Dancehall artist Shatta Wale has said that he is capable of filing the biggest event grounds 02 Arena if he organizes his show.
The 02 Arena event grounds are one of the biggest event grounds in the United Kingdom. Artists like Burna Boy and Wizkid have organized shows there on several occasions and have filled up the arena.
However, some people are of the opinion that Shatta Wale cannot fill up the arena like his fellow colleagues in the music industry have done. Shatta Wale in an interview with Dennis Tawaiah has debunked the claims he cannot fill 02 Arena.
During the interview on Personality Profile on Joy M, the SM boss stated that no other Ghanaian artist can sell out the 02 Arena’s 20,000 space except him.
“Which Ghanaian artist on record as we speak has even sold 5,000 capacity venue in the UK? he quizzed the artist.
However, Shatta Wale stated that he believes he can sell out the 02 Arena 20,000 space. The host however chipped in saying a person can only achieve that aim when the publicity is high and not when they do a “one-man show”.
“It is teamwork…It is a company that is working so if Dennis, Alodia, and all those people cannot get themselves attached to those companies to work then these are the words that will come out of his mouth because me, Shatta Wale I believe if I get a Live Nation behind me I can sell O2 [hands down].”
He noted that such words bring down the Ghanaian music industry.
The Dancehall Artiste stressed that Black Sherif could even fill up O2 Arena.
“If you like let’s mark it. Let Empire say they will put up a show for Black Sherif in O2 Arena right now, the boy is going to fill 20,000 or even 30,000.”
Sarkodie has applauded the exploits of Black Sherif and the huge impact he’s making in the music industry since his emergence into the mainstream just a few years ago.
Obidi further said Black Sherif’s song is ‘blazing’ everywhere in South Africa when he visited the country recently to shoot a music video for one of his songs on his forthcoming studio album, Jamz.
The revered rapper shared this compliment when he joined some distinguished personalities and industry players at the private cocktail party Black Sherif and his team put together to celebrate the successful release of his debut album, ‘The Villian I Never Was’.
In his words, almost every top nightclub in the country rotates Sherif’s songs heavily and he said he felt proud that Blacko was doing wonders as a Ghanaian in a different domain.
Eventually, he advised the fast-rising HipHop act to keep the momentum because he believes his present prowess is just the tip of the iceberg.
A strictly by-invitation private cocktail reception and dinner in honour of Black Sherif held at Brasa Restaurant, Accra, Sunday, was graced by some eminent personalities including politicians and businessmen who seem to have become fans of the musician.
They included Dr. Sir Sam Jonah (President of AngloGold Ashanti, Executive Chairman of Jonah Capital Equity Fund and the Chancellor of the University of Cape Coast), Ibrahim Mahama (founder of Engineers and Planners), and Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko (renowned lawyer and leading member of the New Patriotic Party).
Representing the showbiz fraternity were Sarkodie, D Black, Kwabena Kwabena, Andy Dosty, Abrantepa, Hajia Buintu and a host of others.
Blacko has undoubtedly enjoyed a wide audience appeal and has certainly had his popularity rise to a crescendo following the release of his maiden album ‘The Villain I Never Was’.
Aside from hitting the hundred-million-mark on streaming platform Boomplay, the songs on the album have garnered considerable views on other digital music platforms while the album entered the Top Albums Debut UK chart, placing tenth barely days after its release.
“It took me everything to give life to this body. The one thing in my life that I gave everything up for.
There is life in this body, I hope it treats you good and speaks to you like I want it to,” Blacko said about his album released on October 6, 2022.
Sam Jonah, Gabby, Ibrahim Mahama and all the big men who attended Black Sherif’s dinner
Shatta Wale has admitted the heat emanating from industry players and pundits who constantly pitched him against other artists, particularly Black Sherif inspired his hit song, On God.
On Showbiz 360, the SM boss told Giovani Caleb that if he didn’t act, his opponents would win.
In order to save his face and disprove his critics, Shatta Wale says he challenged God. After saying a brief prayer, the song “On God,” which has been popular since its release, was gifted to him by God.
Shatta Wale said, “As I was in America, people were comparing me to a whole lot of people and stuff like that. For instance, when Black Sherif just dropped his single, everybody started saying a whole lot of things. So I was like, God, you can’t let these people get us like that. Let’s do something.”
Speaking about the recording procedure, Shatta Wale revealed that the entire song took 45 minutes to record.
He said Jupiter encouraged him to release it and even assisted with the video shoot.
“So I performed the rhythms and recorded everything in around 45 minutes. I then went to bed. It was then despatched to Jupiter.
Fast-rising Ghanaian musician and BET award nominee, Black Sherif, known in real life as Mohammed Ismail Sharrif has said he fears nobody in the music industry because no one can sabotage him.
According to the award-winning artist and “Kwaku the Traveller” hit maker he has not wronged anyone that would allow himself to be sabotaged by other people.
He is also of the view that even if people try to sabotage him, their evil works won’t get to him.
“Nobody go feel sabotage me. Naaa, I don’t believe somebody go feel sabotage me. I don’t believe, I don’t believe that, they go feel do but it won’t get to me because I no wrong nobody,” Black Sherif told DJ Reuben in an interview on LUV FM in Kumasi monitored by MyNewsGH.com.
Black Sherif after gaining fame last year with his song “Second Sermon” has been consistent with his craft.
His recent music titled “SOJA” is wonderfully received much attention from all over the world topping various music chat both online and mainstream media.
One of the most successful Gospel musicians Sonnie Badu has recently described Black Sherif as “Bob Marley of our time.”
Mohammed Ismail Sharrif, better known as Black Sherif, has disclosed that back in Senior High School, he used to play beat for his friends during musical battles on a wooden desk.
In his second year at the Kumasi Academy Senior High School, he developed a love for music after some friends encouraged him to sing after hearing the songs he had written.
Speaking on BBC’s ‘This Is Africa’ podcast he mentioned that he knew from the onset that music was his breakthrough.
“It was in year two in High School. We used to do this rap competition at evening preps with the boys. I used to play the beat for them on the desk. They will be rapping, dissing each other…so one time, I dropped like four lines. They told me that this is hard and right from there, I knew something could happen,” he said.
The 20-year-old rapper released his maiden album ‘The Villain I Never Was’ on October 6.
Already, the album has topped charts in Ghana and performed better on global charts. It debuted on UK’s Top 10 album, according to Spotify Chart.
The award-winning rapper explained that his stage name Black Sherif means ‘Nobel African’.
