RAPPER, poet, and blogger Eric1 Key is looking for funds to record his second album,, which he hopes to release by end of March. The singer, real name Eric Ngangare, started recording the 14-song album two months ago but was forced to put its production on hold due to financial constraints. “The good news is… I am halfway through with the album…the bad news is that I am running out of money and Corona is still a bomb,” the rapper said in a video that he posted last weekend. According to him, he has now got no other choice but to organise an exclusive, interactive, Zoom music listening session and conversation with his supporters during which he expects to mobilize funds to support him in the production of the remaining part of the album. The conversation, which is slated for Sunday, January 17, will be an exclusive session during which the rapper and his team will be sharing the stories, the inspiration, the process, the lyrics, and more details regarding his upcoming album. He will also update his music fans on how far he has gone with the album before presenting the challenges hindering the completion of the project. It is then that he will also reveal the name of the album. “I have so far recorded half (seven songs) of the album, but I don’t have the funds to record the other half. To be honest, our music has shaken and I don’t have a sponsor because I am my own manager and sponsor of my music. If at least 10 or 15 people can support me with USD 50 each, then I can move on and record the rest of my songs of the album,” he said. Contrary to his debut album, Eric1 Key explained that the process for his second album is more inclusive as most of the songs on the album are collaborations with upcoming artistes like Angel Mutoni, Kivumbi King, Ice Nova, and Bushali among others. “The whole idea of the album is all about coming together as artistes. I put together a team of local talents to help me craft my album,” he said. To diversify the album, the rapper has been working with different producers, including his long-time producer Barrick Music, Makembe Michael, Green Ferry Music producer Dr Nganji and Junior Kafi who has been helping him online. If he gets the funds, the rapper wishes to release the album by end of March while he also expects to release it alongside a documentary that will be portraying every scene, experience and the production process of his album. “The documentary will explain the production process, strategies, and the inspirations behind every song on the album. It will also help us reflect on artistes’ question ‘Are we really wasting our time?’” he explained.
