Jux
Juma Mussa Mkambala (born 1 September 1989), popularly known by his stage name Jux is a Tanzanian artist and songwriter.[1]
Jux | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Juma Mussa Mkambala |
| Also known as | African Boy |
| Born | 1 September 1989 Dar es Salaam, Tanzania |
| Origin | Singida Region |
| Genres | Bongo Flava • Afropop• R&B |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, singer, songwriter |
| Instrument(s) | Vocals |
| Years active | 2011 –present |
| Labels | African Boy |
| Partner(s) | Karen Bujulu |
His music is a blend of RnB, Bongo Flava and Afrobeats while his songs such as NitasubirI, Fashion Killer, Sugua, Juu and Nidhibiti have made him a household name in Tanzania and East Africa in general. [2]
Early life
Born in Dar es Salaam, Jux's interest in music began when he started to rap at the age of 16 to his friends and collegues.[3]
In 2008 when Jux signed to Tanzanian record label A.M records, he began to record R&B songs instead.
Since then he has released several hit songs, including 'Sugua' featuring Diamond Platnumz, 'Juu' featuring Vanessa Mdee, and 'Regina' featuring Otile Brown.
In 2015, he received an award for 'Best R&B song' at Kili Music Awards, also known as the national Tanzania Music Awards. In 2017 he received an award for the Best East African Music Video at the Zanzibar International Film Festival (2017).[4]
In 2018 and 2019, he was nominated for 'Best Male East Africa' at the AFRIMMA awards. He also performed on Coke Studio Africa in 2019.
In 2018 his song 'Uzuri Wako' (translation: Your Goodness) was banned by the Tanzanian Communications Regulatory Authority, along with songs from several other artists, including Diamond Platnumz, for going against Tanzanian morals and values.[5]
After numerous single releases, his first album titled The Love Album was released in 2019, featuring tracks from several artists including Nigerian artist Singah, Diamond Platnumz, Nyashinski, Vanessa Mdee, G Nako, Joh Makini and more. [6]
Jux released his sophomore album titled King Of Hearts in November 2022 to critical featuring heavyweight collaborations from the likes of Zuchu, Marioo, Mbosso, Terri, Bien and more. [7]
In 2023, Jux made headlines in Tanzania after releasing his second collaboration with Tanzania's leading singer, Diamond Platnumz titled Enjoy.[8]
The song which is a blend Bongo Flava and Amapiano was welcomed with mixed review as some noting the song's resemblance to Spyro's Who Is Your Guy. The song was later taken down from Youtube after Congolese singer Sapologuano Odenumz claimed copyrights [9] [10] [11]
Personal life
Jux's six years relationship with fellow Tanzanian artist Vanessa Mdee was widely publicised. During this time, they toured together across the region, and released several singles.
In 2018 they embarked on the 'In Love with Money' tour, which remains to date one of the Tanzanian's biggest independent tours. The relationship however, came to an end in 2019 shortly after allegations of infidelity began to circulate following the posting of pictures of Vanessa Mdee hugging the American R&B artist Trey Songz.[12][13]
Jux has since been linked to several socialites including Karen Bujulu, a high profile socialite whom he confirmed in February 2023 that they are dating[14]
The African Boy Brand
Jux also has a deep interest in fashion, and established his own brand in 2018, for which he curates and designs. The brand widely available across East Africa, in part due to production deal he signed with Chinese deal in 2019.[15] He recently announced that he would be expanding his brand into Kenya over the course of the coming year[16]
Awards and nominations
| Year | Award | Category | Nominated work | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015[17] | Tanzania Music Awards | Best R&B Song | Nitasubiri | Won |
| Best Artist | Jux | nominated | ||
| 2017[18] | Zanzibar International Film Festival | Best East African Music Video | Utaniua | Won |
| 2018[19][20] | Tanzania Music Awards | Best East African Artist | Jux | Nominated |
| 2019[21] | Tanzania Music Awards | Best East African Artist | Jux | Nominated |
Discography
Albums
Jux released his debut studio album 'The Love Album' in 2019, consisting of a total of 18 songs. To date the album has received more than 1.3 million streams on Boomplay, making it one of the most streamed East African R&B albums to date.[22] The album's lead single 'Sugua' was a hit, amassing more than 10 million views on YouTube. The album was distributed by Africori the largest digital music distribution company in Sub-Saharan Africa, a partner of Warner Music Group[23]
| Year | Title | Album |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | "Zaidi" | The Love Album |
| "Unaniweza" | ||
| "Wambela"(feat. Ruby) | ||
| "Upofu" | ||
| "In Case You Don't Know"(feat. Nyashinski) | ||
| "Sugarcane"(feat. Gnako & Tommy Flavour) | ||
| "Slowly" | ||
| "Sumaku"(feat. Vannessa Mdee) | ||
| "Sio Mbaya" | ||
| "Bado Yupo" | ||
| "Kibindoni" | ||
| "Sugua"(feat. Diamond Platnumz) | ||
| "Fashion Killer"(feat. Singah) | ||
| "Yeye" | ||
| "Now You Know"(feat. Q-Chief) | ||
| "Tell Me"(feat. Joh Makini) | ||
| "Umenibamba" |
Singles and collaborations
| Year | Title |
|---|---|
| 2015 | "Nitasubiri'" |
| "Nikuite Nani" | |
| "Looking for You" (feat. Joh Makini) | |
| "One More Night" | |
| "Jux Sisikii" | |
| 2016 | "Wivu" |
| "Juu"- Vanessa Mdee (feat. Jux) | |
| 2017 | "Utaniua" |
| "Umenikamata" | |
| 2018 | "Fimbo" |
| "Tell Me " (feat. Joh Makini) | |
| "Hatufanani"- Shetta (feat. Jux) | |
| "Zaidi" | |
| 2019 | "Covid 19" (feat. Maua Sama) |
| "Leo"- Darassa (feat. Jux) | |
| "Juju"- Darassa (feat. Jux) | |
| 2018 | "Regina"- Otile Brown (feat. Jux) |
References
- "Music in Jux". Musicinafrica.net. 4 June 2015. Retrieved 10 January 2021.
