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| Shaheera, Host - Africa on your street, BBC Radio 3 |
From its birthplace in Ghana , Highlife began as 'palm wine' music in the 1920s. By the 50s its popularity and success became the symbol of future independence, pride and everything else cool and African.
During the 1980s and 90s Highlife was eclipsed by the dynamic, up-tempo rhythms of Afrobeat and Juju coming from Nigeria . However, in the last few years Highlife has re-invented itself and has been taken in by a new generation of young Ghanaian rappers and musicians.
Now baby..... it's all about the Hip Life.
The power and musical influence of Hip Hop as a global musical movement remains stronger than ever, now the voice of a generation since its rise in the early 90s. Ghana is no exception to this and in Accra, its capital, Hip Hop's influence is heard through Hip Life a modern version of Highlife, with rap in local Ghanaian dialect.
Hip Life began in Ghana in the mid 90s although it really depends who you ask - it was reported as early as the 80s and performed by artists such as Gyedu Blay Ambolley and K.K. Kabobo who did something similar. However, Hip Life has had a slow boil to the top and today its boiling over with success. Although predominantly popular in Ghana and the UK, Hip Life has also caught on in The Netherlands, Germany and the US, and wherever there are large communities of Ghanaians.
Two of Hip Life's rising stars are solo performer Tic Tac and trio VIP; both live in Ghana and were on a quick visit to London recently, on a pre-concert tour (details of that later) where I met up with them for a chat.
At 23 yeas old, Tic Tac (a.k.a Nana Kwaku Okyere Duah) is already a formidable, ambitious and focused young man. He was born and raised in Ashanti Ghana, and had no hesitation letting me know about his mission in life: 'I want to achieve respect for African music and young musicians' he says. 'I think it's important also that the MOBO awards here in England profile the underground African acts and up-and-coming African acts not just the established ones like Youssou N'Dour. There's a lot of underground African talent, I thought it (MOBO) was suppose to be music of black origin? Africa is the root of Blackness and Hip -Life is a way to reach young people all over Africa and the world'.
At 18 years and still in school Tic Tac recorded his first album with 'The Fish Band' performing locally in Ashanti and singing in Twe. They couldn't get a record deal so decided to release the cassettes themselves, selling them at local markets. 'We sold something like 400 albums which was really good back then' he says 'I wanted to be different and look different, you know, so I coloured my locks blonde, with black bits at the end, sticking up, crazy like, and copied my idol Busta Rhymes'. Today (blonde locks still remain) he performs to 10,000 devotees of Hip Life in Accra and the future looks bright for Tic Tac. His new album is "Masem" on the Ghanaian based Goddies Music Label, whose mission is to bring Hip-Life to the world.
With four successful albums under their belt and the number one song in Ghana right now for a whopping 15 weeks, VIP (Vision In Progress) is on top of the Hip-Life ladder.
'We come from the ghetto in Ghana and have been fighting to get ahead - we believe in what we are doing', says band member Promzy in a smooth but gritty Bronx-influenced accent. 'It's the real jungle man, really tough. You have to fight to survive as there's no prospects for a life there, no hope, no ambition for a young person, nothing, a dead-end Nemo is the end of the world girl' he says, flashing me a gold-toothed smile.
VIP is Promzy (Emmanuel Ababio), Lazzy (Abdul Hamid Ibrahim) and Prodigal (Nana Joseph Ofori) - the latter was not on the trip to London.
With the average age of 24 years, all three came from different areas of Ghana . Meeting in Accra , they all have University degrees but found no jobs for them in the big city. Turning to music and a common cause, they formed VIP a few years ago. 'Before in African clubs back home' says Lazy 'they (the DJ's) used to play pure R'n'B, Garage and American music. Now its our music - Hip Life. We have found our own voice and don't need to use American music to represent us'.
VIP were surprised to hear their music being played in London at African clubs such as Akwabba in South London. 'We were so shocked when we did our last performance there - the audience were all singing along to our songs in Twi! And most of them have never been to Ghana '.
Indeed, second and third generation Ghanaians are re-discovering their roots. Hip Life has suceeded in penetrating the younger generation of British-Africans, where traditional African music has failed.
Today in Ghana, not only Kids are coming to their concerts but members of parliament. Even the president of Ghana, according to VIP, has attended their concerts. VIP also use their music to fight HIV/Aids and have performed several benefit concerts across Ghana.
Next on their agenda is another Ghana-wide music tour with Tic Tac talking to kids about Aids and Sex Education. Then they're coming back to London for the Ghana Independence Concert on March 6th . Congratulations to Efua Dunto and Matt Archibald who each won a pair of tickets in our prize draw. See you there!
Well, I know I'm now a hip life fan ....are you?
Shaheera says a big thank you to Isaac Asante (DJ Zicks) You can catch his show on HOT FM (106 FM UK LONDON ONLY or if you have a fantastic aerial you might be able to pick it up outside the capital)This station plays mainly Hip Life, High Life, Zouk an a bit of R'n'B. Now over 2 years old, it certainly is the best Ghanaian High Life Station in London - Check out the show MIXMASTER ZICKS 'MIXED GRILL' every Saturday from 7PM till 9PM . One hour of new Hip Life releases from Ghana and the rest is a non-stop Dj mix.
