Entertainment of 2026-09-22
'I would rather credit two people' – Okyeame Kwame on hiplife origins
Ghanaian rapper Okyeame Kwame has weighed in on the origins of hiplife music.
Speaking in an interview on Adom TV on September 21, 2026, the musician said two individuals played particularly important roles in the creation and popularisation of the genre.
“I think it would be completely wrong to credit hiplife to Oseikrom. I would rather credit it to two key people: Zapp Mallet for creating the sound and Reggie Rockstone for making the lifestyle and the sound popular,” he stated.
According to Okyeame Kwame, Zapp Mallet and Reggie Rockstone should be recognised as the two major pillars of hiplife.
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“These are the two pillars of hiplife music,” he added.
Reflecting on the early days of hiplife and Reggie Rockstone’s influence, Okyeame Kwame recalled the rapper’s distinctive fashion and performance style.
“I remember when Reggie would wear his camo jeans with his Timberlands and socks and white singlet with his dreadlocks, screaming ‘tsoooboi’. It was a beautiful experience,” he recalled.
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