"Kuntsutsu," released on November 25, 2020, quickly rose to fame, becoming a national sensation. The song played a major role in elevating Papa Cyangwe’s status in the Hip Hop scene, cementing his place among the genre’s most-loved artists.
In an exclusive interview with InyaRwanda, Papa Cyangwe revealed the origins of this hit track. He mentioned that Bruce Melodie inspired the concept of using the term "Kuntsutsu." Bruce had noticed Papa Cyangwe often using this word in conversations on YouTube.
Cyangwe explained, “Bruce Melodie told me to create a song called ‘Kuntsutsu.’ It’s a word he frequently heard me say. Together with producer Element, we began creating the track, and Bruce was the first to sing on it."
The collaboration with rapper Racine was also influenced by Bruce Melodie. Racine brought in his lyrical prowess, crafting words in such an ingenious way that “any listener wouldn’t immediately grasp the deeper meaning of what we wanted to convey.”
While the audio production was finalized, plans for the music video encountered a challenge: Bruce Melodie became unavailable. He had traveled to Kibuye alongside his manager, Lee Ndayisaba, for the video shoot of his own song, “Bado.”
Papa Cyangwe recounted, “During the COVID-19 period, moving between provinces required special permits. Bruce’s commitments disrupted my schedule as well. At the time, I had just released the song ‘Imbeba,’ featuring Igor Mabano, which was already trending."
This led to a pivotal decision. Papa Cyangwe and producer Element agreed to replace Bruce Melodie in "Kuntsutsu." Releasing only an audio track didn’t feel appropriate, considering Bruce’s stature and absence.
Cyangwe explained, “Element and I deliberated—how do we proceed when Bruce isn’t available? Element suggested bringing in Juno Kizigenza. He reassured me of Juno’s capabilities, adding, ‘Juno has the experience and talent we need.’”
This marked Cyangwe’s first meeting with Juno, both in person and over the phone. Their collaboration eventually transformed "Kuntsutsu" into a complete project.
Although Bruce Melodie wasn’t informed beforehand about the replacement, Cyangwe acknowledged Bruce’s initial disappointment. “Bruce found out upon the song’s release. He realized he wouldn’t have been able to participate, but learning that someone else had been included without his knowledge upset him at first. However, he didn’t dwell on it for long."
Today, "Kuntsutsu" remains a fixture on various media platforms, symbolizing a major breakthrough in Papa Cyangwe's career. The song also underscores producer Element’s vital role in guiding artists through some of their most critical decisions.
Papa Cyangwe remarked that it was Element’s suggestion to replace Bruce Melodie with Juno Kizigenza in "Kuntsutsu."
CLICK HERE TO WATCH OUR EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH PAPA CYANGWE
CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO FOR 'KUNTSUTSU' BY PAPA CYANGWE AND JUNO KIZIGENZA