What began as a war of words over the Nassanga Remix could soon spill into the studio.
Singer Kalifah AgaNaga has challenged fellow musician A Pass to a music battle, accusing him of unfairly criticizing the blockbuster remix instead of supporting one of Uganda’s biggest collaborative music projects.
Speaking during a TikTok Live session, AgaNaga said A Pass had repeatedly mocked Eddy Kenzo’s contribution to the song, arguing that the criticism had gone beyond healthy musical debate.
“If you’re better than Kenzo, prove it in a music battle,” AgaNaga said. “You’re attacking someone with a BET Award and a Grammy nomination—achievements you may spend your entire career chasing and never attain.”
The singer argued that Kenzo’s achievements alone should command respect from fellow musicians, adding that the Uganda National Musicians Federation president invested both his time and resources in bringing the Nassanga Remix together.
AgaNaga also challenged A Pass to compare his recent music with the remix’s performance.
“Show us a song of yours that’s bigger than the Nassanga Remix today,” he said. “The remix is one of East Africa’s hottest songs on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Music and other streaming platforms, yet you’re criticizing it while your last hit only stayed relevant for a few weeks.”
He further questioned A Pass’s approach to promoting Ugandan music, arguing that established artists should celebrate successful local projects instead of publicly pulling them down.
According to AgaNaga, musicians have a responsibility to uplift one another, especially when a Ugandan song is enjoying widespread success across the region.
He also dismissed A Pass’s growing reputation as a music reviewer, insisting that evaluating songs should be left to journalists, bloggers, YouTubers and other entertainment commentators rather than fellow artists.
The exchange is the latest chapter in the debate surrounding the Nassanga Remix, which has dominated entertainment conversations in recent weeks, attracting both praise for its commercial success and criticism from some corners of the industry.
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