Reader’s Mail: All Hail Sarkodie, The King Of Hiplife

Sarkodie, arguably is the Greatest Hiplife artiste of all time. Obidi, as he is affectionately called has graced Ghana with a lot of hit songs. Talking of Baby,Borga Borga, Push,lay Away,Life, you Go kill me,I’m in love with You, Saa Okodie no, Gogo woho, Dangerous,illuminati, Pon da Tin and what have you.
I had been a staunch fan of foriegn PoP until this guy Came in. My taste for foreign music especially hip hop dwindled drastically in 2011. Songs on my playlist were foreign and 1% other songs; be it gospel or hiplife. But now, mylove for hiplife has excalated because of SARK.He has been churning out good music which can battle boot for boot with the soo called foreign songs. He is the KING of Rap in GH no doubt. Upon all his achievement, I wasn’t surprised when I got to know his real Name is michael.
Michael is a powerfull name because most well achieved personalities being dead or alive bearing Michael achieved a lot in their career. MICHAEL Jackson is the greatest Musician of all time. MICHAEL Jordan, Best Basketball Player ever liveth..MICHAEL Johnson is one of the greatest sprinter in the history of Track and Field. MICHAEL TYSON, one of the best Boxing heavyweights of all time etc.
I wouldn’t be surprised if SARK is adjudged the most decorated and successful Ghanaian Artiste in the history of Ghana Music in the coming years. Mind you he is only 26(twenty six)
Join me, as I give you 11 unpresidented Feat achieved by the King Of HipLife(Gh Rap), SARKODIE.
1. Only Artiste to win the New Artiste and Artiste of the year at the same time(2010,Maakye).
2. Only Artiste to win 5(five) awards with a maiden album(2010,Maakye).
3. Holding a record of album with most songs.(30 songs,Sarkology)
4. First Ghanaian to win BET.
5. 2nd Ghanaian to win Artiste of the Year Twice after VVIP.( Even it Took VVIP 9years to clinch it; Sark used only 3years.
6. Only artiste to win more awards than the Artiste of the year;shatta wale.
7. Only Rapper out of Ghana/Africa to feature in 2012 BET HipHop Cypher
8. Holding a record of the most expensive video ever ; Illuminati, $90000.
9. First Ghanaian hiplife artiste to be verified on Twitter.
10. Only artiste to be crowned Artiste of the year, twice in a spate of 3years.unprecedented
11. Most awarded and decorated Hiplife artiste in the 21st century, with over 20 awards in Five years
Written By Evans Bew

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The Mysteries Of Waist Beads

For many African women, wearing beads is a way of life and a culture passed on to them from their mothers. They grow up to find them on their waist even before they begin to question its significance. The waist bead is like a band worn around the belly. In most cultures, they are a symbol of a woman’s confidence in her body and sexuality. For me, they are precious African Jewels. In West Africa, waist beads have several names; Jel-Jelli, Jigeda, Giri-Giri, Djalay Djalay, Toma or Yomba and they are always worn under clothing. Beads found in Ghana include glass beads, stone beads, crystal beads, ceramic beads, Adinkra beads, and the “Ahoofe” (beauty) beads. The tradition of wearing of beads on the waist in West Africa was made popular by the Yorubas in Nigeria. Women are the main users of these beads. But do you know the mysterious role they play in the lives of females? Well, West African women in particular are given waist beads as children to wear throughout life to help shape their figures. It remains a mystery how the beads shape them, but somehow, curvy African women attribute their voluptuous shape to the waist beads. It is also used to measure the growth rate of children (girls). When the beads become too small around the waist, then the child is seen as growing. After reading that, I took the liberty to investigate more about waist beads. My search took me to Ghana’s Art Centre in Accra, the number one shop for the sale of African artifacts including beads. I met one Aunty Monica who has been selling beads for over a decade. According to her, some waist beads, which she could only describe as “red”, are put on the waist and the legs of children who are bow-legged to straighten their legs. “When they are on your waist, they shape your body by keeping the waist small, so the hips are more accentuated,” another bead seller named Linda told me. She added also that waist beads were traditionally used to show the difference between a male and a female. “To show our identity as Ghanaians, we women put on waist beads.” In modern times however, gay men also buy waist beads from her and put them on to differentiate between the male and the female roles played in a homosexual relationship. Patricia Naa Dei, a university student I met buying these jewels, told me waist beads were simply for fashion. She indicated, she didn’t like them but had to put them on to satisfy her boyfriend, who loves to see them on her. During sexual intercourse, her boyfriend whose name she only gave as Ato, removes them and put them on his waist and takes them off after the act. Weird, I agree. But lots of people do kinky stuff in the bedroom, you know? “The rattling sound of the beads during sex urges my guy on,” she added. Beads on the waists of women are said to possess the power to attract and evoke deep sensual feelings for men. So I decided to shift gears and speak to a few gentlemen about the subject. Most of them including Alex Anim-Ansah stressed that waist beads make the waist of the ladies attractive. He said, “I like it on my wife and sometimes get irritated when she takes them off. It’s sexy.” Its power to turn men on is a mystery one cannot comprehend, but the men agree whenever they see them on a woman’s waist, it awakens their sensual desires. Aunty Monica the beads seller advised young ladies especially the married ones to continue wearing waist beads as it “charms” men to somehow remain faithful. According to her, if a woman stops wearing her beads, the husband might be tempted to cheat with another woman who puts them on. Though this allegation has no scientific backing and is more superficial than practical, could waist beads actually reduce promiscuity in marriage? We see them around, we see our daughters, sisters and wives wear them. Have we ever thought of their significance? Well, besides its usefulness and mystical powers, beads in general and royalty are also closely linked in Africa. In Yoruba tradition, strands of beads are the emblems of the gods. Wearing a beaded crown with a veil is the quintessential sign of kingship. Also in Ghana, beads worn around the wrist and legs are signs of royalty or priesthood. For me, beads are not just mere ornament for adornment, but with its mysteries, they are a symbol of the link between Africans and superstition.

