Where does King James fit in Rwanda’s R’nB Greats?

King James started his music journey in the 2009 era, when the competition in R’nB was more realistic, but was quick to cope and shine as one of Rwanda’s best in the genre.

Saturday, February 11, 2012
King James (L) yet to beat Tom Close

King James started his music journey in the 2009 era, when the competition in R’nB was more realistic, but was quick to cope and shine as one of Rwanda’s best in the genre. There are still questions though, on whether the 21-year old has actually had his name listed among the likes of Daddy Cassanova, Meddy, the Ben and Tom Close….. Compared to Tom Close for example, King James might command a bigger audience and sell more CDs today, if the two held concerts on the same date. But simple research shows that Tom is considered as a great singer, while King James is just a good one. Tom Close also emerged as the 2010 Rwandan Artist of the Year and won the 2011 Primus Guma Guma competitions in which King James participated, too. Daddy Cassanova too, hit radio before 2008 especially with the song "Imyaka Itatu”, before moving abroad where he is currently based. His voice and style however make him just enormous. Meddy, who also started his career in the days of King James, was strides ahead of the latter when he left for the US, just like his soul mate, The Ben. In fact, it was first thought that King James, who had been long- suppressed, would be the next king, but questions remain, "how much has he been able to replace them?”Somehow, King James’s latest releases, like "Ndakwizera” and "Buhoro buhoro” are becoming as successful as "Imyaka itatu”, "Sibeza” or "Amayobera”. He also has maintained hits for such a long time, and perhaps is on his way to emerging as the greatest in R’nB or fit the bill of greatest ever.