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| Shaheera, Host - Africa on your street, BBC Radio 3 |
From its birthplace in Ghana , Highlife began as 'palm wine' music in the 1920s. By the 50s its popularity and success became the symbol of future independence, pride and everything else cool and African.
During the 1980s and 90s Highlife was eclipsed by the dynamic, up-tempo rhythms of Afrobeat and Juju coming from Nigeria . However, in the last few years Highlife has re-invented itself and has been taken in by a new generation of young Ghanaian rappers and musicians.
Now baby..... it's all about the Hip Life.
The power and musical influence of Hip Hop as a global musical movement remains stronger than ever, now the voice of a generation since its rise in the early 90s. Ghana is no exception to this and in Accra, its capital, Hip Hop's influence is heard through Hip Life a modern version of Highlife, with rap in local Ghanaian dialect.
Hip Life began in Ghana in the mid 90s although it really depends who you ask - it was reported as early as the 80s and performed by artists such as Gyedu Blay Ambolley and K.K. Kabobo who did something similar. However, Hip Life has had a slow boil to the top and today its boiling over with success. Although predominantly popular in Ghana and the UK, Hip Life has also caught on in The Netherlands, Germany and the US, and wherever there are large communities of Ghanaians.
Two of Hip Life's rising stars are solo performer Tic Tac and trio VIP; both live in Ghana and were on a quick visit to London recently, on a pre-concert tour (details of that later) where I met up with them for a chat.
At 23 yeas old, Tic Tac (a.k.a Nana Kwaku Okyere Duah) is already a formidable, ambitious and focused young man. He was born and raised in Ashanti Ghana, and had no hesitation letting me know about his mission in life: 'I want to achieve respect for African music and young musicians' he says. 'I think it's important also that the MOBO awards here in England profile the underground African acts and up-and-coming African acts not just the established ones like Youssou N'Dour. There's a lot of underground African talent, I thought it (MOBO) was suppose to be music of black origin? Africa is the root of Blackness and Hip -Life is a way to reach young people all over Africa and the world'.
At 18 years and still in school Tic Tac recorded his first album with 'The Fish Band' performing locally in Ashanti and singing in Twe. They couldn't get a record deal so decided to release the cassettes themselves, selling them at local markets. 'We sold something like 400 albums which was really good back then' he says 'I wanted to be different and look different, you know, so I coloured my locks blonde, with black bits at the end, sticking up, crazy like, and copied my idol Busta Rhymes'. Today (blonde locks still remain) he performs to 10,000 devotees of Hip Life in Accra and the future looks bright for Tic Tac. His new album is "Masem" on the Ghanaian based Goddies Music Label, whose mission is to bring Hip-Life to the world.
With four successful albums under their belt and the number one song in Ghana right now for a whopping 15 weeks, VIP (Vision In Progress) is on top of the Hip-Life ladder.
'We come from the ghetto in Ghana and have been fighting to get ahead - we believe in what we are doing', says band member Promzy in a smooth but gritty Bronx-influenced accent. 'It's the real jungle man, really tough. You have to fight to survive as there's no prospects for a life there, no hope, no ambition for a young person, nothing, a dead-end Nemo is the end of the world girl' he says, flashing me a gold-toothed smile.
VIP is Promzy (Emmanuel Ababio), Lazzy (Abdul Hamid Ibrahim) and Prodigal (Nana Joseph Ofori) - the latter was not on the trip to London.
With the average age of 24 years, all three came from different areas of Ghana . Meeting in Accra , they all have University degrees but found no jobs for them in the big city. Turning to music and a common cause, they formed VIP a few years ago. 'Before in African clubs back home' says Lazy 'they (the DJ's) used to play pure R'n'B, Garage and American music. Now its our music - Hip Life. We have found our own voice and don't need to use American music to represent us'.
VIP were surprised to hear their music being played in London at African clubs such as Akwabba in South London. 'We were so shocked when we did our last performance there - the audience were all singing along to our songs in Twi! And most of them have never been to Ghana '.
Indeed, second and third generation Ghanaians are re-discovering their roots. Hip Life has suceeded in penetrating the younger generation of British-Africans, where traditional African music has failed.
Today in Ghana, not only Kids are coming to their concerts but members of parliament. Even the president of Ghana, according to VIP, has attended their concerts. VIP also use their music to fight HIV/Aids and have performed several benefit concerts across Ghana.
Next on their agenda is another Ghana-wide music tour with Tic Tac talking to kids about Aids and Sex Education. Then they're coming back to London for the Ghana Independence Concert on March 6th . Congratulations to Efua Dunto and Matt Archibald who each won a pair of tickets in our prize draw. See you there!
Well, I know I'm now a hip life fan ....are you?
Shaheera says a big thank you to Isaac Asante (DJ Zicks) You can catch his show on HOT FM (106 FM UK LONDON ONLY or if you have a fantastic aerial you might be able to pick it up outside the capital)This station plays mainly Hip Life, High Life, Zouk an a bit of R'n'B. Now over 2 years old, it certainly is the best Ghanaian High Life Station in London - Check out the show MIXMASTER ZICKS 'MIXED GRILL' every Saturday from 7PM till 9PM . One hour of new Hip Life releases from Ghana and the rest is a non-stop Dj mix.