“Black Sherif is my stage name, more like a nickname. I got it in High School. My real name is Mohammed Ismail Sharrif, when I realized that I wanted to go with music, I needed a stage name, something heavy but I didn’t want to switch my whole name. Sherif is Nobel and Black is my identity. So, Nobel African.”
He added: “I am Kwaku Frimpong, that is my spirit name because I am a Wednesday born and I am an Asante, my father is an Asante.”
Fast-rising Ghanaian musician and BET award nominee, Black Sherif, known in real life as Mohammed Ismail Sharrif has said he fears nobody in the music industry because no one can sabotage him.
According to the award-winning artist and “Kwaku the Traveller” hit maker he has not wronged anyone that would allow himself to be sabotaged by other people.
He is also of the view that even if people try to sabotage him, their evil works won’t get to him.
“Nobody go feel sabotage me. Naaa, I don’t believe somebody go feel sabotage me. I don’t believe, I don’t believe that, they go feel do but it won’t get to me because I no wrong nobody,” Black Sherif told DJ Reuben in an interview on LUV FM in Kumasi.
Black Sherif after gaining fame last year with his song “Second Sermon” has been consistent with his craft.
His recent music titled “SOJA” is wonderfully received much attention from all over the world topping various music chat both online and mainstream media.
One of the most successful Gospel musicians Sonnie Badu has recently described Black Sherif as “Bob Marley of our time.”
Ghanaian rapper, singer and songwriter Black Sherif is one of the fastest rising stars in African music.
At the age of just 20, he already has several awards under his belt. He’s just released his debut album The Villain I Never Was.
Born Mohammed Ismail Sharrif in Konongo in the Ashanti region, he started making music in high school putting out freestyles recorded on his friend’s smartphone.
Quote Message: When I realised I wanted to go with music, I needed a stage name, and something heavy. But I didn’t want to switch my whole name, so I needed the Sherif, because Sharrif is my name.”
When I realised I wanted to go with music, I needed a stage name, and something heavy. But I didn’t want to switch my whole name, so I needed the Sherif, because Sharrif is my name.”
He explains that the name means noble and that black is his identity – so together Black Sherif means a noble African.
He got people’s attention with the first of his “Sermon” freestyles.
When he followed First Sermon up with the street anthem Second Sermon, he went mainstream and then remixed it featuring Nigerian star Burna Boy.
Earlier this year, his single Kwaku the Traveller reached number one on the Ghanaian and Nigerian Apple Music charts. By August it was the most Shazamed song in the world across genres.
His latest single is Soja.
“I am soldier, you are soldier,” he explains. “Everyone is a soldier in this world, because we all have different battles we are fighting. I sacrifice, you sacrifice, everyone sacrifices.”
In the song he talks about his fears and insecurities in a very open way.
Quote Message: If we hop on the streets you will see the kids that are running to me right now. There are kids listening to me, and I don’t want them to know I’m perfect. I’m not perfect. I have fears. I have anxiety. I want them to know that I’m a person.”
If we hop on the streets you will see the kids that are running to me right now. There are kids listening to me, and I don’t want them to know I’m perfect. I’m not perfect. I have fears. I have anxiety. I want them to know that I’m a person.”
When asked about his main source of inspiration his answer is surprising:
Quote Message: It’s my pain. I have lots of pains in my heart, mostly from things I’ve seen. There’s pain on the streets. There’s pain in the air. I do have doubts in so many things about what I do. Life has happened to me. People have disappointed me. Music is my safe haven.”
It’s my pain. I have lots of pains in my heart, mostly from things I’ve seen. There’s pain on the streets. There’s pain in the air. I do have doubts in so many things about what I do. Life has happened to me. People have disappointed me. Music is my safe haven.”
Black Sherif says his main musical influences come from the Highlife music his mother used to play. Then at the age of eight his father turned him on to reggae.
“That was the first time living with my Dad. When I was growing up my Dad was living in Greece. I love reggae so much because you know what elements come with reggae; consciousness, it’s raw, it’s real. And Highlife is melodious, soulful. That’s my main sound inspiration.”
He says he loves all his songs on the album, but he singles out O Paradise, a moving track inspired by his first girlfriend who sadly passed away. He’s certainly not afraid to wear his heart on his sleeve.
He says the main message on the album is one of perseverance.
“It’s inspirational, motivational. It’s about self realisation. Listen. It will speak to you.”
Ghanaian rapper, singer, and songwriter Black Sherif is one of the fastest-rising stars in African music.
At the age of just 20, he already has several awards under his belt. He’s just released his debut album The Villain I Never Was.
Born Mohammed Ismail Sharrif in Konongo in the Ashanti region, he started making music in high school putting out freestyles recorded on his friend’s smartphone.
Quote Message: When I realised I wanted to go with music, I needed a stage name, and something heavy. But I didn’t want to switch my whole name, so I needed the Sherif, because Sharrif is my name.”
When I realised I wanted to go with music, I needed a stage name, and something heavy. But I didn’t want to switch my whole name, so I needed the Sherif, because Sharrif is my name.”
He explains that the name means noble and that black is his identity – so together Black Sherif means a noble African.
He got people’s attention with the first of his “Sermon” freestyles.
When he followed First Sermon up with the street anthem Second Sermon, he went mainstream and then remixed it featuring Nigerian star Burna Boy.
Earlier this year, his single Kwaku the Traveller reached number one on the Ghanaian and Nigerian Apple Music charts. By August it was the most Shazamed song in the world across genres.
His latest single is Soja.
“I am soldier, you are soldier,” he explains. “Everyone is a soldier in this world because we all have different battles we are fighting. I sacrifice, you sacrifice, everyone sacrifices.”
In the song he talks about his fears and insecurities in a very open way.
Quote Message: If we hop on the streets you will see the kids that are running to me right now. There are kids listening to me, and I don’t want them to know I’m perfect. I’m not perfect. I have fears. I have anxiety. I want them to know that I’m a person.”
If we hop on the streets you will see the kids that are running to me right now. There are kids listening to me, and I don’t want them to know I’m perfect. I’m not perfect. I have fears. I have anxiety. I want them to know that I’m a person.”
When asked about his main source of inspiration his answer is surprising:
Quote Message: It’s my pain. I have lots of pains in my heart, mostly from things I’ve seen. There’s pain on the streets. There’s pain in the air. I do have doubts in so many things about what I do. Life has happened to me. People have disappointed me. Music is my safe haven.”
It’s my pain. I have lots of pains in my heart, mostly from things I’ve seen. There’s pain on the streets. There’s pain in the air. I do have doubts in so many things about what I do. Life has happened to me. People have disappointed me. Music is my safe haven.”
