Hardlife Avenue Stars, Linus (left), Nicky Prince (middle) and Mantani (right). (Photo: Courtesy).

Hardlife Avenue Stars, a popular and multi-award-winning South Sudanese Afro-pop and dance group celebrates the 10th anniversary of its founding, with Nicky Prince and Linus as the only surviving members after the tragic demise of Mantani in July last year.

Vocalist Siliman Musa alias Nicky Prince and the late Rapper Murye Alex (Mantani), who died on 24 July 2021 in a motor road accident; formed the group in South Sudan in 2011.

Initially a duo, Ochwo Junior (Linus) then joined in 2016 after a series of collaborations with Kilo Kwen Kulek, offside and Yau De.

The group now survived with Nicky Prince and Linus as a duo.

Background

Before the death of Mantani, Hardlife Avenue Stars existed as a trio consisting of Nicky Prince, Mantani and Logindaginda.

The music band recorded four songs (Lost Culture, Tosum, Survival and Pondi). The Lost Culture earned them their first airplay dominance on the Top Ten Chart on Radio Miraya for nearly five weeks earning them a national recognition.

In December 2011, they organized the first music concert in their home town Kajo Keji with an attendance of less than 30 people.

Upon their return to the capital Juba in January 2012, Logindaginda started to boycott meetings, and voluntarily left the group without clear reasons.

After Logindaginda quit in 2012, Nicky Prince and Mantani release Nangiro, in what would later confirm their consistence, despite the departure of their colleague.

Nangiro was a hit, dominating airwaves in Eastern Equatoria, Western Equatoria, Central Equatoria, Northern Bahar El gazal and the West Nile districts of Adjumani and Moyo in the neighboring Uganda.

In the same year they release Dinikini Dinki, a song that highlights issues of irresponsible men in marriages followed by Kusara and Kilo Kwen Kulek featuring their new member Linus the Genius, who was then a music producer.

In 2013, they released Lubelede and Offside featuring Linus the Genius again to further cement their consistency in the South Sudan music industry.

A year laer (2014), the Hardlife Avenue teamed up again with Linus to produce their second studio album Yau De. It earned the group a number of accolades and nominations including the MTN/EYE Radio awards, City FM TOP7@7 and D.VA Music Video Awards.

On April 2015, the group completed their first album launch dubbed “Yau De,” establishing them as a household name in South Sudan.

The band had successful tours in South Sudan and part of Uganda’s West Nile Region, claiming a huge attention with their videos being played on Ugandan charts on both television and radio.

After a lot of recommendations from fans, NICKY PRINCE and MANTANI decided to bring in LINUS as a member of the group in 2015 again making them a trio instead of a duo officially rebranding themselves as HARDLIFE AVENUE STARS.

In 2016, when a conflict rose between the Madi of Moyo Districts and the KUKU at the border leading to a heated revenge; the Hardlife Avenue Stars with support from the Skyline Promotion under Sambros Lupai team up with the COMPO CREW from Uganda and released “WE ARE ONE” a song that automatically helped fix the rifts between the two communities sharing a border.

In 2016, they released I’M BLESSED album with songs like Kelele, I’m blessed, You Make my heart to skip, Am no longer single and many others.

In 2021, may 17^th, the group released their 4^th studio album ANA YAU BI ARIF, an album with 17 songs but with countless hits songs like She is pregnant, Arusu, De hagiga, Atukuchu, Wrong Number and Ana Yau Bi Arif but in july, the group got affected with the death of their prominent member MANTANI, the late Rapper Murye Alex (Mantani) died on 24 July 2021 after being involved in a motor road accident.

In January 2022, the group which is now down to a duo released their first single Lene Ba’an, a wedding song that has taken up weddings by storm lead by the ever green ARUSU song.

They never stopped and released FI DOM TAI followed by SIGIN and WAJA BI RUA which are still enjoying healthy airplay.

Members

Nicky Prince is the founder and lead vocalist and performer, while Linus is the lead performer and production director.

Other are Slaughterman Di Panga the Teamleader for Production, and members Rap J and Jero.

Controversies

Hardlife Avenue Stars initially signed with Rockstars Records but squashed the deal after the contract ended.

The group said it almost changed its name to Hi-Life Avenue Stars in 2016, on hilarious suggestions from Mantani.

The change of name was allegedly due to financial difficulties, but it was not clear how a change of name would have helped the music group.

Discography

• Ana Yau Bi Arif Album 2021
• Lost Culture EP 2011
• Yau De EP 2014
• I’m blessed EP 2017
• Sigin – Single – 2022
• Fi Dom Tai – Single 2022
• Lene Baan – single – 2022

Awards

• MTN/EYE Radio Awards 2015; Overall Hit Song of the Year – Yau De
• V.AAwards 2015; Best Video.
• South Sudan Music Awards – Best group of the Year – 2020
• South Sudan Music Awards – Best group of the year – 2021
• Junub Talent Award – Best Group of the year 2021
• SUSA – Best Group of the year – 2021
• SUSA – Best Song of the year – Ana Yau Bi Arif – 2021
• South Theater Academy Awards – Best Group – 2021
• South Theater Academy Awards – Male Artist of the year – 2021
• South Theater Academy Awards – Overall Hit Song of the year – Ana Yau Bi Arif – 2021
• South Sudan Talented Youth Award (SSTYA) 201/2018; Best crew.
• South Sudan Talented Youth Award (SSTYA) 2017/2018; Best video for the year – Mr. Right
• South Sudan Talented Youth Award (SSTYA) 2017/2018; Best song of the year.