A Pass has shared his views on what it truly means for an artist to be considered “international.”
Speaking on a podcast, A Pass dismissed the popular label often attached to some Ugandan musicians, arguing that the term is widely misunderstood and misused. According to him, no artist based in Uganda should be referred to as international.
He revealed that he has often faced criticism online, with some fans comparing him to artists like Eddy Kenzo, who are widely perceived to have achieved international status.
I have been seeing people abusing me that I’m not international, comparing me to someone they think is. But I’ll tell them that even whoever they think is, is also local. We have no international artist here.
The singer explained that being “international” depends more on physical presence than popularity across borders. In his view, an artist only earns that label when actively operating outside their home country.
You’re only international when you’re out of Uganda. Even if you go to Kenya, but as long as you’re home, you’re local.
To further emphasize his point, A Pass drew a global comparison, referencing American rap icon Jay-Z. He argued that even a superstar of Jay-Z’s caliber is still considered a local artist within the United States.
A Pass also challenged the common belief that having music played in foreign countries automatically qualifies an artist as international. He clarified that such exposure simply reflects distribution, not status.
That means your music has been transported to another country and it’s getting airplay, but not you being international.
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