Gifted Zedmonk rapped for 75 hours to break Guinness World Record 

ZEDMONK SSABATONTOMI, 20, is a Lugaflow rapper who recently set out to break the Guinness World Record of the longest rap marathon, finishing at 75 hours way ahead of the current 48 hours record.

Quick Talk caught up with him and talked about this milestone and his budding career.

Briefly, who is Zedmonk Ssabatontomi?

Zedmonk Ssabatontomi, born Akram Kabuubi Zamunyo is a 20-year-old rapper, entrepreneur, CEO TRT Entertainment Africa, humanitarian and founder of Zedmonk Cares, a children advocate and a professional barber. Zedmonk is also East Africa’s youngest, most internationally nominated award-winning rapper.

I was born in Entebbe but grew up from Salaama road and later Bulenga. I went to Makindye Citizens Primary School, Trinity High School Masajja and Princess Diana High School Munyonyo, for my O level.

Ohh! Did you stop there?

Well, when Covid-19 hit and education paused, I had also reached a level where I wanted to pursue my dream of being a rapper. However, the main reason I didn’t continue with my studies was because I had an orphan who I decided to sacrifice my studies for, so that I can support her through her education and right now she is in P7 [Aww! That is touching.]

But I do plan to resume and complete A level.

How do you go from Akram Kabuubi Zamunyo to Zedmonk Ssabatontomi?

Zed is a Hebrew name which means the Lord is just, and Monk is someone dedicated to his religion or faith. So Zedmonk basically means the Lord is just and I am dedicated to my faith. Ssabatontomi comes from the unique ability I possess of rapping about what I see and what people say. It basically means chief poet.

How did you start doing music?

It has always been my dream to do music, especially Hip Hop and you know what they say, you don’t choose Hip Hop, Hip Hop chooses you. So when I discovered that I was good at rapping especially freestyling, I decided to go for it. 

After my senior four, I joined Andy Events Music label to kickstart my career. In 2021, I participated in the Street Credit television show where we would do rap battles. I did 151 battles undefeated [okaayyy… Ssabatontomi indeed!] In 2022, I won the Rookie of the Year award in the MTN UG HipHop Awards which brought me a lot of recognition.

Take us through some of the music projects you have done.

I started with Byokola in 2019 with Andy Events. Then I went on to do Waka Si Myaka, which won me Rookie of the Year, Street Go Down remix, I featured on the Youth and Hip Hop Bootcamp album by Bayimba Foundation, Lay Low, Amazima Agakaawa, Nakozeki, and Bow Before God, which is a gospel song. My latest release before I attempted the Guinness World Record was Chama.

What made you go for the Guinness World Record for the longest rap marathon?

Five years back I thought about breaking a world record though I didn’t know when I would do it. I used to go to the internet and research about the existing world records and would even write them down.

When I came across the longest rap marathon record, I decided that one day I must break it.

My team and I put in our request in December last year and it was approved in January this year and we were given May 3 as the date to attempt breaking the record. We did it and it was successful.

You rapped for 75 hours. Woah!

It was a magical experience. Initially, I wanted to do 55 hours because the current record being held by the Japanese rapper Poney is 48 hours. But when I looked at my strength and uniqueness, I decided to make it 80 hours so that I set the bar higher for anyone who would want to break my record.

However, following my doctor’s advice, I decided to stop at 75 hours, because I hadn’t slept in four days. I would rap for one hour nonstop and take a break of 5 minutes.

What kept you going for 75 hours?

I am on a mission. With Zedmonk Cares, we believe youth can use talents as God given tools to support their families and communities and inspire others. I wanted to be that  person to show others that it is possible.

Another thing was that a week before the rap marathon, I lost a fan who had supported my rap journey since day one and she is one of those people that kept me going because even though she wasn’t there, I didn’t want her support to have been in vain.

What were you rapping about anyway?

Everything was just flowing naturally. I had different topics like folklores, beautiful sceneries of Uganda, Uganda’s rich culture. We had a ‘rap what I say’ session where someone in the audience would say out a word and I rap about it.

My theme was My Culture, My Pride because I wanted to promote the Ugandan culture to the rest of the world since we had audiences from different countries around the world. I did this through the storytelling and the traditional attire I was wearing [he wore a kanzu, a jacket made from bark cloth, a hat weaved from palm leaves, cowrie shells and lugabire – rubber sandals].

That is even why on May 21 this year during the World Culture Day, the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development presented me with an Excellence Award for promotion of our culture.

Do you need to be a talkative person to rap that long?

Not really. You just need to be good at freestyling and have the ability to look at something or a situation and develop like a hundred words from it there and then. Surprisingly, I am actually a taciturn person until you give me the mic.

How far with the record being approved by the Guinness World Records?

We have already submitted the evidence and it can take weeks or a couple of months. They confirmed receiving it and right now we are just waiting for feedback from them of either a correction in case I went wrong somewhere, or an approval as the new Guinness World Record holder for the longest rap marathon.

What have you achieved so far from attempting this record?

I have gotten visibility. More people have gotten to know me and my music and I am getting more opportunities to showcase my talent.

It has also helped me to break through to the mainstream music scene because I had already made a name for myself in the Hip Hop community but the breakthrough into the mainstream was coming on slowly. It has been a big milestone in my career and I believe more is yet to come.

Who are your favourite rappers?

For the male rappers I like GNL Zamba, Feffe Bussi, Da Agent, Spyda MC, and for the females it is Omani Reign, Tushi Nabakyala and Mirage. Those are the ones I listen to and appreciate how good they are.

Any Ugandan rapper you would consider having a rap battle with?

That would be Feffe Bussi, but then he is my friend and I don’t battle my friends. I don’t think there is any Luga flow rapper who can win a rap battle against me.

Which artiste would you wish to collaborate with?

First on my list is A Pass; his knowledge and understanding of music and artistic lyricism is something I would love to tap into. Others are Feffe Bussi, GNL Zamba, Cindy, Jowy Landa and Liam Voice.

What do you do when not rapping?

If I am not doing music, you will find me at my salon. I also do mentorship programs under the office of Uganda’s Ambassador for Women and Girls. I also carry out a monthly charity program called Free Haircut for Everyone where I go to different charity homes offering haircuts to the kids and dining with them.  
 
What are your future plans?

My next goal is to see that Zedmonk Cares becomes a ladder other youth can use to achieve their goals, majorly focusing on inspiring fellow youth and see them changing lives. Musically, I am working with different producers and in a few weeks I will be releasing new songs and videos.

jjingoernest1@gmail.com