Western Uganda’s lyrical powerhouse Ray G has unleashed his most ambitious project yet: “CHECKMATE THE EP”, a sonic manifesto designed to redefine his career and challenge Uganda’s creative boundaries. Announced amid electrifying social media buzz, the seven-track EP merges soulful Ugandan roots with pan-African rhythms, targeting listeners from "Mbarara to Kampala and beyond."
Here is "Owe'Ishe", one of the singles off the EP
The Strategic Masterstroke
Ray G describes “Checkmate” as a metaphor for his artistic evolution: “It’s a realization of a significant shift... where music got me in a fix, and I decided to enjoy it as a lifetime game”. The title signals his move toward “unstoppable artistry,”—where every creative decision is deliberate, bold, and irreversible
A Revolutionary Business Model
In a daring industry challenge, Ray G revealed plans to sell only 100 physical copies of the EP, priced at UGX 500,000 each, targeting UGX 50 million in revenue. This ultra-exclusive strategy emphasizes quality over quantity, treating the EP as a collector’s item
Crafting a Borderless Sound
Produced by hitmakers Instramento, Bruno, KBZ, and BobPro, the EP blends Afrobeat, soul, and Ugandan folk. Ray G intentionally designed it to “go beyond Ugandan borders,” telling BigEye UG: “I envisioned my EP for East Africa. I wanted a sound that can cross borders” .
Ray G’s EP enters this landscape as a deliberate “sonic bombshell”—a bid to transition from “regional royalty to national juggernaut”
With “Checkmate,” Ray G isn’t just playing the game—he’s aiming to end it. As fans count down to the listening event and physical copies prepare for battle, Uganda’s music scene braces for a reign shift.
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