‘Am the Best that happened to Akuapem Rap’-Koo Ntakra

Koo Ntakra has finally voiced out his stance on the ongoing wrangles as to who has been the best rapper from the Akuapem range, stating he is the Best thing that has ever happened to that style of music in Ghana.

The 2013 MTN season 2 winner has made it clear in a report emerging from Koforidua where he started his music, to have been the Best thing that has ever happened to the style of rap with the Akuapem language. The report carried out by iPromoGH, talks about the young artiste stating why he is considered the Best out of the lot of the Akuapem rappers in Ghana.

According to the young rapper, Akuapem rap in Ghana, has not seen a lot of stars rise to prominence ever since Pope Skinny first used the language in his introductory stage, but since winning the MTN Hitmaker, within a year  I released my first studio album, which featured not only Ghanaian artistes but went on to do an international collaboration with WondaBoy of Nigeria, not only that, within the same period i have had the opportunity to perform alongside the best artistes not only from Ghana, but on the continent as well, including our very own Sarkodie who has won several international awards, and is highly regarded by many, Samini, Shatta Wale, Edem, DBlack, WizBoy, Davido who is the current winner of BET Awards Best Africa Art, as well as legendary  AB Crentsil among many others.

The rapper went on, stating that, he has given the younger ones on the mountains of Akuapem and the entire Koforidua who do street rap battle the edge and inspiration that they can also go on to becoming the future stars of their trade with their own rap style. ‘I have used all available channels and through my music to project the Akuapem language, it traditions and history, just within one year of doing commercial music, and I think no one has been able to do what I have done thus far’, he added.

Koo Ntakra is notably known for his story telling, poetic rap lyrics in his music with his deep Akuapem ascent that marvelled a lot including the judges at his time on the MTN Hitmaker reality show for which ultimately won him the prize.

The Powase Music Group artiste in November 2014 released his first studio album titled ‘Akuaba’ (Priceless), also released an official video with Yaa Pono for his ‘Move Back’ sond and has hinted of working on a new mixtape album to be released later this year to be titled ‘My Story’.

Fans can now get his ‘Akuaba’ album online via iTunes, and also get exclusive previews and sneak peeks of his activities via Youtube on;
www.Youtube.com/koontakra
www.soundcloud.com/koo-ntakra
www.facebook.com/koontakra

THE TAKEOVER: An all female line-up of DJs to the Republic Bar this weekend

On the 31st of January 2015, Beat Phreaks are bringing an all-female lineup of DJs to The Republic. Female DJs are undoubtedly on the rise and #TheTakeover is an acknowledgement of that fact.

#TheTakeover is a journey to unearth the best in female talent in an industry that's mostly male dominated. This Saturday, DJ Ella from Nigeria, DJ Nyce, Mz Orstin and DJ Keyzzz will be bringing you some dope music from all across the globe.

#TheTakeover is slated to be a monthly event. Expect a crazy line-up of females at the Republic Bar and Grill in Osu every last Saturday of the month from 9pm till late. Organizers expect to expand the line-up to include emcees in later editions of the event.

If you are as excited as we are about women turning the tables, you should not miss this. #TheTakeover is more than music, it's a statement! Entry is FREE!

Ghanaian entertainers should embrace the use of locally produced prints to sustain the local textile industry - Gallaxy

Ghanaian highlife and Afrobeat music group, Gallaxy has released visuals to their much-anticipated song, 'Holla At Me'.

The video, directed by award-winning video director,Ebenezer Xbills of Xpress Philms is characterized by quality pictures and outstanding African costumes.

According to the group, the concept and use of African prints in the video is to promote the patronage of locally made products.

They urged Ghanaian artistes to embrace the use of locally produced prints and costumes to sustain the
local textile industry which is currently suffering from the huge importation of cheap and inferior prints.

Gallaxy noted that considering the huge influence musicians and celebrities have on society and their fans, the war on imported textiles can be won if “we all come on board and patronize our own.”

