Wednesday 24 April 2013

GH Musicians Should Take Branding Seriously – DJ Slim




D.J Slim according to Bernard Buachi has revealed to Kwame Scientific on Focus FM, Kumasi Based radio station that Ghanaian musicians should take branding seriously.
The best hiplife Disc Jockey in Ghana, DJ Slim will be releasing his second major DJ Mix tape Album on his birthday; December 11. He will however drop a single each month leading to December.
He made the revelation in an interview Kwame Scientific on the Focus Weekend City show on Focus FM (94.3MHz).
DJ Slim, known outside entertainment circles as Daniel Gyan Kesse, attributed his award to his hard work and contribution to local music. He wants upcoming DJs to do a lot of research, learn more and never give up.
For local musicians, DJ Slim said the game is now more open than ever, hence the need for local musicians to learn more and play around new ideas. He says the essence of branding and brand positioning has become very relevant in today’s competitive music industry.
He wants fans to suggest names for his yet to be released Mix tape Album.
His first single “open letter” featuring Ko-jo got its first time airplay on the top 10@10 music countdown with one of Kumasi’s best radio entertainers, Kwame Scientific.

Stop Portraying Women As Subjects Of Sex In Music Videos – Okyeame Kwame Pleads



The Best Rapper Alive (BRA) Okyeame Kwame in an interview with Celebrity Newspaper is asking musicians to stop displaying sensitive parts of women in their music videos because it doesn't portray the Ghanaian culture.
Ghana’s rap doctor Okyeame Kwame, in an interview with Celebrity Newspaper, has taken a swipe at musicians and music video producers who are using Ghanaian women as ‘subjects of sex’ in music videos and says there must rather be objective use of the women who appear in Ghanaian music videos.
It is apparent that these music videos that portray women wearing hot pants and jiggling their “booty” in front of the camera are actually encouraging women and even kids to take dangerous measures to “look good,” and behave as defined by these videos.
According to Kwame, whether or not these images “pollute” the cultural environment, they certainly change it. Given the barrage of images representing women, in music videos, as pieces of a body (mainly breasts, butts, and legs) instead of as a person certainly doesn't portray Ghanaian culture.
 “Parents most often get uncomfortable when watching music video programs on TV with their children, even at prime time  because, out of the blues, virtually naked women would appear and start making all sorts of sexually suggestive moves. Is this the culture we want to instill in our kids?” the 37 year old rapper asked.
Asked whether it is not a similar trend which the westerners adapted to, he, in response, said “you shouldn't find comparable elements in our videos and theirs but our videos must have equal appeal. If our videos show on channel o and Ghanaian culture can’t be identified with it, it definitely suggests that we are copying somebody”.
He added that if competition is the focus of the many musicians who have taken to the practice, “We must compete with things they don’t have; we can’t compete by imitating. Imitation will not bring us attention”.
The father of 2 children also used the opportunity to advise musicians to consider their music videos as their ‘commercials’ and elements of branding which he broke down as identification, differentiation, relevance and coherence.
The award winning rapper came to prominence in the late 90s as one half of the hip-life group Akyeame with friend and group member Okyeame Qofi. They enjoyed six years of success releasing 4 albums until in 2003, Kwame and his partner in rhyme/close friend, Qofi, decided to try their hands at solo careers. In 2004, he began his solo career and saw even more success this way as his career quickly skyrocketed. In 2009, Okyeame Kwame snared the much-coveted “Artiste of the Year” in the GMAs as well as Joy FMs Nite With The Stars Awards.
His music video, Woara featuring Raquel, is currently enjoying massive airplay on various media accros the country.