Black Sherif says his main musical influences come from the Highlife music his mother used to play. Then at the age of eight, his father turned him on to reggae.
“That was the first time living with my Dad. When I was growing up my Dad was living in Greece. I love reggae so much because you know what elements come with reggae; consciousness, it’s raw, it’s real. And Highlife is melodious and soulful. That’s my main sound inspiration.”
He says he loves all his songs on the album, but he singles out O Paradise, a moving track inspired by his first girlfriend who sadly passed away. He’s certainly not afraid to wear his heart on his sleeve.
He says the main message on the album is one of perseverance.
“It’s inspirational, motivational. It’s about self-realisation. Listen. It will speak to you.”
Ghanaian rapper, singer and songwriter Black Sherif is one of the fastest-rising stars in African music.
At the age of just 20, he already has several awards under his belt. He’s just released his debut album The Villain I Never Was.
Born Mohammed Ismail Sharrif in Konongo in the Ashanti region, he started making music in high school putting out freestyles recorded on his friend’s smartphone.
Quote Message: When I realised I wanted to go with music, I needed a stage name, and something heavy. But I didn’t want to switch my whole name, so I needed the Sherif, because Sharrif is my name.”
When I realised I wanted to go with music, I needed a stage name, and something heavy. But I didn’t want to switch my whole name, so I needed the Sherif, because Sharrif is my name.”
He explains that the name means noble and that black is his identity – so together Black Sherif means a noble African.
He got people’s attention with the first of his “Sermon” freestyles.
When he followed First Sermon up with the street anthem Second Sermon, he went mainstream and then remixed it featuring Nigerian star Burna Boy.
Earlier this year, his single Kwaku the Traveller reached number one on the Ghanaian and Nigerian Apple Music charts. By August it was the most Shazamed song in the world across genres.
His latest single is Soja.
“I am soldier, you are soldier,” he explains. “Everyone is a soldier in this world because we all have different battles we are fighting. I sacrifice, you sacrifice, everyone sacrifices.”
In the song, he talks about his fears and insecurities in a very open way.
Quote Message: If we hop on the streets you will see the kids that are running to me right now. There are kids listening to me, and I don’t want them to know I’m perfect. I’m not perfect. I have fears. I have anxiety. I want them to know that I’m a person.”
If we hop on the streets you will see the kids that are running to me right now. There are kids listening to me, and I don’t want them to know I’m perfect. I’m not perfect. I have fears. I have anxiety. I want them to know that I’m a person.”
When asked about his main source of inspiration his answer is surprising:
Quote Message: It’s my pain. I have lots of pains in my heart, mostly from things I’ve seen. There’s pain on the streets. There’s a pain in the air. I do have doubts about so many things about what I do. Life has happened to me. People have disappointed me. Music is my safe haven.”
It’s my pain. I have lots of pains in my heart, mostly from things I’ve seen. There’s pain on the streets. There’s a pain in the air. I do have doubts about so many things about what I do. Life has happened to me. People have disappointed me. Music is my safe haven.”
Black Sherif says his main musical influences come from the Highlife music his mother used to play. Then at the age of eight, his father turned him on to reggae.
“That was the first time living with my Dad. When I was growing up my Dad was living in Greece. I love reggae so much because you know what elements come with reggae; consciousness, it’s raw, it’s real. And Highlife is melodious and soulful. That’s my main sound inspiration.”
He says he loves all his songs on the album, but he singles out O Paradise, a moving track inspired by his first girlfriend who sadly passed away. He’s certainly not afraid to wear his heart on his sleeve.
He says the main message on the album is one of perseverance.
“It’s inspirational, motivational. It’s about self-realisation. Listen. It will speak to you.”
Filling up the O2 Arena in London is a huge feat, and Dennis Tawiah has contended that no Ghanaian artiste can, presently, reach this milestone.
Lexis Bill asked him on Personality Profile on Joy FM, Thursday evening, “do you think any Ghanaian artiste can sell out the O2 Arena’s 20,000 space?” The CEO of Akwaaba UK Group kept it simple, “at present, No!”
“Which Ghanaian artiste, on record, as we speak, has even sold a 5,000 capacity venue in the UK?” he wondered. The closest, he recalls, is Reggie Rockstone or Sarkodie who might have drawn about 4,000 audiences to their shows some years ago.
Dennis is an experienced UK-based event organizer, with a rich record of hosting some of the biggest African entertainment shows in his territory. He further revealed that the biggest crowd a Ghanaian event has ever registered was at the O2 Academy, Brixton, with more than 4,000 music lovers in attendance. “That was Lumba, Kojo Antwi and Amakye Dede, altogether, in 1994”, he quickly underscored.
In an attempt to defend his assertion, Dennis Tawiah explained that music must be appealing to people from all walks of life in a particular radius, in order to attract huge numbers to a show of 20,000 capacity.
The experienced event organizer, however, believes that Ghana’s biggest shot at filling the O2 Arena in London, currently, could possibly result from assembling some of the biggest names in our music space for a night of thrills. If Sarkodie, Stonebwoy, Samini, Shatta Wale, Kidi, Kuami Eugene and Black Sherif headline a concert, “we can try” to fill up the O2, Dennis believes, adding that, “it’s going to be difficult”.
“Now we’ve got Black Sherif. There’s a lot of pressure on him to make it but it shouldn’t be only Blacko. There should be other artistes joining him, making sure we get that global attention”, he advised. Dennis believes everything is possible, however, Ghanaian artistes need to build a united front in order to reach milestones of single-handedly selling out huge arenas.
Dennis Tawiah recently picked up the Diasporan Award at the 7th EMY Africa Awards, held in Accra and powered by Joy Entertainment. He is mostly celebrated for his relentless efforts in promoting the African culture in the diaspora through entertainment. His company, The Akwaaba Group, has been the force behind Miss Ghana-UK, Ghana Independence celebrations as well as Party in the Park in the United Kingdom.
Entertainment pundit and former manager of Shatta Wale, Bullgod, says he will always love the dancehall artist.
Speaking in an interview with Prince Tsegah on U Say Weytin, Bullgod claims that despite his mild dispute with the award-winning musician, he still has a love for him.
According to Bullgod, his recent outburst on social media is mainly direct him to take the right path in the industry.
“My love for Nii Amarh will never down. I don’t harbour things. My love for him will never die and that is why I am still on his case.”
Bullgod revealed that though his relationship with Shatta Wale is not as cool as it was previously, he is ready to go public with some of the things he would have said to him privately.
“My love for him will never die and that is why I am still on his case. If I don’t get close to him to tell him what I have to say privately, he will hear from me every day from now publicly,” he said on Hitz FM.
