Whenever you are in a nightclub and a DJ introduces those famous lines- “I…Love and I….. Need You…”, most of the time, it is the audience that always jumps in and finishes the introduction; “Nelly, I…. Love You…”
And literally the rest is history. That Nelly and Kelly Rowland’s “Dilemma” song defined people’s childhoods, and at the same time, it is one of the songs that shaped R&B over the years.
At the time, Soul, R&B, and Hip Hop were getting to the pinnacle of the world’s sound. Jay-Z was leaning into his legendary status, and so was his beautiful wife, Beyoncé.
In fact, by the time Dilemma came out, Beyonce, Kelly Rowland, and Michele Williams had just disbanded the girl group- Destiny’s Child, to focus on solo projects.
But regardless, Dilemma is still one of the biggest songs of the early 2000s, and whenever it plays, everyone on the floor will dive into Kelly Rowland’s verses like their lives depend on it.
During the last edition of Strictly Soul at the Mestil Hotel, most people were waving their whiskey drams when the song played; it is always something that characterises these nights, people singing every word and taking it to heart.
Nothing spices such evenings like those Johnnie Walker cocktails; over the editions, the premium whiskey has been a significant partner of the Soul experiences, celebrating legacies and sounds that have defined a genre and given birth to today’s stars- such as Giveon, Teddy Swims, Muni Long, SZA, HER, and Jazmine Sullivan, among others.
Strictly Soul is about honouring the music that shaped us, and the moments we associate with it, said the Johnnie Walker Brand Manager, Christine Kyokunda. Johnnie Walker has always stood for progress and legacy, and partnering with experiences like this allows us to celebrate the sounds, stories, and emotions that continue to move culture forward, one classic song and one shared whisky moment at a time.
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Strictly Soul returns tomorrow- Wednesday, December 19th, for the last edition of 2025, at Mestil Hotel. Aptly titled- Girls in Shades, this edition will spotlight artists who have held the notes for years, and those holding forte at the moment.
We are talking about artists such as Mariah Carey, Toni Braxton, Jill Scot, Alicia Keys, Jhene Aiko, Ella Mai, Teyana Taylor, and, of course, you can always expect Fantasia Barrino’s “When I See You” to set the roof on fire. In fact, When I See You has become the original soundtrack of all classic R&B and Soul events.
Curated by DJ Akio and a select number of Ugandan DJs, Strictly Soul promises a night of timeless vocals, deep-cut anthems, and shared nostalgia, where every chorus is sung in unison and every moment feels like a love letter to R&B and Soul.
