Undercover Brothers Ug
{{Short description|Ugandan music duo}}
{{For|the Hardy Boys series|Undercover Brothers}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Undercover Brothers Ug
| image = {{multiple image
| width = 110
| image1 =
| alt1 = Jay K Mulungi
| caption1 = Jay K. Mulungi
| eimage2 =
| alt2 = Timothy Kirya
|caption2 = Timothy Kirya
}}
| caption = Undercover Brothers Ug members
| origin = Kampala, Uganda
| associated_acts = *Goodlyfe Crew
| genre = {{flatlist|
- World
- reggae
- R&B{{cite web|last1=Kaggwa|first1=Andrew|title=Undercover Brothers to be re-unveiled|url=http://observer.ug/lifestyle/entertainment/35433--undercover-brothers-to-be-re-unveiled|work=The Observer|access-date=May 26, 2018|date=December 11, 2014}}
}}
| years_active = 2013–2020
| current_members = *Jay K. Mulungi
- Timothy Kirya
| label = Platinum Entertainment
| website =
}}
Undercover Brothers Ug also simply known as Undercover Brothers are a Ugandan music duo composed of guitarist and vocalist Jay K Mulungi and vocalist Timothy Kirya,{{cite news|title=Undercover Brothers: A persistent duo|url=http://www.monitor.co.ug/artsculture/Reviews/Undercover-Brothers--A-persistent-duo/-/691232/2497690/-/djrahmz/-/index.html|access-date=25 October 2014|agency=monitor.co.ug|publisher=monitor.co.ug}} whose music career sparked off when they won the auditions and represented Uganda in the sixth season of East Africa's biggest singing competition Tusker Project Fame.{{cite news|title=The Undercover Brothers on eviction, wearing caps and faking accents|url=http://www.satisfashionug.com/the-undercover-brothers-on-eviction-wearing-caps-and-faking-accents/|access-date=29 October 2013|agency=Satisfaction Ug|publisher=Satisfaction Ug}}{{cite web|title=news: Undercover brothers return from TPF, remain upbeat |url=http://www.newvision.co.ug/news/648885-undercover-brothers-return-from-tpf-remain-upbeat.html|access-date=29 October 2013}} The duo released their first album titled At Dawn in December 2014.{{cite web|title=updates: Undercover Brothers Ug release first Album |url=http://www.spaceonlineradio.com/#!Undercover-Brothers-Ug-release-first-Album/czfr/54fef7810cf2458597958cb3|access-date=21 December 2014}} In December 2016, their song Nsikatila was nominated in the Best R&B Song category at HiPipo Music Awards (#HMA) 2017.
The duo has shared the stage with some of Uganda's biggest stars such as Rachael Magoola, Jackie Chandiru, Madoxx Ssemanda Sematimba, Maurice Kirya, Jemimah Sanyu and Chantal Letio.
History
Undercover Brothers Ug landed on the East African music stage when they represented Uganda in East Africa's biggest singing competition Tusker Project Fame season six, though they did not win.{{cite web|title=Welcome party for evicted 'Undercover Brothers' excites fans in Kampala|url=http://www.satisfashionug.com/welcome-party-for-evicted-undercover-brothers-excites-fans-in-kampala/|access-date=4 November 2013}} Since then, the duo, however, did not look back but instead continued entertaining people with their best guitar tunes and sweet melodies and suddenly they released their first album, At Dawn.