It is no secret that the two have not been on good terms following their separation a few years ago.
His statement did not sit well with Shatta Wale’s fans who expressed their displeasure on social media.
Shatta Wale also took to social media to write what many call a subtle response to his former manager and friend. In the post, he said: “If Blacko’s album will do better than us, we like and we hear. At the end of the day, Ghana wins. Foolish people.
“All be money matter. You should find something to do and stop that nonsense. Make money in your way.”
Shatta Wale is readying to drop his Gift of God album this month.
Sensational Ghanaian musician Black Sherif has said that receiving awards is just a bonus to the work done but the art bodies are the most important.
Born Mohammed Ismail well known as Black Sherif has spoken about his feelings regarding the BET nominations he got recently.
During an interview with DJ Reuben of Luv 99.5 FM, Black Sherif stated that the work that goes into the projects is more important than the applause, hence he has channeled his energy to the work and not awards.
According to the ‘Soja’ hitmaker, the awards and accolades that come after the art bodies are produced are just to motivate artists to do more.
“The art bodies are always bigger than the awards because it’s the art bodies that attract the awards. Awards are just bonuses, it’s the art bodies that will attract the awards so basically the body is heavier than the awards”, he said.
Black Sherif disclosed that he does not believe that his BET nomination came too early despite being in the music industry for just a few years. According to him, he has always been ready for anything that comes his way.
“I won’t say my BET nomination came too early. I’ve been ready for anything and whatever. I can’t let anything slide and even when I’m not prepared I know how to tackle things”, he added.
Some fans got a sneak peek of what to expect as far as visuals of Black Sherif’s new album is concerned.
The breakout star on October 6, released ‘The Villain I Never Was’, his debut album since hitting the limelight.
The 20-year-old has been lauded for the 14-track project which had no features except for his already released Second Sermon Remix which had mentor and collaborator, Burna Boy on it.
On Wednesday evening, the Road Boys Association (RBA) convened a section of fans and music enthusiasts at East Legon in Accra for an exclusive screening of the first video off the newly released project.
‘45’, the third song on the Konongo-born star’s album was is the first song [aside from Second Sermon Remix] to have a video ready.
The event was preceded by Blacko providing insight into the rationale behind some of the songs on the project coupled with answers to questions from the audience.
After this, the video was premiered to the elation of viewers.
The blockbuster video saw a sinister Blacko from a rehab centre, leading a bank heist where his gang held hostages with firearms in hand.
He is accosted in the end by the police, a subsequent explosion of his vehicle and but surprisingly re-emerges from the blazing vehicle.
Black Sherif has taken over Audiomack’s top 5 most streamed new songs with his ‘Villain I Never Was’ album.
Konongo Zongo, The Homeless Song, Oil in my Head, Oh Paradise and 45 rounded up the top 5 and probably made him the first artist from Ghana to do so.
Black Sherif recently dropped his much anticipated maiden album to the delight of his fans.
Announcing the album to his teeming fans on Twitter, Sherif wrote, “It took me everything to give life to this body. The one thing in my life that I gave everything up for.
There is life in this body, I hope it treats you good and speaks to you like I want it to. My debut album is “The Villain I Never Was”. Available on all stores on 06-10-2022.”
‘The Villian I Never Was’ is a 14-track album that has only one feature; Burna Boy.
The album has tracks including, ‘The Homeless Song’, ‘Oil In My Head’, ’45’, ‘Prey Da Youngsta’, ‘Sad Boys Don’t Fold’, ‘Konongo Zongo’, ‘Waste Man’, ‘We Up’, ‘Toxic Love City’, ‘Don’t Forget Me’, and ‘Oh Paradise
Audiomack is a youth-driven, artist-first music streaming platform that allows creators to share unlimited music and podcast content for free.
Ghanaian Highlife musician Black Sherif has landed another international nomination.
Days after he lost the 2022 BET Best International Flow award to France-based Hiphop artiste Benjamin Epps, the Ghanaian singer and rapper has been named a nominee for the 2022 MTV Europe Music Awards (MTV EMA).
Kwaku Killa, as is his nickname, has been nominated for the Best African Act award.
The category has keen competition from the likes of Ayra Starr, Burna Boy and Tems.
On Thursday, October 6, 2022, Sherif released his debut album of 14 tracks. It is called ‘The Villain I Never Was’ and has proven to be a formidable chart-topper since release.
Black Sherif believes his music career has a firm and solid foundation that is unshakable, unmovable, and indestructible.
According to the 20-year-old, he has no doubt about the sustainability and longevity of his career.
Speaking on the back of potential attacks and works of sabotage against his rise, Black Sherif intimated that “no weapon formed against his career shall prosper.”
The Kwaku the Traveller hitmaker did admit that there would be people who would rise against him and seek to bring him down, but that it would not work.
He stated that he had wronged anyone who wished to harm him.
He opined that as long as he has a clean heart, he absolutely believes that no amount of naysaying, evil machinations or adversary attacks on his person and career will succeed.
“Nobody can sabotage me. They can try, but I don’t believe it will happen to me because I haven’t wronged anyone.”
According to him, Black Sherif’s music style does not fall into the regular genre of music available although he takes inspiration from some of them including Highlife.
Speaking on Daybreak Hitz on Hitz FM, Reggie Rockstone said “His sound is so unique. There is nothing out there that sounds like that, nothing, and I listen to music far and wide.”
He added that “the closer people have traced him to sometimes is Okomfour Kwadee and then his highlife roots which he recently spoke on. I am very proud of that. He went right back to the roots of Highlife.”
Reggie Rockstone noted that it is however not by force for the young musician to create a name for his music, especially following the comments by Black Sherif, in an interview, that the youth do not place emphasis on music genres anymore.
“They just wanna listen to music, which is something I didn’t know. Now, I know this because I and my children had an argument in the car and asked if they listen to hiplife. They said no, whatever sounds good is what they listen to, so times change,” he added.
This comes on the back of Black Sherif’s new album ‘The Villain I Never Was’. His debut album has received great reviews from fans and music lovers.
Speaking on Luv FM on Wednesday, he disclosed that throughout his life, he has been consistently perceived as a bad person, even when he had done no wrong.
According to him, this narrative became widespread and soon he also started seeing himself that way.
The ‘Second Sermon’ hitmaker said these circumstances influenced his decision to name his debut album ‘The Villain I Never Was’.
“For some time, I thought I was the bad guy and people thought I was the bad guy, but sitting and being at peace with my soul I realised I am not the bad person in my story and other people’s stories. Mostly, I don’t even care about what people say. I need to have peace with myself.