Source: Emmanuel Mensah/infoboxx

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Ice Prince: I Will Get Married When I Build A House In Banana Island

Ice Prince is all about the Naira, at least for now. The rap star in an interview with The Nigerian Tribune opened up about marriage, the bleaching rumours, his son and his ex Eva Alordiah. The “Whiskey” star who wants a honest girl as his future Mrs, says “I am just 27 years old. I don’t have any brother or mentor that got married at 27. So, I have about five years to go. I have to make more money and build a house in Banana Island before I take a woman home.” on marriage plans. On bleaching reports: “I was not pissed off; I only replied them saying ‘bad man bleach, never that’. It did not mean I was upset. In fact, I laughed about it because I don’t see how on earth I’m going to bleach. I’m black to the bones. As you can see, I have really black knuckles, so when I put them on Instagram, it looks like I bleached. For the record, I am not body-conscious. I don’t powder my face; I don’t even use the mirror.” On his split with Eva Alordiah: “I say when I first come Lagos nah! We were young and exploring ourselves. We argued a lot.” On his friendship with Brymo, after the “Ara” singer exited the record label: “It has not affected our friendship. If I see Brymo right now, we will still sit down and talk. We are both busy now. I still talk about Brymo anywhere I go.” On his son Jamal going into music: “Why not? I am never going to stop him from pursuing his dreams. If he says he wants to be a musician, a doctor or a lawyer, why not? The only thing I can do is guide him as a father.” On his album Fire of Zamani: “I think it’s the number one album in Nigeria now. I made different tracks for different people and my fans are excited about it. I got good reactions and good responses.” On his most embarrassing moment: “I was in Sierra Leone (while) performing at the stadium and my trousers got ripped off. It got ripped off all the way from the back to the front and I had to put on a towel on my boxers throughout the performance. It was really embarrassing, but my fans liked it and were even screaming. But to me, it was really embarrassing.”

Source: bellanaija.com

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Efya Set For World Tour + Working On New Music With Wizkid, Tiwa Savage, Banky W

As Efya poses elegantly for KISUA’s camera on the Jamestown seafront, she looks every inch a super star. Here at home she is one, with a crop of Ghana Music Awards to prove it.

But in recent weeks she’s been nominated in five categories at the World Music Awards and for Best Female at the MTV Africa Music Awards. As she prepares to release her debut album Love Genesis this June, Efya is thinking big.

“This is a high moment right now,” says the 27-year-old. “I believe in my talent but when I go out into the world, I’m not just a little girl singing, I have to be a whole brand.”

Jane Awindor was born in Kumasi and grew up singing in church. In 2007 she aced the TV talent show Stars Of The Future and released an album in South Africa as the duo Irene & Jane.

