Young Sam Lands Deal

Hiplife music, which is a blend of American hiphop and Ghanaian highlife music, seems top have taken centre stage in Ghanaian music but it is obvious that the older generation are yet to fall for it.

To make hiplife music more appealing to the older musicians have attempted to inject highlife rhythms than hiphop beats into their work.

One musician who appears to be doing quite well in his attempt to win the hearts is Simon Sam Dzima, aka Young Sam. His latest album, ?Aso M?ani? which flows on the wings of Kpanlogo, guitar band rhythms and some contemporary highlife beats, has attracted a ?30,000 deal from London-based Wayoosi Records.

Wayoosi Records is expected to produce and distribute the album in Europe, America, Ghana and the rest of the world. According to the local Representative of Wayoosi Records, Mr K. Castro, the notion that Ghanaian music has not gone international is untrue.

Mr Castro said Wayoosi Records has successfully marketed hiplife and highlife works produced by musicians such as Obrafour and Yaw Labito, and has also organised big hiplife shows in Europe. What is important, he said, is for the business aspect of Ghanaian music to be developed in order to attract the needed investment.

Young Sam was optimistic that his latest album will make a big mark on the local and international scenes. With Sound Engineer of the Year, Jeff Quaye (JQ) producing the beats in some of the songs, particularly ?Obaano?, it is not surprising that the album is receiving lots of airplay.

One of the songs that will hit the older folks is ?All for You? which is originally produced by highlife legend E.T. Mensah. The rhythm is warm and danceable. In this song the musician does not leave the young generation out. He gives them a few lines of rap.

Listening to the album one may be tempted to think that Young Sam is a ?lover man?. At least more than half of the titles on the album touch on love-related issues ? ?Jealousy?, ?Odo Asendua (the cross of love)?, ?Mesiafo (women)?, ?Obaano (woman)? and ?All for you?. Other titles on the album are ?Anadwo (night)? and ?Wo se den? (What are you saying?)?.

The album is produced by Wayoosi Music Production and distributed locally by Adjei Boadi Music. Young Sam is a product of St. Jones School and the Cape Coast Technical School.

Hiplife music, which is a blend of American hiphop and Ghanaian highlife music, seems top have taken centre stage in Ghanaian music but it is obvious that the older generation are yet to fall for it.

To make hiplife music more appealing to the older musicians have attempted to inject highlife rhythms than hiphop beats into their work.

One musician who appears to be doing quite well in his attempt to win the hearts is Simon Sam Dzima, aka Young Sam. His latest album, ?Aso M?ani? which flows on the wings of Kpanlogo, guitar band rhythms and some contemporary highlife beats, has attracted a ?30,000 deal from London-based Wayoosi Records.

Wayoosi Records is expected to produce and distribute the album in Europe, America, Ghana and the rest of the world. According to the local Representative of Wayoosi Records, Mr K. Castro, the notion that Ghanaian music has not gone international is untrue.

Mr Castro said Wayoosi Records has successfully marketed hiplife and highlife works produced by musicians such as Obrafour and Yaw Labito, and has also organised big hiplife shows in Europe. What is important, he said, is for the business aspect of Ghanaian music to be developed in order to attract the needed investment.

Young Sam was optimistic that his latest album will make a big mark on the local and international scenes. With Sound Engineer of the Year, Jeff Quaye (JQ) producing the beats in some of the songs, particularly ?Obaano?, it is not surprising that the album is receiving lots of airplay.

One of the songs that will hit the older folks is ?All for You? which is originally produced by highlife legend E.T. Mensah. The rhythm is warm and danceable. In this song the musician does not leave the young generation out. He gives them a few lines of rap.

Listening to the album one may be tempted to think that Young Sam is a ?lover man?. At least more than half of the titles on the album touch on love-related issues ? ?Jealousy?, ?Odo Asendua (the cross of love)?, ?Mesiafo (women)?, ?Obaano (woman)? and ?All for you?. Other titles on the album are ?Anadwo (night)? and ?Wo se den? (What are you saying?)?.

The album is produced by Wayoosi Music Production and distributed locally by Adjei Boadi Music. Young Sam is a product of St. Jones School and the Cape Coast Technical School.