Introduction

Released in 2025, “Shot Notice” (Defector) by Ugandan artist Pryce Teeba is a storytelling song about the importance of loyalty and the consequences of betrayal. The song highlights a strict, no-tolerance attitude toward disloyalty within his circle and the music industry. Shot Notice is a song featured on his hip hop album Marinate. This album is known for including songs that have a direct lyrical approach to Pryce Teeba’s storytelling.

Lyrics & Vocals

I like how Pryce Teeba started the song off with “back to my roots” because it highlights that he is staying true to himself and puts emphasis on how loyalty is a value that he has always held. The song was mainly spoken in the Luganda language, so there were certain phrases that I translated to the English language for a better understanding. “toki kwata ko kubanga kyookya” means “don’t touch it because its hot” which I interpreted as a warning sign for getting involved in disloyal situations. Another phrase that I translated was “bonga sikya” meaning “I’m not the same anymore.” This phrase reflects growth from experiencing betrayal. Compared to initially feeling open to trusting people, he is now more cautious and intentional.

Pryce Teeba delivers the song in a very confident tone. I feel like the tone of his voice reinforces the themes of the song and how much loyalty means to him. The rap style of the song makes the song feel very reflective and as if he is telling a story.

Visuals

The visuals of the song are kept very simple. The color scheme of the song is black and white, and I feel like this simpleness of these colors creates a serious tone. Rather than flashy colors and visuals, the simplistic visuals leave the song more reflective.

The video primarily takes place outside on the stairs, where Pryce Teeba is surrounded by other people. I feel like this setting adds on to the message of people within “his circle” and how he keeps these relationships with others to a minimum and closely. These visuals focus a lot on presence and allowed me to focus on the message of the song.

Personal Thoughts

Personally, I found the song interesting to engage with. Songs spoken in the Luganda language can be harder for me to fully understand, but surprisingly, this song was easier to follow. Since it included a little English in the beginning and displayed phrases on the screen, I was able to pause, translate them, and gain a better understanding of what the song was talking about.

I also understood the song on a serious level because loyalty is something I take seriously. The themes of trust, betrayal, and consequences were clear.

The visuals also added to my understanding of the song. The black and grey scheme gave a serious and reflective mood, and the scenes of him surrounded by people emphasized the idea of community and the circle he’s talking about throughout the song.

Music Video