She went on to study theatre and music at university and launched her solo career as Efya in 2010. Hit singles include ‘Little Things’, ‘Getaway’, ‘Best In Me’ and her current lullaby ‘Forgetting Me’ and along the way her afro soul sound has blossomed. No matter the beat, her octaves-teasing voice and love-torn, Twi-laden lyrics always soar.

Efya has honed her engaging live show through constant gigging in Ghana and Nigeria and has performed further afield in Kenya and the US too. She’s also collaborated with the likes of Yaa Pono, Ikon, Lynxx, Sarkodie and SDC. She now has new thrills up her sleeve as she puts the finishing touches to Love Genesis.

“I’m making some dance music and techno and finishing up tracks with Banky W, Wizkid and Tiwa Savage. And then I’m going to go on a world tour and take over!”

She’s also making a mark in the fashion world. Having performed at Arise Magazine Fashion Week and modelled at Glitz Africa Fashion Week, she enjoys championing local designers such as House of Cramer, Duaba Serwa and Christie Brown.

“There are so many designers doing amazing stuff right now, which encourages others to come through,” she says. “I like to look classy and am into vintage too.”

When she’s not on the stage or catwalk though, you’ll find her enjoying Accra’s nightlife with her sizable entourage. “We love Twist bar, you’ll often find us there eating pizza. And Republic bar does amazing drinks. Wink wink!”





Photo shoot credit:

Images: Nana Kofi Acquah

Words: Helen Jennings

Make-up: Saida Mumuni

Thanks to Joe Pup & Abrima Erwiah

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READ: Bulldog Finally Speaks After Being Granted Bail

Thanks to God, my family, my wife and kids, my mom and dad, to my siblings, cousins and my entire extended family… to Mr. Charles Mensah and your whole family, God bless you.

To my artistes: VVIP, Shatta Wale, Brainna, NaturalFaCe, Koo Ntakora, Paulina Oduro, 5Five & Iwan. To Solid Multimedia, 4Syte tv, OM Studios, Rackus Production… To my Godfather Abraham Ohene Djan, may God bless you abundantly…Big thanks to Mr. Felix Okoe and my entire Rackus family, to my brother Stip, Ignace and Sadeeq one love…

To my counsels King Garry F.N. Marfo Esq. and Jerry K. Avenorgbo Esq., you are the best in the world. To President Obour and the entire Musiga, God bless you. To Lawyer Lawyer Willie Akuffo… God bless you.

To Tinny (BMF), Edem, DBlack(BAM), Sarkodie, Castro, D2, Luther, Shatta Rako, Pope Skinny, Bukom Dancehall, and to the the entire artiste in Ghana for the love and support.

To my colleague managers in the entertainment industry… to the whole Flex on Pluzz Team and Talk Showbiz team and to the entire industry for the love and support…

To all pastors, spiritual leaders and churches and every household that said a prayer for me, may God bless you…

To Adabraka and Nima my home and to every Ghetto and Ghetto youth in GH, to the streets where i hail from, thanks for showering abundant love during this trying times may Jah bless you forever…

To friends of Bulldog who offered to pay my legal fees thanks so much.

To all my colleagues at Bullhaus Entertainment, Shatta Movement, BDN Records and the Money Team in Canada and BDN Records in the US.

If I forgot your name please forgive me and know I appreciate every prayer said on my behalf, may God bless you all. I never knew i had so much love.

JAH BLESS GHANA AND BLESS YOU ALL…

Read PSALM 35… GOD WON’T ALLOW THEM KEEP A GOOD MAN DOWN…?#?bullhaus? #?shattamovement? ?#?moneyteam? ?#?bdnrecords?

Authored by himself

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Full Nominations - 2014 BASS AWARDS

The second edition of the reggae and dancehall music awards show, Bass Awards, has been launched in Accra.

Nominations across various categories have been snapped up by some of Ghana’s fairly contemporary reggae, and dancehall acts, as well as songs by artistes who necessarily don’t experiment with the genre wholly.

