Eric Kwabena Matlock is a Ghanaian-born American producer who has
set his eyes on unearthing new talents and helping polish already
existing ones in the Ghanaian hip hop music scene. Eric, also known
as Coptic The Producer shares his vision of African Music with
#TheAfricanDream blog.

In the past Coptic did some production for the late iconic American
rapper Notorious B.I.G. (Biggy Smalls) and says the death of Biggy
really touched home a lot for him because “we hung out in the studio
in the past when he was alive”.

One of the things Coptic says they discussed was about Biggie
wanting to buy the very first beat he made as he says, “I was too
scared to sell it so never did”, down the line into the future Coptic
was managed by Deric Angelette along with Kanye West for 3 years.
“Either way I still believe Notorious was a good guy. Today I have
been able to establish my Ghanaian record label which I call The
Black Star Line on which I already have already signed one Ghanaian
artist names Trey LA aka Selorm.”

Eric says his label is currently finalizing Trey LA’s first mixtape -
The Introduction - due for release in summer 2014. One other thing
that is being wrapped up is a personal project that he has been
working on in the US called Close To My Roots that features US and
African acts on same the records.

Back home on the Ghanaian music scene, Coptic is producing the
Coptic Presents… The Rising Stars Of GH Mixtape series featuring
upcoming artists. This annual project is released on Christmas day
for free download; “Volume III of the project will be ready on
Christmas day of 2014” he says.

There is a lot of talent and potential in Ghana’s music industry,
which is why Coptic returned to establish a partnership with Bless
The Mic, (a hip hop music talent program) to produce an annual
concert based on the mixtape concept he works on.

The concert happens in Ghana during September and it is in its
second year. The 2013 event was an overwhelming success that saw
every major hip hop act in Ghana performing - Sarkodie closed that
year out.

Ghanaian acts that Coptic has produced for include Sarkodie, Dblack
and Kwaw Kese. He has also partnered with Jayso (Skillions) in
producing the latter’s upcoming solo album and with Kwaw Kese &
Madd Time Entertainment in releasing the forthcoming album:
FOREVER. He says other partnerships with major Ghana acts are in
the works.

“Exposing the authentic African sounds and its musicians to the
global music market has always been my desire” says Coptic.
This producer genuinely believes Africa has a strong mix of
respective musical genres and a deep Cultural Rap presence that is
often misunderstood or overlooked in regards to its worldwide
musical influence, something he wishes to change with time.
Source: Oral Ofori

The Accra Central and LA Magistrate Court (5) has adjourned to June 30 the case involving Nana Asiama Hanson (Bulldog), who has been charged for allegedly murdering Fennec Okyere, a music producer.

The court adjourned the case after
the Prosecutor, Chief Inspector Sancher, begged the court for more time to finish his investigations into the matter.

Bulldog, who has been charged for allegedly murdering Fennec Okyere, was granted bail by the Human Rights Court on Tuesday, May 27.

He was picked up by the police on May 15 in Kokomlemle, a suburb of Accra, as a prime suspect in the murder of Fennec Okyere who was killed at his residence on March 13 by unknown assailants.

The deceased was the manager of hiplife artiste, Kwaw Kesse.

Bulldog made his first appearance at the Magistrate Court on Monday May 19, and was remanded into police custody despite appeals by the defence counsel for the suspect to be granted bail.

Not satisfied with the decision by the Magistrate Court to hold their client, lawyers for Bulldog took the matter to the Human Rights Court and requested for bail. The High Court upheld the request.

The Human Rights Court granted the request by the defence counsel because the facts as presented by the police and upon which they were holding Bulldog were "speculative" and did not link him to the charges that had been preferred against him.

On that basis, the court ruled that, Bulldog deserved his freedom and should not even have been held for a day.

Source: myjoyonline

Justin Bieber is not wasting any time with his latest scandal.

The singer has already issued an apology for a video of his 15-year-old self telling an N-word laced racist joke.

“I’m very sorry,” the singer told TMZ. “I take my friendships with people of all cultures very seriously and I apologize for offending or hurting anyone with my childish and inexcusable mistake.

I was a kid then and I am a man now who knows my responsibility to the world and to not make that mistake again.”

Bieber blamed his ignorance on the follies of youthful naïveté.

“As a young man, I didn’t understand the power of certain words and how they can hurt,” he explained. “I thought it was ok to repeat hurtful words and jokes, but didn’t realize at the time that it wasn’t funny and that in fact my actions were continuing the ignorance.”

The singer went on, hoping to turn the whole thing into a lesson both for himself and others, stating, “Ignorance has no place in our society and I hope the sharing of my faults can prevent others from making the same mistake in the future.

I thought long and hard about what I wanted to say but telling the truth is always what’s right.

Five years ago I made a reckless and immature mistake and I’m grateful to those close to me who helped me learn those lessons as a young man. Once again….I’m sorry.”

Artiste manager, Bulldog was released on bail last week Thursday and is finally close with blood family and music family.

Today Bulldog took to Facebook to say a big thank to all those who supported him.

Read below Lawrence Nana Asiamah Hanson(Bulldog)

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...

