Joseph Haule (born December 29, 1975), popularly known by his stage name Professor Jay, is a

Tanzanian Tanzania (; ), officially the United Republic of Tanzania ( sw, Jamhuri ya Muungano wa Tanzania), is a country in East Africa within the African Great Lakes region. It borders Uganda to the north; Kenya to the northeast; Comoro Islands and ...

rapper, songwriter, politician and former member of the Tanzanian parliament for Mikumi constituency. He is one of the prominent representatives of the "

Bongo Flava Bongo Flava (or Bongoflava) is a nickname for Tanzanian music. The genre developed in the 1990s, mainly as a derivative of American hip hop and traditional Tanzanian styles such as taarab and dansi, with additional influences from reggae, ...

" Tanzanian hip hop subgenre, which mixes elements from both Western hip hop and the Tanzanian tradition (including swahili lyrics as well as an activist attitude towards Tanzanian social issues such as

HIV The human immunodeficiency viruses (HIV) are two species of ''Lentivirus'' (a subgroup of retrovirus) that infect humans. Over time, they cause acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), a condition in which progressive failure of the immune ...

/AIDS, wealth, inequality, and political corruption).

Biography

He started rapping in 1989 as a member of the group Hard Blasters, best known for their hit "Chemsha Bongo" (then he used stage name ''Nigga J'') from their first album, "Funga Kazi". Only one year later, they won the title of best hip-hop group in Tanzania.Professor Jay : BAB KUBWA
/ref> During his solo career which started in 2001, he has released number of hits, including "Nikusaidiaje" and "Zali la Mentali (feat

Juma Nature Juma Nature a.k.a. Sir Nature (born ''Juma Kassim Ally'', in 1980) is a Tanzanian hip hop recording artist and record producer. He is the founder and member of a Temeke group called Wanaume, an informal group of rappers from the temeke side of ...

)". Other songs released by Professor Jay include "Piga Makofi" and "Yataka Moyo". Just like Mr. II, he is a pioneering Tanzanian MC, who have remained some of the most popular hip hop musicians in

Tanzania Tanzania (; ), officially the United Republic of Tanzania ( sw, Jamhuri ya Muungano wa Tanzania), is a country in East Africa within the African Great Lakes region. It borders Uganda to the north; Kenya to the northeast; Comoro Islands ...

, despite influx of many new bidders. Also similar to Mr. II and Deepac Braxx from (Kisii County) but who resides in Nairobi Kenya his lyrics often have political messages. In one of his songs he imitates an elder politician and ridicules the fake promises they all mindlessly spew as they are trying to get elected. The song continues with a chorus saying the words "Ndio Mzee" which means "Yes Sir". This represents the brainwashing of the public as politicians make these false promises over and over. However, after the song was released, the president of Tanzania referenced the lyrics in one of his speeches, which acknowledged the presence of Bongo Flava and the success of Professor Jay's political lyrics. His first album, "Machozi, Jasho na Damu," gained instant recognition for which Professor Jay won several awards. He attained other awards such as the best hip-hop album in Tanzania with his second album, "Mapinduzi halisi". Professor Jay's songs include Nikusaidiaje (featuring Ferooz), Nimeamini (featuring Lady Jaydee), Inatosha (featuring Sugu), Vuta raha (featuring Ferooz), Border kwa border (featuring Nazizi), Heka heka za star, Interlude, J.O.S.E.P.H., Nisamehe (featuring Banana), Wapi nimakosea, Una, Hakuna Noma, Jina Langu, Bongo Dar es Salaam, Piga Makofi, Msinitenge, Kikao cha Dharura, Zali la Mentali, Nidivyo Sivyo, Mtazamo (featuring Afande Sele and Solo Thang), Hapo Sawa. Professor Jay is featured by Deepac Braxx (Heavyweight Mc) and

Nonini Hubert Mbuku Nakitare (born 2 October 1982), commonly known by his stage name Nonini, is a Kenyan hip hop recording artiste, entertainer, radio presenter, businessman and philanthropist. He is often referred to as the Godfather because he is ve ...

's song "Kumekucha" noninin - Mwisho ya Mawazo of Kenya. liner notes

Politics

At the 2015 Tanzanian general elections, Professor Jay successfully vied for

Mikumi Mikumi is a town in the Morogoro Region of Tanzania, adjacent to Mikumi National Park. It is at the crossroads to the Great Ruaha River valley and Kilombero sugar factory, and the southern highland regions of Iringa and Mbeya. It is near the larg ...

constituency parliamentary seat for CHADEMA. He was not reelected in 2020.

Personal life

As of 14 February 2022, Jay has allegedly been under hospital care for health complications.

Solo albums

* ''Machozi Jasho na Damu'' 2001 * ''Mapinduzi Halisi'' 2003 * ''J.O.S.E.P.H'' 2006 * ''Aluta Continua'' 2007 * ''Izack mangesho '' 2014 * ''Kazi Kazi '' 2016

Awards

Won

*2004

Tanzania Music Awards Tanzania Music Awards are national music awards held annually in Tanzania Tanzania (; ), officially the United Republic of Tanzania ( sw, Jamhuri ya Muungano wa Tanzania), is a country in East Africa within the African Great Lakes r ...

(Kilimanjaro Music Awards)- Best Hip Hop Album ("Mapinduzi Halisi") *2006

- Best Song (''Nikusaidiaje'') * 2006 Kisima Music Awards - Best Tanzanian Song (''Nikusaidiaje'') *

2007 Kisima Music Awards The 2007 Kisima Music Awards took place at ''Marula Manor'', Nairobi, Kenya ) , national_anthem = " Ee Mungu Nguvu Yetu"() , image_map = , map_caption = , image_map2 = , capital = ...

- Best Ugandan Song (''Sivyo Ndiviyo'' with

Chameleone Joseph Mayanja (born 30 April 1979), better known by the stage name Jose Chameleone, is a Ugandan AfroBeat artist and musician. Chameleone sings in Luganda, English and Swahili. He started his music career in the early 1990s in Kenya with th ...

) *2007

Pearl of Africa Music Awards The Pearl of Africa Music Awards (also known as the PAM Awards) was an annual national music award event held in Uganda }), is a landlocked country in East Africa. The country is bordered to the east by Kenya, to the north by South Sudan ...

(PAM Awards) - Best Male Artist (Tanzania) *2009

- Best Songwriter

Nominated

* 2008 MTV Africa Music Awards - Best Hip Hop BBC, November 23, 2008
Nigerians sweep MTV Africa awards
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References

External links

* * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Professor Jay 1975 births Living people Kisima Music Award winners Tanzanian rappers Swahili-language singers 21st-century Tanzanian male singers Tanzanian musicians Tanzanian Bongo Flava musicians