Africa has a strong Hip Hop, Reggae and Cultural Rap presence that is often overlooked in regards to its worldwide musical influence. The continent has many talented artists that need to be exposed to the rest of the world.

Eric “Coptic” Matlock,
the producer of this album, was born and raised in Ghana, West Africa.  He migrated to the U.S. at 13 and started producing music years later. He since has produced records for The Notorious B.I.G (If I Should Die Before I Wake & Living The Life), Puff Daddy aka “Diddy” (I Need A Girl), Jermaine Dupri (All That's Gotta Go), Ma$e, KRS-One, Shyne and countless other successful artists on their platinum plus albums.

Coptic believes that doing this album would be unique and a helpful way of exposing African artists to the American and International marketplace. Upon completion of the album, Coptic hopes to tour Africa, bringing American and International artists that most Africans only see on TV to every country on the continent.
A portion of the proceeds made from the album will be used to purchase musical equipment for local schools in Africa. This is something taken for granted in other countries and support grassroots musical foundations is Africa.



The Black Star Line - Close To My Roots is still in it's recording stage so please stay tuned for the mixtape and final song list. Each song on the album blends African and American artists, whether living in or out of the continent.

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Ship Crew Represent Uganda on close to my roots International Album

MC Ship *THE SHIP CREW* SERUNKUMA MEDI A.K.A MC SHIP Medi / Mc ship is a 10 yrs old Freestyle MC from a family of six he is the first of his siblings to experience the power of hip hop and community transformation as a young advocate using his gift of emceeing to entertain and educate his peers. His music and freestyle carries the message of child advocacy speaking for homeless kids and orphans. Medi is currently attending St. Agnes primary school in grade four aspiring to be a lawyer and a journalist.   Hope MC NSAMBA IVAN A.K.A MC HOPE MC hope is a 9-year-old MC young and gifted when it comes to his passion of free styling and sharing his truth on the microphone. He comes from a family of two and would be the first one in his family to experience National exposure as a member of the youngest Hip Hop crew in Uganda. Hope is currently attending Cream Kindergarten and day care center his aspiring to be a great MC. BOSA SHAFIKI A.K.A MC FIKI FIKI MC FIKI is 6 years old MC making him the youngest member of the Ship Crew. His love for hip hop gives a unique sense of understanding to audiences on how indigenous languages can allow young people to communicate effectively from there own perspective.  MC FIKI is MC Ship’s brother; he is in Kindergarten enjoying his found gift of being a battle MC.

Babaluku performs on The Close To My Roots Album

Silas Balabyekkubo (aka Babaluku), an award-winning musician, producer, community youth activist
and social entrepreneur. Also a founding member of Uganda's legendary hip hop group, Bataka Squad, Silas is known for introducing Luga Flow to Uganda's creative scene. 

Coptic Sound
With Babaluku

This unique and powerful style of positive Hip Hop music has inspired youth in Uganda to embrace and celebrate their native languages, culture and tradition.

Silas is dedicated to changing lives and giving hope to young people; from the ghetto slums of Kampala to war torn Northern Uganda. Through the Bavubuka Foundation Silas supports projects that are calling forth the spirit of Ugandan people in creative arts, youth empowerment, education, community development, sports, fashion, journalism, and community-building events.

"Babaluku is one of the dopest MCs that I have ever met or worked with. His style is bowndless and just when you think that you've heard it all, he takes you on another curve" says Coptic

Babaluku performs on The Close To My Roots Album,the song is not yet titled. Stay Tuned !!

CHECK OUT SOME VIDEOS OF BABALUKU WITH COPTIC SOUND IN NYC

 

Related Links: http://www.theblackstarline.com/babalukuartistpage.html
Bavubuka Foundation