User:Icem4k/2016–17 Premier League

From Chalo Chatu, Zambia online encyclopedia

In early 2004, Lawyer Ignatius Chongwe nicknamed as Lawyer Without Boarders [sic] discovered B Flow during a talent show at Sacred Heart Parish in Kabwe. A few weeks later, Mr Chongwe convened a series of meetings for Kabwe-based artists. The meetings gave birth to a concert and competition dubbed "History in the making" which was held at Kabwe's Njanji Club on September 11th, 2004. The event was aimed at unveiling the best artists in Kabwe so as to prepare them for national stardom. B Flow emerged victorious and his prize was a recording studio session with TK at Romaside Studio in Lusaka. This was B Flow's first professional studio session. The song was released in January 2005, but due to the absence of radio stations in Kabwe at the time, it was only promoted at parties and other musical events. B Flow also performed the song whenever he opened for established artists who came to perform in Kabwe. Although the song was not a commercial success at national level, it made B Flow a popular brand in his hometown of Kabwe.

In December 2005, B Flow relocated to the capital city of Lusaka in pursuit of a recording deal. After helping friends like D2 and Joewy Bantu to write their songs, he attracted the attention of a few established Zambian artists who expressed interest in his song-writing ability. Between 2006 and 2008, B Flow helped pen down songs for local artists like T-Boy, MKV, Choklet and Bob Muli. In mid 2008, he worked as a backing vocalist for General Ozzy. Although being a backing vocalist was not financially beneficial for him, the experience taught him some good stage work techniques and exposed him to the art of live music. In December 2008, legendary Zambian producer and proprietor of Romaside Studio Trevor Kalaluka (TK) listened to a number of songs on which B Flow had collaborated with other artists. TK instantly liked B Flow's unique Dancehall and Hip Hop style, describing him as "the next big thing". This earned B Flow his long awaited recording contract with Romaside Studio. B Flow recorded his breakthrough single Mpu Mpu Mpu in late 2008 and released it immediately. Produced by TK, who was Zambia's most happening producer at the time, Mpu Mpu Mpu became a nationwide hit song which made B Flow a household name.

B Flow's first album Mpu Mpu Mpu (meaning heartbeat) was released in 2009. The album earned B Flow a nomination at the 2009 Ngoma Awards in the Best New Artist Category. the album has songs like Bubblegum Lover featuring Kachanana which was nominated for the 2010 Radio Phoenix ZAIN Best Collaboration Of The Year, Energizer, Mosikito and the album title track Mpu Mpu Mpu.

In 2010, B Flow teamed up with his "musical twin brother" the late P Jay, to produce an album called Dabo Trabo (pronounced as Double Trouble). According to the duo, Dabo Trabo was inspired by the album Best Of Both Worlds by Jay Z and R. Kelly. While promoting Dabo Trabo, B Flow and P-Jay had the privilege of opening for Jamaican female duo Brick & Lace who performed in Lusaka in 2010.

B Flow also became a member of the Zambia Association of Musicians in 2010. As a member of the association, he attended several training workshops facilitated by USAID-funded Support to the HIV/AIDS Response (SHARe). The trainings increased B Flow's knowledge in HIV/AIDS advocacy and peer education.

In 2011, B Flow released his second solo studio album 'No More Kawilo' (meaning no more loneliness). On the album, he included his first social-conscious song titled Chitemene System. The controversial hit song denounced infidelity among married men. The title track No More Kawilo topped most radio charts in Zambia and increased B Flow's fan base in Zambia and neighboring Malawi, Botswana and South Africa. It also made it to Number 1 on the Zambian Sounds Top 20 chart. While touring Zambia to promote the album, B Flow was spotted by Norwegian artist Admiral P and Producer Carl Hovind who were impressed with his talent. They nicknamed him 'Starbwoy' because of his ability to draw big crowds whenever he had a show. The trio, working together with other Norwegian and Zambian entertainers, launched the Zambia-Norway 'Zedway Movement' which would later be called Zedway Foundation. Zedway's mission is to produce and promote Zambian music in Norway and vice versa.

In December 2011, B Flow decided to rebrand and move from making typical love songs meant merely for entertainment and profit making to recording songs that promote morality and social justice. In 2012, he collaborated with Judy on his hit single Cry of a Woman which he later included on his 2013 Voiceless Woman album. America's National Public Radio (NPR) highlights "Why the Zambian Hip Hopper B Flow changed his tune". NPR reports that B Flow did not want to make music that objectifies women.

B Flow's third studio album 'Voiceless Woman' which was released in 2013 topped the 'Sounds Top 20' for 10 weeks. The entire album which is dedicated to the fight against domestic violence and HIV/AIDS has been described as one of the most important albums ever released in Sub-Saharan Africa. The album won the Best Dancehall Album Award at the 2014 Zambian Music Awards. With notable hit songs like Cry of a Woman featuring Judy, Voiceless Woman, Something About A Woman, Side Plate featuring Macky 2 and Chef 187 and Shalapo, it has continued to receive local and international awards. It won Most Educative Album at the 2014 ZNBC Born & Bred Awards in Zambia and Rising Star Excellence Award at the 2015 Mwape Peer Awards in New York City. The album also earned B Flow a place in President Barack Obama's Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI), making him the first and only Zambian artist to be selected for the Mandela Washington Fellowship for young African leaders. The fellowship takes place in the United States of America.

Dear Mama is B Flow's 4th studio album. The album title track features an excerpt from President Barack Obama's 2015 YALI Presidential Summit speech in which the President endorsed B Flow for making music that advocates for social change. Dear Mama is arguably B Flow's most popular song internationally. The song is dedicated to his late mother who died 7 months before he met President Obama who honored him in Washington DC.