Suspected members of the Boko Haram Islamist group, which
kidnapped 276 schoolgirls last month, gunned down a traditional
Muslim emir in an attack on a convoy in northeastern Nigeria on
Friday, the Borno state government said.

The Emir of Gwoza, Alhaji Idrissa Timta, was travelling with the
emirs of Uba and Askira to a attend a funeral when the suspected
Islamist gunmen opened fire on their car in Zhur, a remote
community in Borno state.

Since April 14, when the girls were taken, at least 500 civilians
have been killed by the militants, according to a Reuters count.
Timta died from gunshot wounds and two policemen were killed
while the other two emirs managed to escape, a source at the Emir
of Uba’s palace told Reuters, requesting anonymity.

“The Emir of Gwoza was killed around 9 a.m. today following a
bloody attack by some gunmen believed to be members of the
Boko Haram,” Borno state government said in a statement.

Sources had earlier told Reuters two of the traditional leaders had
been kidnapped, but the palace source said the emirs of Uba and
Askira had simply hidden for some time in the bush, leading to
fears they had been abducted.

Most of the vehicles in the convoy were destroyed, the source said.
Friday’s attack came as leaders from the 15-member Economic
Community of West African States [ECOWAS] met in Ghana to
discuss worsening insecurity in northern Nigeria and in Mali,
where Tuareg separatists routed government troops last week.

“We must act, and we must put in place measures that make clear
that we will not allow any of our countries to be used to
destabilize other nations,” Ghana’s President, John Dramani
Mahama, who holds the rotating presidency of the bloc, said at the
opening of the summit.

“ECOWAS must play a leading role in the effort to fully restore
peace and security to the subregion and by so doing safeguard our
future,” he said.

Nigeria’s head of counter-terrorism on Friday accused
neighbouring Cameroon, which is not an ECOWAS member, of
failing to make a serious effort to drive Boko Haram insurgents
from its territory.

Despite a year-long military offensive against it, Boko Haram,
which is fighting to reinstate an ancient Islamic caliphate in
northern Nigeria, has been able to run riot in the north east and
bomb cities across the country.

On Thursday, in the northeastern village of Gurmushi, near
Nigeria’s border with Cameroon, suspected Islamist gunmen riding
motor bikes killed 32 people.

Nigeria’s president Goodluck Jonathan said on Thursday he had
ordered a full-scale operation against Boko Haram and sought to
reassure parents of the 219 schoolgirls still being held by the
group that their children would be freed.

Boko Haram has been kidnapping schoolgirls and forcing them to
become “brides” for commanders for more than a year, but the
attack on Chibok last month shocked the world and prompted an
international effort to free them.

Six months after the death of his buddy-buddy, Ronnie Coaches, Prince Bright, the other half of the hip life duo, Buk Bak, says he is yet to pick up the pieces let alone record a new song.

Speaking in a telephone interview from his US base last Saturday,
Bright sounded completely down and shaken, almost as if Ronnie had
just died. “I wake up in the morning and the next thing I ask myself
is, where is Ronnie? I am not feeling cool at all,” he said.

Ronnie Coaches died on November 21, 2013 at the Korle Bu
Teaching Hospital after a short illness. The hit songs he and Bright
have been popular for include Komi Ke Kena, Gonja Barracks, U 4
Know, Chingilingi, Klu Blofo, Oburoni, Tankase and Kolom.
“All we did and talked about was music” Bright told Showbiz. “ He
would often call and ask me, ‘what are you doing in America? Come
and let’s make music’. We have done so much on all platforms, but
there was still a lot to be done.

“Ronnie used to push everything, he was the motivator. Let’s do this,
and he gets it done. He was my eyes and ears. I was the baby in Buk
Bak, he was always pampering me. I am still in shock,” he said.
“Ronnie respected himself, and we both stayed out of trouble, our
office was music, music was his everything. We never smoked or
drank alcohol, and we always believed in ourselves and never had a
beef with anyone. We used to have our little fights, just the two of us.
We fought to achieve good results,” he said.

Considering how peaceful Ronnie was, Bright said he was very sad
that all sorts of things were said about Ronnie after he passed on.
“We are all human beings, and it hurts so badly some of the things I
heard being said about my brother,” he said.

Bright said that they had lots of songs ready to go and Ronnie was
working so hard and waiting for him to come down so they could
shoot the music videos.

“As you know we don’t go by the trend, we sing from our hearts.”
Their last hit song before the death of Ronnie, Kolom, according to
Bright, was doing very well in Ireland and the US.

“I miss music but I miss Ronnie more. I don’t know where to start
from and where to end. I am looking up to God to make a way for
me.”

Bright used the opportunity to thank all who mourned with him
before, during and after the burial of Ronnie Coaches.

Source: graphic.com.gh

Rap music in Ghana has gone through major evolution and has come with its own pool of talented rap stars.

Kosi Bone is just one of a kind you can never push back when counting budding rap acts of our time.

Another talented rapper from the Volta Region of Ghana where many stars like Chicago,Yaa Pono, EL, and the Koene hit maker Edem also hails from.
Kosi Bone is gradually making an official entry into Ghana’s industry with a dope rap skills couple with an outstanding stage craft that always will keep the crowd going gay.