See nominations list below…

• DANCEHALL ARTISTE(S) OF THE YEAR

1) Stonebwoy – Give it to them

2) Shatta Wale – Enter the Net

3) Jupitar – Freaky girl

• REGGAE ARTISTE(S) OF THE YEAR

1) Ras Kuuku – Father

2) Blakk Rasta – Iyawata

3) Iwan – Chant a song

• BEST ALTERNATIVE REGGAE/DANCEHALL SONG (GOSPEL)

1) Akesse Brempong – Crazy love

2) Nii Soul – Count it all joy

3) Jay Shady – Bestest friend

4) Jael Wiafe – Don’t give up the fight

• ARTISTE OF THE YEAR (KWAME NKRUMAH AWARD)

1) Shatta Wale

2) Stonebwoy

3) Jupitar

4) Blakk Rasta

5) Ras Kuuku

• DANCEHALL SONG OF THE YEAR

1) Episode – Turn up

2) Fuse ODG – Badder than bad

3) Shatta Wale- Enter the net

4) Stonebwoy – Give it to them

5) Jupitar – Freaky girl

• REGGAE SONG OF THE YEAR

1) Buk bak – Mama cry no more

2) Blakk Rasta – Iyawata

3) Iwan – Chant a song

4) Jah Wadada – Loving you

5) Konkarah – Rise

6) Ras Kuuku – Father

7) Tinny – Mi love you

8) Tsidifari – Ghana

9) Gyadu-Blay Ambolley – It doesn’t Matter

• BEST COLLABORATION OF THE YEAR (REGGAE)

1) Blakk Rasta/Lami – Iyawata

2) Kiki Jail/Shatta Rako – Me and You

3) Papa Jingo/Jeron Tempo – Yen ye Baako

4) Lingua Kat/Jah Amber – Makooma

5) Ras Kuuku/Norris man – Give thanks

• BEST COLLABORATION OF THE YEAR (DANCEHALL)

1) D2/Shatta Wale – Fever

2) Edem/Stonebwoy – Go harder

3) Episode/Edem – Circumstance

4) Method Ranking/Stonebwoy – Wind up

5) Sarkodie/Banky W – Pon di tin

6) Shatta Wale/D Black – Ina the Party

7) Trade Mark /Natural Face – Mi Girl Nie

8) Wiyaala/Jupitar – Rock my body

• RECORD OF THE YEAR (YAA ASANTEWAA AWARD)

1) Blakk Rasta – Eager to see Mandela

2) Papa Jingo – Yen ye baako

3) Episode – Mandela

4) Na U – Kudos Ghana.

5) Tsidifari – Ghana

• PRODUCER OF THE YEAR

1) Dakay

2) Genius selection

3) Infectious

• MUSIC VIDEO F THE YEAR (REGGAE)

1) Na U – Believe in me

2) Konkarah – Rise

3) Ras Kuuku – Father

4) Jon Germain – Still here

5) Blakk Rasta- Iyawata

• MUSIC VIDEO OF THE YEAR (DANCEHALL)

1) Jupitar – Money Box

2) Shatta Wale – Like my thing

3) Sarkodie/Banky W – Pon di tin

4) Wiyaala/Jupitar – Rock my body

5) Mz Vee – Borkor Borkor

• BEST MALE VOCAL ARTISTE OF THE YEAR

1) Buk Bak – Mama cry more

2) Jah ambar – Eye Wunkuaa

3) Luther – Judge not

4) Nature – Chameleon love

5) Tsidifari– Ghana

• BEST FEMALE VOCAL ARTISTE OF THE YEAR

1) Mz Vee – Bokor Bokor

2) Wiyaala – Rock my body

• LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

1) Samson Quaye (Poncho)

2) Consular Hayes

3) Simple Man Kante

• DISCOVERY OF THE YEAR

1) Jah Wyz – My life

2) A K songtress – The Empress

3) Buju Stingo – Badder than them

• RIDDIM OF THE YEAR

1) Smirnoff and Guinness riddim

2) Kulcha riddim

• BEST PERFORMER OF THE YEAR

1) Shatta Wale

2) Stonebwoy

3) Ras Kuuku

4) Jupitar

• ALBUM OF THE YEAR (REGGAE/DANCEHALL)

1) Blakk Rasta – Ancestral Moon Splash

• BEST SONG WRITER OF THE YEAR

1) Buk Bak – Mama Cry no more

2) Konkarah – Rise

3) Ras Kuuku – Father

4) Tsidifari – Ghana

5) Ras Bomber – Danqua Circle

• BEST AFRICAN ACT OF THE YEAR

1) Wyre

2) Jesse Jagz

3) Alpha Blondy

Source: Naa Lamiley-Brooke-enewsgh.com

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IWAN - Pray For The Girls (The Most High Riddim)

FRESH BRAND NEW! A Song i COmposed Together With My Fans For The Girls in Captivity . IWAN - Pray For The Girls (The Most High Riddim) Prod. by De Ginius Selections. Be The First To Listen

DOWNLOAD AND ENJOY

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