Gallaxy - Holla at me (official video) -  https://t.co/olvRGiCk43

DJ Kofi, DJ Black To Perform At Ghana DJ Awards 2015

Come Saturday 21 of next month,the Accra International Conference Centre will play sound-wall to high-profile DJs including 1995 DMC Technics UK Mixing Champion DJ Kofi and Rothmans Best DJ in West Africa 2001 and two-time overall Best DJ of the Year at Ghana DJ Awards,DJ Black,amongst other fantastic DJs.

Ghana DJ Awards shapes to be exciting as this is the first time fans of DJ Kofi would see him on the turntables performing in Ghana since 2007. It’s also resounding to see DJ Black perform at the Awards show for the first time.

This year - the biggest in the history of the awards,under the theme AMPLIFIED, organizers,Merqury Republic,in a quest to include all facets of the Disc Jockeying,have revealed plans for a spectacular DJ showdown and a typical Night Club setting at the Foyer of the Accra International Conference Centre on February 21.

The highly anticipated event which has received positive reviews on radio and trending on social media will see some of the country's top celebrities,music acts and iconic Disc Jockeys.

DJ KOFI

Kofi’s DJ career really too off in 1995 when he was crowned DMC Technics UK Mixing Champion and an international DJ star was born. Kofi recalls ‘literally the next day after the UK final my phone was ringing off the hook with all sorts of job offers from production to Djing’.

After doing guest spots on Radio 1 and Kiss FM Kofi finally found a home in radio on Choice FM where he held down a prime time Mixshow (12pm - 1pm). It became one of London’s most popular mixshows from 1995 to 2002. At the turn of the Millennium Kofi revisited a style of DJing that he started doing first in 1991,what is now know as the mash up. In 2000 he released mixalbum “Its been a long time” which became a blueprint for the style.

After being asked by Sony Music to do a mix for the late Michael Jackson’s “Invincible” European album launch and seeing the finished product come back as an audio visual mix. Kofi’s mind was open to the endless possibilities of AV mixing.

Some years later Kofi added AV to his live show repertoire. Over the last 10 years Kofi’s turntable wizardry and innovative selections have taken him to over 43 countries. Residencies in Russia,Greece,Switzerland and Bungalow 8 in the UK have brought audiences, fans and friends to his global music and energetic sets.

The sole DJ at the first MTV Africa awards Kofi is a favourite among crowds and known as the entertainer’s entertainer. Rocking parties such as Coldplay’s ‘end of world tour party’ at Wembley Arena,Blur’s Hyde Park comeback concert after party,Jay Z after party and the Williams sisters Wimbledon championship parties the diversity of the gigs as eclectic as the music and visuals.

DARK SUBURB steps out with THE AWAKENING CONCERT

Dark Suburb, Ghana’s only Alternative Rock Band, is performing at the
Awakening Concert scheduled for Saturday 7th of February at Alliance
Francaise. The concert will feature Noella Wiyaala, afro Soul singer Eli among several others.

Dark Suburb is an Alternative Rock Band caught between the worlds of the seen and the unseen; the living and the dead.

They have been invoked back to life by a priest disenchanted with the current state of the music industry.

So he travels to the underworld to
recruit the best singer, drummer, guitarist and pianist to form a great band for the ages. But alas! Before the band can make a transition to the land of the living, they must be accepted by the living. The more they are loved,
the more they will be revealed.

They draw their breath, their form, their strength from the vitality of the living. And so for now Dark Suburb is an apparition, their music echoing from
the shadows. The more they are loved, the more they will be revealed.

Dark Suburb is barely a year old but it has already garnered a good following and generated a large amount of curiosity among music lovers in and out of Ghana, all wanting to know more about this mysterious band.


With a 5 track EP and 3 music videos racking in thousands of views, Ghana’s alternative rock band, Dark Suburb, is finally ready to step out with several concerts this year starting with The Awakening Concert.

The event will commence at 6pm and the audience will have the opportunity to purchase Dark Suburbs EP and merchandise.

