Okyeame Kwame is a Ghanaian rapper
Ghanaian rapper Okyeame Kwame has credited legendary producer Zap Mallet and hiplife icon Reggie Rockstone as the two key figures behind the creation and rise of the hiplife genre, dismissing suggestions that the genre should be credited to Oseikrom alone.
Speaking in an interview on Adom TV, the musician said it would be “completely wrong” to attribute the birth of hiplife to Oseikrom, insisting that both Zap Mallet and Reggie Rockstone played distinct but equally important roles in shaping the genre.
“I credit hiplife to two key people, Zap Mallet for creating the sound and Reggie Rockstone for making the lifestyle and the sound popular. I think these are the two solid pillars of hiplife music,” he said.
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According to Okyeame Kwame, Zap Mallet was responsible for crafting the genre’s sonic identity, while Reggie Rockstone transformed it into a movement through his rap style, fashion, and persona.
“Zap Mallet for the sonic experience and Reggie Rockstone for the rap and the lifestyle because I remember Reggie wearing his camo jeans, Timberlands and socks with his white shirt and dreadlocks screaming ‘chooboi’. It was a beautiful experience,” he recalled.
The rapper also spoke about veteran producer and musician Nana King of Ashanti International, revealing that they had spoken just a few months ago and that Nana King is currently based in the United States.
Assessing Nana King’s contribution to hiplife, Okyeame Kwame said he built on the foundation laid by Zap Mallet and Reggie Rockstone, while helping to nurture the next generation of musicians.
“He came to continue what Zap and the others were doing, but beyond producing Akyeame and other artistes, he also brought in new artistes like Samini and Gogome, now known as Mugeez of R2Bees, and a lot of others,” he said.
PAT/EB
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