After several years behind the scene preparing for a time like this time to blow up, Kosi Bone is officially releasing his debut ‘Menya’ produced by Dugudbeatz under the management of HDMedia Ghana.

.‘Menya’ is translated in ‘Ewe’ as ‘don’t you know’?  In other words ‘You need to know’.

The fusion of both the English and the local ‘Ewe’ language gives the song and different taste and class as hip-hop banger that will never fade away anytime soon.

According to Kosi Bone’s talent manager, Mr Justice Klutse ‘Menya’ is just one of the numerous street bangers that will be released by Kosi Bone before the year ends.

Not long thing MENYA is available via www.hulkshare.com/ShowbizGH

A funeral was held Friday at the forecourt of the State House for the
late fashion designer Kofi Ansah who died on Saturday, May 3 at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital.
The funeral was attended by several personalities including Kofi Okyere Darko (KOD), Becca, Efya, and Akorfa
Ejeani.

The funeral also witnessed some performances from Gyedu-Blay Ambolley and Akosua Agyapong. Some
models also modelled at the funeral in his honour.
The body of Kofi Ansah, who died at age 56, will be cremated.
The Man Kofi Ansah: Winner of the prestigious Ghana Quality Awards Diamond Division October 2003, for clothing and textile with
ARTDRESS LTD.

Kofi Ansah through his company was the winner of the prestigious Millennium 2000 African Fashion Awards. He
also designed the Anniversary fabric for the Ghana @ 50 Golden Jubilee Celebration.
Kofi Ansah also designed the costumes for the opening and closing ceremony of the CAN 2008 African Cup of
Nations which was staged in Ghana to an international acclaim.

Kofi Ansah was a renowned innovative and creative fashion designer. He was credited with the changing face of
the Ghanaian fashion landscape and a leader in the field of African Fashion Design. He was a founding member,
as well as a past president of the Federation of African Designers.

Kofi Ansah until his sudden death run Artdress, a design and creative concept company through which he
developed the art of clothing design, concept collections, and consultancy to develop products and company
promotions, and the marketing of their products through fashion shows.
His company has been the fashion consultant to G.T.P. now the leading textile company in the country since
1995.

Kofi Ansah believed he inherited his creative talents from his parents. His father who was a creator,
photographer, classical musician, encouraged him to pursue his interest in art and design.
He studied fashion design at the Chelsea School of Art in London and graduated with 1st class honours in
fashion design and distinction in design technology.

His distinct eye for detail and individuality with fabrics and color afforded him recognition as a couture
designer. The unique use of quilting, embroidery and appliqués are the design signature of Kofi Ansah.
His fashion designs were soon seen in the retail shops and boutiques of London. His fashions also appeared in
many retail stores and boutiques in the U.S. including Saks Fifth Avenue.
Kofi’s distinct elegant designs, though western styled, were never without the emphasis of his native homeland
of Ghana.

He returned to Ghana inspired to blend the richly textured and boldly colored fabrics into fashion collections that
have met a strong customer following in both Ghana and abroad.
Source: Myjoyonline.com

One of Africa’s finest DJ brands and
household name in the Ghanaian musc
industry, Kwadwo Ampofo also known as DJ Black has been nominated (Best DJ Africa category) in maiden THE AFRICAN MUZIK MAGAZINE AWARDS (AFRIMMA).

The award ceremony that caters for all musical genres including including
Afrobeats, Assiko, Bongo, Decale, Funana, Genge, Highlife, Hiplife, Kwaito, Lingala and Soukous will be held at the plush Charles W. Eisemann Center for Performing Arts and Corporate Presentations in
Richardson, Texas on July 26th, 2014.

DJ Black was recently in Austin, Texas to present a paper on Digital Media/Music in Africa during 2013 SXSW Music Festival.

SXSW Music is the largest music festival of its kind in the world, with more than 2,200 official performers and bands playing in more than 100 venues.

Ghanaian singer Efya, who has been confirmed to perform on this year’s World Music Award(WMA) is set to share the stage with international music superstars from around the world.

Efya will perform alongside Nigerian music superstar D’banj, Mariah Carey, Ricky Martin, Flo Rida, Miley Cyrus, Leona Lewis, Jason Derulo and Fall Out Boy.

Efya’s smash hit song “Best in me” has received nominations in 5 different categories: World's Best Song, Best Female Artiste, World Best Live Act, World Best Entertainer of the Year and World Best Video.

Rapper Sarkodie and UK-based Fuse ODG have also received nominations for the same awards.

The reigning VGMA best female vocalist has also been nominated for the Best Female award in Africa’s most respected music awards event – the MTV Africa Music Awards (MAMAs) 2014.

This brings to seven, the award nominations so far this year.

A clearly overwhelmed Efya has taken to her official Facebook page to thank her fans and team, asking for further support to win all the awards she’s been nominated for.

The international award show is scheduled to take place on Tuesday 27th May 2014 in Monte Carlo,Monaco, France.

Source: peacefmonline