- "JUX Biography; Life, Love, Career, Net Worth ⚜ Latest music news online". mdundo.com. Retrieved 3 September 2023.
- "The top 10 richest Tanzania musicians and their net worth in 2020". Tuko.co.ke. 26 December 2020. Retrieved 10 January 2021.
- "Coca Cola- Jux". Coca Cola Studio. 3 June 2019. Retrieved 10 January 2021.
- "TCRA: Songs by Diamond Platnumz, Wa Mitego, Jux and other musicians are banned by the Tanzanian government". BBC. 28 February 2018. Retrieved 10 January 2021.
- https://www.the-star.co.ke/authors/elizabeth-musyimi. "Juma Jux pours his heart out in album". The Star. Retrieved 3 September 2023.
{{cite web}}: External link in|last= - "Jux Finally Drop His 'King Of Hearts' Album | Notjustok East Africa". Latest East African & Bongo Flava Music, Songs & Video - Notjustok. 24 November 2022. Retrieved 3 September 2023.
- Robi, Amos (22 July 2023). "Diamond, Jux take over TikTok with 'Enjoy' & 9 other tunes released this week". Pulselive Kenya. Retrieved 3 September 2023.
- Nzyoka, Nzula (17 August 2023). "Diamond faces new copyright claim for song "Enjoy" featuring Jux". KBC. Retrieved 3 September 2023.
- https://kiss100.co.ke/authors/moses-sagwe. "Reason as to why Juma Jux's song 'enjoy' ft Diamond has been pulled down from YouTube". Kiss 100. Retrieved 3 September 2023.
{{cite web}}: External link in|last= - "Youtube removes Diamond Platnumz's & Jux's 'Enjoy' amid copyright claim". Latest East African & Bongo Flava Music, Songs & Video - Notjustok. 17 August 2023. Retrieved 3 September 2023.
- "Vanessa Mdee and Juma Jux Finally Break up After Months of Denials". allafrica.com. 16 May 2019. Retrieved 10 January 2021.
- "Was Vanessa Mdee dumbed because of Trey Songz?date=10 April 2018". standard media.com. Retrieved 10 January 2021.
- TZA, Edwin (7 February 2023). "Kwa mara ya kwanza Jux akiri kuwa penzini na mrembo huy, amtambulisha". Millard Ayo. Retrieved 3 September 2023.
- "Jux:Rise of The African Boy". Coca Cola. 5 January 2019. Retrieved 10 January 2021.
- news.nation.co.ke/chillax/tanzanian-fashion--icon-targets-kenyan-market-with-vunja-bei-stores "Tanzania fashion Icon targets Kenyan market with Vunja Bei stores". Nairobinews. 22 December 2020. Retrieved 10 January 2021.
{{cite web}}: Check|url=value (help) - "Nominees wa Kilimanjaro Music Awards 2015". EATV. 29 April 2015. Retrieved 10 January 2021.
- "Coca Cola- Jux". Coca Cola Studio. 3 June 2019. Retrieved 10 January 2021.
- "AFRIMMA releases 2018 nominees". Southern times africa. 27 July 2018. Retrieved 10 January 2021.
- "Complete List Of Nominees For AFRIMMA 2018". The Guardian. 25 July 2018. Retrieved 10 January 2021.
- "AFRIMMA 2019: Here's The Complete List Of Nominees". The Guardian. 15 August 2019. Retrieved 10 January 2021.
- "Jux hits 1 Million streams on Boomplay". Standardmedia. 16 September 2020. Retrieved 10 January 2021.
- "WARNER INVESTS IN AFRICA-BASED MUSIC DISTRIBUTOR AFRICORI, LAUNCHING GLOBAL PARTNERSHIP WITH ADA". Music Business Worldwide. 20 April 2020. Retrieved 10 January 2021.