“BATAKARI NIGHT“ Concert with King Ayisoba

DATE:30th January,2015
VENUE:Alliance Francaise - Accra Alliance Francaise d’Accra (La Paillote Takpekpe stage), Behind Opeibea House, Liberation Link, Airport Residential Area|TIME:8pm |RATE:15GH

King Ayisoba is encouraging Ghanaians to purchase batakiri through the “Batakari Night” concert with artistes such as Wanlov, Yaa Pono, Agongo, Stevo, BOLA, Asaanaho, shake bongo, Prince Buj and keyboardist Opoku Mensah and his band. 

King Ayisoba, an award winning artiste renowned worldwide, has made great waves with his kologo sounds since he was discovered in the Ghanaian music scene in 2005.

He is currently on a campaign trail for more people to patronize batakari from northern Ghana with a show dubbed “Batakari Night”. Also referred to as
fugu, batakari is made of hand loomed strips of cotton. The strips are sewn together by hand of machine and usually have embroidery on the neckline.
Making of batakari has created employment opportunities for many people in the north.

King Ayisoba’s style of music is melodic and percussive at the same time and he has displayed diversity and innovation by using traditional instruments together with hiplife (a style that emerged in Ghana in the mid-90s and contains hip hop and dancehall elements) beats, bleeps and bass.

His lyrics are very personal, sometimes funny, often urgent and always imaginative

THE WRITE EXPERIENCE

DATE: Wednesday 28th January,2015 |TIME:7:30pm
VENUE:Alliance Francaise - Accra Alliance Francaise d’Accra
(La Paillote Takpekpe stage), Behind Opeibea House, Liberation Link,
Airport Residential Area.


The Write Experience is a package of seamless stirring poetry and graffiti
aside an intimate jazz trio thrill by saxophonist and composer, David Bindman; percussionist and pianist royal hartigan and bassist Wes Brown.

They’ve performed, given workshops, and recorded throughout Asia, Africa, Europe, West Asia, and the Americas in a bigger renowned group called the Blood Drum Spirit Ensemble. (www.royalhart.com | www.blooddrumspirit.com)

The event is produced by Inkfluent and powered by Alliance Francaise d’Accra (La Paillote Takpekpe), directed by kwame Write and focuses on environmentalism awareness. 

Graffiti artists Trez & Baby and
poets Efy & Julio Teko from Togo will join Ghana’s Apiorkor & Akosua Hanson, Duafe & AndyonAndy, Ozionn, kwame Write & Namoji, Slim 1 & Wolali for captivating collaborative performances.

There’ll also be live reggae folk
music by Ras Bomba as former Artist-in-Residence at Vienna’s Kunsthalle Exnergasse and afrogallonist Attukwei flaunts some engaging plastic art installations. Be there!

Frikky Dee: Sankelewa music video in pictures

Here are some exclusive shots from Frikky Dee‘s ‘Sankelewa‘ music video directed by award winning video director Etamak.

You can also follow the link below to download the video.

Link source: Urbanroll

VIDEO: Sankelewa by Frikky Dee - http://www.urbanroll.net/clip/FRIKKY%20DEE%20-%20SANKELEWA(official%20video)(www.urbanroll.net).mp4 @ItIsFrikkyDee

The best is yet to come:Get familiar with Femi

Calvin Femi Dotse better known by his stage name Femi was born in  Nigeria and raised in both Nigeria and Ghana.Femi has growing interest for music since infancy.

Femi is known for his dynamic style of compostion.His kind of music is aimed healing the ills of our society.He strongly believes music is a powerful tool that can cause a significant change in the life's of many and for that reason composes songs with a good social message.

Femi does not only compose but also has the ability to move the crowd at anytime.

Femi was part of a music group that participated in the National 2006 Nescafe African Revolution competition and put up an outstanding performance during that contest.

Femi is one of the few who combines music with another  profession for the love of it.

He is currently working with the largest bank on the continent of Africa;Stanbic bank and also a continuous student at Cambridge International College - UK studying an MBA-financial management.

Femi has been on the low for years  studying the trend in the music industry and ready to go commercial now with the craft now under 'The Impact' a music  management team he heads  himself. Be on th look out for his first single few weeks to come.

Connect with Femi on the social media via facebook: www.Facebook.com/FemiMusic Twitter: MyNameIsFemi Instagram: @FemiGH