What someone thinks about me I can’t do anything about it, but I can control how I feel about myself”, he told DJ Reuben, host of DriveTime on Luv.
Explaining the motivation behind the name of the album, he further indicated that, it took him over a year to arrive at the said decision.
“I really do not care about external battles, so I love to blame myself a lot. Whatever happens, I blame myself, because if I blame somebody, how do I then settle it? I don’t know what they are thinking, but if I blame myself, I know I have to make peace with myself and keep going”, he added.
The rapper further described his new album as his autobiography, noting that he used the album to chronicle some salient events in his life.
“There are songs that didn’t make it here. I have been working, recording a bunch of songs, dropping them trying to find out what I really want for this debut album.
I wasn’t just trying to get an album because I have to drop an album. So, I needed to mark my memories, talk about my life and make this album my autobiography”, he concluded.
Ghanaian singer-songwriter Mohammed Ismail Sharrif, alias Black Sherif, has revealed how the widely acclaimed 2022 3Music Awards performance of his ‘Kwaku the Traveller’ song was planned.
About seven months after the event, he has shared the details for the very first time with media personality Ebenezer Donkoh, alias NYDJ.
During the awards night in March, while the rapper and singer performed the unknown song live on stage for the very first time, what appeared to be rain or a waterfall started to pour on him alone in the Grand Arena of the Accra International Conference Centre (AICC).
“I had the song already and Mr Sadiq [then-3Music Network CEO) reached out that, ‘Yo! I have this idea for a performance’. He visualised it to me [and said] ‘This is how I want it to go’, and I told him I have the perfect song for this,” he disclosed.
Sadiq did not know the song prior, “No, he just shared the idea with me,” the Ghanaian rapper explained.
He said he told Sadiq “I have this song I’m dropping sometime next two or three weeks so I think it will be better for [this performance],” and when he eventually played the song for the media executive, “He was like, ‘Yo! This is it! A hundred per cent.”
According to Sherif, he sent the song to Sadiq whose team then started work on a live rendition.
While all this happened, Kwaku Killa, as is his nickname, was in Lagos, Nigeria.
He said, when he arrived in Ghana he started doing his rehearsals.
Recalling the actual performance, the Konongo native assessed it thus: “That performance went nuts, bro. Crazy!”
He stated he anticipated the effect the performance had on the song’s success also.
“I won’t lie. I did,” he said noting it far exceeded his expectations, however, and “that’s why I don’t like to set limits or expectations for myself because I don’t want my mind to be blown too much.”
“I knew if this water falls on stage, if I perform this [song] live, while nobody’s heard it before, with the kick [and live instrumentation], it would be spectacular. I just knew it,” Black Sherif commented on the aesthetics of the historical moment.
“The only thing was, it actually went beyond spectacular. People loved it,” he excitedly added.
waku Killa also spoke on the writing process for ‘Kwaku the Traveller’.
“I love to write from a raw place, real place to make the song mean something to me so that when it goes out, everyone that listens to it, it means something to them. That’s what I do every time,” he said.
On promoting the megahit, he commented: “It’s God and schemes.”
“It’s scheme at the backend and God that led to its success. It’s like the time was just right when everything came together,” he added.
The thirteenth song on his 14-track debut album called ‘The Villain I Never Was’, ‘Kwaku the Traveller’ prompted frenzied social media challenges including people performing it under pouring water and repeating a line in the song that evokes the famed Biblical text: “Let he who is without sin be the first to cast the stone.”
The man of the moment, rapper Black Sherif has disclosed that his maiden album ‘The Villain I Never Was’ is actually an autobiography.
Blacko has explained that none of the songs on his 14-track album was based on fiction but rather careful pieced together events from his life on earth.
The 20-year-old rapper in an interview with Ebenezer Donkor on YFM in Kumasi reiterated that all his songs have a unique inspiration behind them and also a message to the world.
“I have seen a lot, whatever is on my album that you listen to it, I have seen it. That is why I go into detail, it is not fictional. This is my autobiography, the album. That is me from one to the last song,” he noted.
The award-winning rapper has broken a number of records with his monster hit songs. He is currently one of Ghana’s most successful musicians to have broken into the Nigerian market with his tunes.
Grammy award-winning Nigerian act, Burna Boy 2021 featured on the remix of ‘Second Sermon’.
“I am on a journey with the music I do, I am kind of marking memories, telling my stories and the journey as I keep going. Any aspect of my life, my love life, this and that, my hustle and how I motivate myself. I just put them down and share them with the world,” Black Sherif added.
Meanwhile, ‘The Villain I Never Was’ released on October 6, 2022, has debuted in UK’s top ten albums according to Spotify Charts.
Ghanaian music star Black Sherif has revealed his debut album The Villain I Never Was is an autobiography.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with NY DJ on Y102.5FM, the award-winning musician revealed the album chronicles a series of memorable moments in his life and are not fictional.
“I write from a deeper, raw and real place. I don’t like to filter stories or emotions. I put everything in there. That’s how I want to see art. I feel like I’m on a journey and with the music I do, I’m kinda marking memories and telling my story as I keep going,” he said.
With so much to tell at age 20, the 2022 BET Hip Hop Awards nominee tells NY DJ the album evokes every passion because it conveys his struggles even at a young age.
“At age 20, I’ve seen a lot. Whatever you listen to on my album and could think about, I’ve seen it in real life. That’s why I go detailed about it. This is not fictional. This is my autobiography. The album is my autobiography. That’s me from 1 to the last song…” Black Sherif said.
On Thursday, October 6, 2022, Black Sherif released a 14-track album, The Villain I Never Was.
The album which had only one feature with Burna Boy has since garnered over 100 million streams across various digital platforms.
Watch the exclusive interview below as he breaks down various songs on the album.
Black Sherif has described his music style in an interview he granted to Kumasi-based YFM’s Ebenezer Donkoh, alias NYDJ.
Since his introduction to the mainstream music scene, a section of the public has been wondering what genre of music Black Sherif does.
When NYDJ engaged the artiste nicknamed Blacko on the subject, he reflected and first argued: “Our generation doesn’t really care about genres like that.”
To the 20-year-old rapper, the music simply “has to make sense.”
“But I, Sherif, myself,” he touched his chest with both hands to emphasise before revealing: “My bedrock is Highlife.”
“So every beat I hear, I try to be my Highlife self, and tap into my childhood reggae [and make the music],” the EMPIRE signee elaborated on his creative process.
“[I] simply [seek to] make sense on the beat,” the ‘Kwaku the Traveller’ hitmaker added.