Undercover Brothers Ug held their first ever concerts dubbed Unveiling Undercover Brothers Ug{{cite web|title=UNVEILING UNDERCOVER BROTHERS UG : Unveiling Undercover Brothers Ug|url=http://kampalauncovered.blogspot.com/2014/10/unveiling-undercover-brothers-ug.html/|access-date=31 October 2014}} on the 13 and 20 December 2014 in Kampala. These concerts acted as their official release dates for their first album, At Dawn which sold physical copies at the concerts. The first concert was blessed by a performance by Uganda's king of Mwooyo Maurice Kirya. The third single, Nsikatila marketed the album which increased album sales in December 2014. The duo released their first music video for the song Diamond, a collabo with Uganda's young rapper Young Zee{{cite web|title=music: Undercover Brothers unveil new video|date=16 May 2014|url=http://bigeye.ug/undercover-brothers-unveil-new-video/|access-date=16 May 2014}} in May 2014. The duo was one of the few artists and bands chosen to entertain people on World Music Day 2014{{cite web|title=music: When streets turned into dancing halls |url=http://www.monitor.co.ug/artsculture/Entertainment/When-streets-turned-into-dancing-halls/-/812796/2363638/-/y8hkau/-/index.html/|access-date=28 June 2014}} and 2015{{cite web|title=music: When the world spoke musically|url=http://www.monitor.co.ug/artsculture/Entertainment/world-spoke-musically/-/812796/2765900/-/7n62qxz/-/index.html/|access-date=27 June 2015}} organised by Alliance Francaise in Kampala, Uganda. The duo has also performed at different music festivals including Pearl Rhythm Festival alongside Jackie Chandiru in October 2014{{cite web|title=Article: The pearl rhythm: Has Uganda finally found its music identity?|url=http://www.observer.ug/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=34527:-the-pearl-rhythm-has-uganda-finally-found-its-music-identity&catid=42:sizzling-entertainment&Itemid=74|access-date=27 October 2014}} after winning the Pearl Rhythm Stage Coach Auditions,{{cite web|title=Entertainment: Undercover brothers shine at pearl rhythm auditions|url=http://www.newvision.co.ug/mobile/Detail.aspx?NewsID=652760&CatID=397|access-date=27 October 2014}} Bayimba International Music Festival, Laba Street Art Festival{{cite web|title=Eventsguideug:Undercover Brothers warm|url=http://eventsguide.ug/ads/undercover-brothers/|access-date=29 November 2014}} as well as the Milege World Music Festival organized by Milege in November 2014,{{cite web|title=Entertainment: Milege festival turns chilly Entebbe warm|url=http://www.monitor.co.ug/artsculture/Entertainment/Milege-festival-turns-chilly-Entebbe-warm/-/812796/2538806/-/9juo0m/-/index.html|access-date=29 November 2014}} and 2015,{{cite news|title=World music gets botanical platform|url=http://www.observer.ug/lifestyle/42-entertainment/41240-world-music-gets-botanical-platform|access-date=26 November 2015|agency=The Observer|publisher=The Observer}} Nyege Nyege 2015 and 2016 where they slayed the festival with a great heavy performance,{{cite news|title=Photos: Undercover Brothers Slaying At The Nyege Nyege International Music Festival|url=http://bigeye.ug/photos-undercover-brothers-slaying-nyege-nyege-international-music-festival/|access-date=6 September 2016|agency=Big Eye Ug|publisher=Big Eye}} Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) Festival and many more.
The Undercover Brothers, with The Kava Band - a live performing band they formed in 2016, have held weekly shows at different locations in Kampala starting with Istanbul Restaurant early 2016, The Game Club late 2016 and Bubbles Olearys from January to August 2017. While on these weekly shows, the Undercover Brothers have hosted other Ugandan musicians such as Vampino, Chameleone, The Tabs Ug, Kenneth Mugabi, Micheal Kitanda, Levixone, Happy Kyaze and many others.
