Before the Fame, There Was a Humble Chameleone, Says Shanks Vivie’D

Talk about Jose Chameleone these days often paints him as difficult to work with.

Over the years, there have been claims about the legendary singer being hard to manage and occasionally failing to honor work commitments, with some blaming it on his superstar status.

But one man who knew him before the fame says that narrative is not the full story.

Appearing on Sanyuka Bigenda Bitya, Shanks Vivie’D, the man widely credited for discovering Chameleone, described a very different character from the early days.

The veteran Ugandan dancehall and reggae artiste said the “Mama Mia” hitmaker was humble and obedient.

He used to listen because he was still upcoming. Whatever you would tell him to do, he would. He used to listen.

Their story goes way back to the late 90s at Club Ecstasy in Banda, long before the fame, the headlines, and the superstar lifestyle.

At the time, Chameleone was just a young hopeful working around the club while Shanks held the mic as MC.

Spotting his potential early, Shanks gave him a shot that would change everything.

It was during a high-profile 1997 show headlined by Jamaican reggae star Buju Banton that Shanks pushed Chameleone onto a bigger stage, a moment widely seen as the turning point in his career.

Over the years, Chameleone has openly credited Shanks for giving him that first real platform.

“Chameleone used to listen and was easy to work with.”- Shanks Vivi Dee#SanyukaBigendaBitya #SanyukaUpdates pic.twitter.com/VmOuftKaxD

— Sanyuka TV (@sanyukatv) February 12, 2026

Also read: Shanks Vivie’d Shuts Down Jose Chameleone Fallout Rumors