“With what influenced me, my sound and everything, it was real sounds, conscious things,” he explained his artistic posture and recalled some of his earliest memories of music as a child.
“My mom is a big fan of Highlife, and when I saw my dad for the first time, the first thing he put me on was reggae,” Blacko revealed and further said: “I’ve been singing reggae tunes from like 9 years old.”
“9 years old in Class 4, I was singing ‘Jah shall clean out the bad weeds’,” Black Sherif sang Don Carlos’ 1982 classic ‘Harvest Time’ a cappella and noted “That song has been my favourite” since time immemorial “and I still sing [it] every morning.”
According to the sensational singer-songwriter who has amassed fans, local and international, in record time, his childhood memories of music are what he relies on to create.
He added he does music to fend for himself, his family and friends.
“I tap into that place in myself because I feel like everything I saw, or every sound or imagination I had about sound when I was a kid is still in me, so I just need to tap that real, raw source and add my message, my life, my perspectives about things and put it on my art, give it outside, make it mean something to people, feed myself, my family, my mandem and we all,” Blacko chuckled.
“I love to write from a raw place, real place to make the song mean something to me so that when it goes out, everyone that listens to it, it means something to them. That’s what I do every time,” he also noted during the interview.
In a recent interview on Accra 100.5 FM, the Hiplife pioneer Reggie Rockstone put forth that Sherif has “in fact started a new sound” and advised that he names it.
“When you finally do it [name your music style], give the evidence so 30 years later, after your hard work, no one will come and claim you are not the originator. Have you heard?” the Hiplife legend added with concern.
On Thursday, October 6, 2022, Black Sherif released his debut 14-track album called ‘The Villain I Never Was’.
On Monday, October 10, 2022, he was made the ‘Youth Chief’ in Tamale, Northern Region, Ghana, by the Chiefs and people of the Tamale traditional area.
Some call it street fashion but to others, it is one of the rarest styles to ever debut the Ghanaian showbiz industry.
Ghanaian musician, Black Sherif, did not only become a sensation with his unique craft but also an unusual wardrobe that has got many fans talking.
The ‘Kweku the Traveler’ hitmaker has got a simple yet sophisticated sense of fashion which many have described as weird.
He often gives off ‘retro’ vibes as he is predominantly seen in a pair of bootcut jeans with either a pair of skinny long sleeves or a Tee-shirt to match.
Back Sherif’s thin stature does not inhibit him from effortlessly rocking skimpy outfits or sometimes buggy ones.
Blackois also a sucker for denims and he usually rocks the ripped ones in shorts, two-piece or full-length trousers.
He usually matches his outfits with a pair of boots or sneakers and accessorizes with durags, cowboy hats, black/silver belts, chains and so on.
In a video that has gone viral on social media, well-known Ghanaian artist Black Sherif is seen hanging out with legendary Nigerian singer Tiwa Savage.
The pair wowed folks with a beautiful rendition of the popular legwork dance they did. It is unclear where the two singers met, but they seemed to have a good bond as they laughed and smiled together.
Fans were pleased to see the adorable pair together and dropped heartwarming comments expressing their admiration for them. The video showed how strong a bond Ghanaian and Nigerian artists share.
Many folks were quick to highlight that and wished for more of such beautiful moments. Both stars looked fashionable in their designer apparel. Tiwawas in a beautiful long dress and a designer bag, while Black Sherif was in his trademark snapback cap, shorts, t-shirt, and sneakers.
Award-winning rapper, Amerado on Monday morning announced that he will not change the date for the release of his maiden album titled GINA despite several calls to postpone plans due to the ‘chocked’ system.
According to Amerado, some persons have urged him to cancel plans although he has communicated October 25 as the release date. They believe that projects from his colleagues will steal the shine from his maiden studio album.
Reacting to the calls in a post on Instagram, Amerado declared that there is no need to postpone his album adding that there is space for everyone to shine in the local industry.
He wrote: “Some say, “Change the date” and I say why can’t we all win? Yes my “God Is Never Asleep (GINA)”. E go over them.”
Efia Odo, a US-trained assistant nurse, socialite and actress, born Andrea Owusu has lashed out at some persons who accused her of betraying rapper and singer, Kwesi Arthur to follow Black Sherif.
Efia Odo and Kwesi Arthurhave over the years expressed their love for one another publicly.
The actress does not miss a chance to shout out Kwesi Arthur when the rapper achieves a new feat and makes it a point to constantly run advertisements for Kwesi Arthur anytime he releases a new song.
However, for some days now, Efia Odo has been observed promoting the works of fast-rising Ghanaian singer, Black Sherif.
This move by Efia Odo did not sit well with some netizens as they refer to her as a traitor for switching sides.
Reacting to the allegations levelled against her, Efia Odo described the person’s badmouthing her as having a faulty mentality.
Efia Odo believes that there is nothing wrong with supporting two solid artistes who are doing great for themselves.
“That’s the problem with y’all. There is something wrong with our mentality. Arguing and comparing as if 2 Kings can’t rule in their own kingdom. Black Sherif and Kwesi Arthur are both talented as Fuck, they just need our equal support. Use your energy for positive things or stfu,” Efia Odo said in a tweet on her official Twitter page.
Check out Efia Odo’s post
That’s the problem with y’all. There is something wrong with our mentality. Arguing and comparing as if 2 Kings can’t rule in their own kingdom. Black Sherif and Kwesi Arthur are both talented as Fuck, they just need our equal support. Use your energy for positive things or stfu
The running theme throughout was struggle and the basic instinct to survive in a harsh world. However, in a rather uncommon twist, Blacko gives us an in-depth glimpse into his love life, which really isn’t as rosy as you’d expect of a budding superstar.
In three tracks, one following the other, Blacko surgically analyses his first relationship; he explores issues of vulnerability and insecurity with his first love, sex, break-up and the death of a loved one.
To begin this journey through Blacko’s thorny love life, we start with Toxic Love City – Track 10.
Will you only be here for the higher days?
When the sweet times are over are you gonna stay?
Had to ask you early girl I know I’m late
He goes straight to the point, no dilly-dallying. It isn’t uncommon for one to ask oneself these questions when they start a new relationship, especially when it’s their first and they feel like their life is being upended by this barrage of new unfamiliar emotions. Clearly, at the point of asking these questions, he is long crippled in love and fears the worst.
In the next lines he voices his fears and his dependence on whatever assurances she can possibly give that she feels exactly the same way he feels about her, just for mental health reasons.
