Sunday night in Bugolobi wasn’t your average night out it was a cultural reset. The much-hyped Cartel Bizness EP Listening Party took over Silo 15, transforming the raw warehouse space into a bold, high-energy celebration of music, fashion, and fearless self-expression, all powered by Guinness Smooth.
The brain behind the night? Troy Elimu, aka Denim Cartel the stylist, designer, and now executive producer who’s been quietly stitching together a movement that’s unapologetically East African and radically creative. Already known for pushing boundaries in fashion, Troy just stepped into the music game with the Cartel Bizness EP, and let’s just say: he didn’t come to play.
From the moment guests walked through the doors, the vibe was electric a perfect mix of Kampala’s fashion-forward crowd, music lovers, and creatives soaking up an experience built from the ground up. Think live sets, fashion installations, limited-edition merch, and a crowd that looked like they stepped straight off a runway shoot.
The music? Pure fire. The EP features a mix of regional heavy-hitters including Mike Kayihura, Bensoul, A Pass, Big Tril, Kamanzi, Tungi, and more with sound wizard Axon behind the boards. Their collaborative energy was on full display, with Kayihura and Bensoul delivering live performances that left the room in a soulful haze.
“Every track is personal. Every artist brought something raw and real,” said Troy during an emotional mid-set speech. “Cartel Bizness isn’t about following trends it’s about setting our own.”
The lead single, “Easy”, featuring Mike Kayihura, A Pass, and Axon, is already making waves online. But what really stood out was the intentional storytelling woven through every beat and every look a signature of Troy’s wider brand as one of the faces of Guinness Smooth’s ‘Make It Yours’ campaign, which champions African originality and bold identity.
“This is exactly the energy we stand for,” said Denise Nazzinda, Brand Manager, Guinness Uganda. “Support for creatives like Denim Cartel is how we celebrate culture from the inside out.”
The event wasn’t just for the hype. It was for the creators, the visionaries, the tastemakers. The ones redefining what it means to be Ugandan, African, and global all at once.
Cartel Bizness EP officially drops July 23 across all streaming platforms. If the listening party is any indication, it’s going to hit harder than expected not just in sound, but in style, substance, and spirit.