From mid-2017, Undercover Brothers flanked by their cover band have been playing at Alex Muhangi's weekly comedy show Comedy Store Uganda in Kampala.{{cite web|title=Kenya's Nameless and Eric Omondi to thrill revelers as Comedy Store returns|url=http://bigeye.ug/kenyas-nameless-and-eric-omondi-to-thrill-revelers-as-comedy-store-returns/|website=Bigeye|date=22 September 2017|access-date=22 December 2017}}
Awards and nominations
| class="wikitable" width="60%"
! colspan="5" style="background: #FBFC8A;" | Awards & Nominations |
| style="background:#ccc; text-align:center;"
! Year ! Award ! Category ! Result ! Ref |
| 2016
| HiPipo Music Awards | Best R&B Song (Nsikatila) |{{nom}} | {{cite web|title=The 5 th Prestigious HiPipo Music Awards Nominations List|url=http://hma.hipipo.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Nominations-press-release-V5.pdf|website=Hipipo|access-date=9 December 2016}}{{cite news|title=Sheebah Karungi leads nominations at HiPipo Music Awards: Check out full list here!|url=http://bigeye.ug/sheebah-karungi-leads-nominations-at-hipipo-music-awards/|access-date=9 December 2016|agency=Big Eye}} |
Members
- Timothy Kirya is a singer-songwriter, vocal coach, and guitar instructor. Timothy is a lead singer for the Undercover Brothers Ug and sometimes plays the acoustic guitar. He has co-written all songs on Undercover Brothers Ug's At Dawn album including a number of unreleased songs
- Jay K Mulungi is a singer-songwriter, guitarist, actor, model, and owner of Fashion Clinik Ug, a clothing line in Kampala. He plays the lead guitar and sometimes the bass guitar for Undercover Brothers Ug. He has also co-written all songs on Undercover Brothers Ug's At Dawn album including a number of unreleased songs.
Jay K Mulungi debuted his acting career as Henry in a Ugandan television series, Balikoowa in the City.
Discography
=Albums=
{{Discography list
| Type = EP
| Name = At Dawn
| Other info =
| from Album =
| Released = 13 December 2014
| Format = CD
| Label = Little Penny Studios, Grayce Records
| Writer = Timothy Kirya, Jay K Mulungi
| Writers =
| Producer = Producer Jude Mugerwa, Producer Joseph Mayanja, Producer Andy Music, Producer Nase Pro
| Director =
| Chart position =
| Sales =
| Certification =
| Tracks = Nsikatila, Like a Diamond, Kilalu, Munyenye, Mama
| Bonus tracks = 2
| Singles = Nsikatila, Like a Diamond (feat. Youngzee)
}}
{{Discography list
| Type = Studio
| Other info =
| from Album =
| Released = January 2016
| Format = CD
| Label =
| Writer = Timothy Kirya, Jay K Mulungi
| Writers =
| Producer = Producer Jude Mugerwa
| Director =
| Chart position =
| Sales =
| Certification =
| Tracks = Balikoowa, Ani, Nabirye, Kilalu, Olyot'eyo
| Bonus tracks = 2
| Singles = Balikoowa, Ani, Nabirye
}}
=Singles=
Music videos
| class="wikitable" |
| Year
! Title ! Producer ! Editor ! Director |
|---|
| 2017
| "Nsikatila" | Jude Mugerwa | | NG Films Crew |
| 2014
| "Like a Diamond" (with Young Zee) | Andy Muzic | Diana Mbondo | Kayode Gbenga |
See also
{{columns-list|colwidth=15em|
- List of Ugandan musicians
- Jemimah Sanyu
- Ruyonga
- Juliana Kanyomozi
- Maurice Kirya
- Flavia Tumusiime
- Tusker Project Fame
- Goodlyfe Crew
- Milege
- Giovanni Kremer Kiyingi
- Suzan Kerunen
}}
References
{{Reflist|2}}
External links
- {{Twitter}}
- [https://www.facebook.com/Undercover-Brothers-UG-351378368321156/ Facebook]
- [https://www.imdb.com/name/nm7790137/?ref_=md_ph_nm1 Undercover Brothers Ug (IMDB)]
{{commons}}
{{Star Academy}}
{{Music festivals|hide=yes}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Undercover Brothers Ug}}
Category:Musical groups established in 2013
Category:Musicians from Kampala
Category:Ugandan musical groups
Category:21st-century Ugandan male singers
Category:Ugandan instrumentalists