Comparing his doubts to death and in a rather manipulative way, he asks her to give him, at least, fake assurances to bring him back to life. This to me is classic gaslighting to get the girl to over-prove her love for you while you still deny she loves you; probably, a defense mechanism to make the lover look like the needy and clingy one when in reality you are.
But if you tell me something then I’ll be okay
It’s nice to have you but I can’t continue with these thoughts in my head
You can bring me back to life with just a word I need those fake assurances, e dey keep me very sane
As I had earlier stated, there’s struggle and the need for survival sprinkled throughout the album, and this song was also not spared. He talks about being an early bird, catching the worm.
I be up till the sunset and before the sunrise I’m already out hеre
I don’t spend too much time with thе bed
No one told that time was bread
I figured it myself
In the next lines, he shows a commitment to being a provider for his lover; food, shelter, and sex (what did you think he meant when he said “Watch your back and give you that D D when you want it”?) He makes it clear he wants nothing from her just her assurance, her commitment to him, and the way she complements him.
And I’m trynna make life easy for us
Watch your back and give you that D D when you want it
I’m not here to let you please me oh nah
Say a word it might complete me o
It might complete me oh
In the second verse, Blacko prods his insecurities about his vulnerability with his lover even more. He tells us he has mistakenly made his lover aware that she has him wrapped around her finger like a ring. Not surprising really, Blacko is currently the king of oversharing in Ghana’s entertainment industry and we love that for him and for our ear buds.
But then the thing with oversharers is that they’re very paranoid. You dare not make a joke about something that is remotely similar to a scenario they had shared with you or else they begin to think you’re probably mocking them.
And Blacko proves the point when he says;
I know I fucked up by letting you know the power you have over me
My mind’s been on a rollercoaster since
You started showing me your true colors
I’m not surprised I‘ve been here before
And trust me I don’t like how I heal
Then he goes on gaslighting and guilt tripping his lover into staying with him, lol, no be small micro aggressions. Because why is he making it look like he was forced into his situation with her? And why does he make it feel as if he has the most to lose by staying in the relationship?
So I go stay here yes I will stay here till whenever
I’ll stay and pay for the cost of my decisions
I will stay and get me roasted for my decisions
And if you’re not riding with me
I’ll be riding with me when it’s all said and done 2x
From the above, it’s quiet clear who exactly was living in whose toxic city. It surely wasn’t Blacko. Even if it was, it was one he built and plastered with his own insecurities and a pinch of narcissism.
I live deep down in your toxic love city
But I love it here cause I don’t know where to go even though you hurt me 2x
In the next installment of his trilogy of love, Blacko seemingly attempts to break up with his lover, but in classic narcissistic style. He says; Don’t forget me – Track 11
The lyrics of Don’t forget me can easily be mistaken for a death premonition. You know, like those musicians who predicted their own deaths in their music, example, Tupac Shakur. Because, why is Blacko talking about “Even when they get to take my life”? Who is going to take his life? Is he receiving death threats? Or he’s just being dramatic?
For the purpose of this article I choose that he’s being dramatic like he was in Toxic Love City. If you want to break up with a girl, break up with her in peace. Why does she need to be keeping sweet memories of you even long after? And why are you telling her you will come back?
And the interesting part about the song is that, he never actually breaks up with her, he’s planning to but he doesn’t yet do it. You know, like a Japanese death penalty, it will come like rapture. So he says;
Let’s make some memories girl
I don’t know when a man is gonna see you again
I don’t know when I’m leaving but it’s not too far from today
Let me be a favori before I leave so you don’t forget me
Come hold my hand look in my eyes and say to me something
The following verse, as if he’s now settled on really breaking up with her, suggests whatever is happening is merely temporal and that he’ll be back for more good times. He then throws in the eerie death premonition-like line and goes his merry way.
It’s time to say goodbye
But you know this is not the end
I’ll see you someday
You will be in my arms
Even when they get to take my life
Heaven is not far away
I’ll see you someday
We’ll have a good time
Then the final verse, as if to placate his lover, he decides she should rather do the leaving.
Watching me go
Might not be easy for you
But I need you to go
You and I know!
I’m not from this side
Ebi life carry me come here o
And I need to go back
I no fit stay here for long
There is a somewhat deep sense of sadness in Don’t forget me. It’s like an appetizer to the main sad course, Oh Paradise – Track 3, where Blacko recounts the death of his lover, broken promises and let’s his grief flow.
Oh Paradise is a song about his first love, Clementina Konadu (Tina) who had died following an outbreak of H1N1 infections in Kumasi Academy in 2017. She was the last of four who had died that year.
In an interview in 2021, the musician had described the experience as crazy.
“It’s crazy, that was the first time I cried about someone dying. I didn’t want to cry but the tears just flowed,” he said.
Blacko in Oh Paradise channels the average Ghanaian auntie’s audacity to reprimand the dead for dying (as If the dead intentionally wanted to die, lol). His very first line is a reprimand to Tina for dying suddenly;
What you do me you no try
You told me baby we outside
Afei de3n nti na wob3y3 me saa
Sore na ka biibi kyer3 me wae
The following lines describe the confusion and the somewhat oblivion the students of Kumasi Academy and their parents/guardians had been in concerning the disease outbreak. At the time, if you’d recall, there wasn’t much explanation about what was leading to the mass infections and at first there was no real sense of urgency to get to the root cause of what was happening. It was only three days after Tina’s death that it was confirmed by the Health Minister that the outbreak was H1N1.
Students were being rushed to hospitals, most returned, but a few didn’t. It thus comes as no surprise that Blacko says he had stayed up all night awaiting her text which never came.
3nn3 nyinaa me I dey online
Waiting for your text so i no fit high
Nka bor ma me mpo s3 goodbye
Ade3 nya nkyee y3 wama may3 style
Still channeling audacious Ghanaian auntie energy, he forgives her and wishes her well on her journey.
But I forgive you
Na kor aa woo kor yi
Nyame mfa wo kra nsie yie
You know say I got you
And stop crying gyae su yi
Sleep well my lover
I will be fine my lover
And my love for you’ll be forever
In the following verse he sort of justifies why Tina’s untimely death feels like he has been wronged. His hard won love stolen from him so suddenly.
Mabr3 mu abr3 mu akor nya me de
Wagya me hor kor s3 keteke
Ade3 no awura me akor me d33d3 mu
Nti me paa na Tina ay3 me seyie 2x
He then asks Tina to intercede on his behalf, to aid him from above as he charters the tempestuous seas of life.
You for tell me how it dey
For paradisé s3 wuduru aa kae s3 mewo fie
Bisa blessings for your man na meebr3 eh
From paradisé s3 wuduru aa kae s3 mewo fie 2x
But he doesn’t end there. His grief draws out memories, memories of broken promises, youthful exuberance and young love. He’s reminded of what he’s lost and would never regain.
Nti ayeforo dondo dondo
Dondo dondo
Dondo dondo yi amma so 2x
At an early age o
Na y3 susua paa
My first love my lover
Wagya mehor kor koraa ah ah
At an early age o
Na y3 susua paa
My first love my lover
Tina agya mehor kor oh
In conclusion, these three songs are a rollercoaster ride of emotions that paint a clear depiction of Black Sherif’s not-so-smooth, not-so-sweet love life. It’s really understandable why he’s a certified sad boy.
Ghanaian Dancehall Musician, Shatta Wale has responded to critics who believe his yet-to-be-released album titled “Gift of God” will not leave up to the expectations compared to the latest album of fellow musician Black Sherif.
He said he does not care if his album does not catch up with the trends Black Sherif’s debut album has reached as presumed by the public.
On Thursday, October 6, 2022, ‘Kwaku the Traveller’ hitmaker, Black Sherifreleased his debut album entitled “The villain I Never Was” and got the entire country talking.
Most music lovers have since commended him for his fast rise in the entertainment industry and the work he has done on the album.
Fast forward, former Artiste manager, of Shatta Wale, Lawrence Asiamah Hanson, popularly known as Bullgod, indicated Sarkodie and Shatta Wale’s upcoming albums cannot compete with Black Sherif’s.
Bullgod who commented in an interview with Doreen Avio on Daybreak Hitz, on Accra-based Hitz FM, opined that both Sarkodie and Shatta Wale are handicapped when it comes to reaching a wider audience, unlike Black Sherif.
“I woke up this morning and I was like wow; this month of October is a serious month because we have three of our artists releasing. Black Sherif just released his album.
“Sarkodie will be releasing his albums in a few days and Shatta wale will release. Now listen, from the top of my head I said Black Sherif will do better than all of them,” Bulldog said in the interview.
The reasons, he mentioned they are not signed unto any distribution companies like EMPIRE.
Reacting to the comment from his former manager and the growing critics from the many Ghanaians, the ‘On God’ crooner said such comparisons are needless.
According to Shatta Wale, should his fellow’s album do better than his, it projects Ghana’s name for good.
“Eeerrrhhh if Blacko’s album will do better than us kwraaa, we like and we hear… at the end of the day Ghana wins” and added that the music business they are all doing is about “money matter,” he posted on Facebook.
The firebrand musician further described those critics as “foolish people” and advised them to “find something to do” and make money in their own way” than engaging in what he said was “nonsense.”
Prophet Sonnie Baduhas seen the legendary Bob Marley in Black Sherif.
According to the vociferous Ghanaian Gospel minister, his thoughts tell him that the late Reggae superstar has come back to life to live in Ghana as Black Sherif. Sonnie Badu noted this whilst applauding Blacko for creating a masterpiece album.
On Thursday, October 6, 2022, raving Ghanaian act, Black Sherif, released his highly awaited debut studio album, “The Villian I Never Was”.
‘The Villian I Never Was’ album in less than 24 hours of its release surpassed 70 million views on streaming and audio discovery platform, Audiomack. ‘Oil In My Head ‘, ‘The Homeless Song ‘, ‘45‘and ‘Konongo Zongo‘ also debuted on Apple Music Top 100 Charts Ghana within 24 hours of release.
Commenting on the success of the album so far, Sonnie Badu took to social media to say that “I think this young man @blacksherif_ is BoB Marley incarnate living in Ghana. His song writting abilities are just incredible“.
He continued that “This new album solidifies the fact that – he will be one of the Giants of African music. And he will surely win some #Grammys for Ghana .. May God protect you from jealousy, envy, and premature termination as you walk in your giftings….”
Currently the debut body of work as has all 14 tracks from the album occupying a spot-on Apple Music Top 100 Charts Ghana.
Arguably the man of the moment, Ghanaian musician Mohammed Ismail Sherif, also known as Black Sherif, has revealed why his debut album is named ‘The Villain I Never Was’.
To Apple Music 1 radio station’s Dadaboy Ehiz and via FaceTime, he explained the title of the album captures the constant battle with the world and people around him, the battle within himself and the perception he and others hold of him as a result.
“We as individuals are all connected in some way, and some way somehow we are all fighting different battles – internal, external – and with me, everything I’ve learned or say are more like experiences, things I’ve seen or things I’ve seen people go through,” he said.
“With my life, I feel like [a mess], bro,” he revealed.
“I feel like I’m fighting myself, and I’m a human, I need to feel like that sometimes. It shouldn’t always be up up,” Sherif explained further.
“All of the times I’m the villain – in my story, in people’s story – everywhere I’m the villain, but when I sit and think about it I know “Nah bro, I don’t just wake up to be a villain,” he reasoned.
“I’m fighting for my life, I’m trying to make sense, I’m trying to be a better person so I really wasn’t the villain that people paint me to be or that myself is telling me. I’m not the villain,” the ‘Kwaku the Traveller’ hitmaker argued.
The RBA and EMPIRE artiste also spoke on why he avoided collaborations on the album.
On the 14-track album released yesterday, Thursday, 6 October, 2022, the only collaboration is the 11-month-old ‘Second Sermon’ featuring Nigeria’s Burna Boy.
“I really needed to know myself and explore everything in me before I can start sharing out for people to help me tell my story,” the rapper said.
“Music for me has always been very personal, like a safe haven for me to talk my insecurities, things I can’t say outside, so to get someone on a record with me, I just feel like they can’t help me tell my story” he clarified.
“That’s why I went real solo on the album – you know the ‘Second Sermon (Remix)’ with Burna was the only feature on this album. I want people to know my perspectives on life, to actually brief them on what I know, what I’ve seen, what I believe in and how I’m doing,” the artiste nicknamed Blacko added and made a promise: “But soon, collaborations are gonna come, trust me.”
Initially advertised as an extended play (EP), the rapper said this of the surprise long play (LP):
“First thing I’ll say, [the energy] is 100 [per cent] but I was more introspective on this album. I went deeper, I talked about my perspectives on love and things, my experiences. I talked about my external battles, my internal ones, how I cope and how I’m doing.”
According to him, the young musician securing a nomination in the revered award show barely two years into the industry is a win on its own.
Speaking to AdomOnline’s Dennis Adu, Reggie Rockstonesaid that “he didn’t lose, definitely not it. He won. Just being mentioned. How long has a man been in here? It hasn’t been a long time since he started music, but then he got a nomination in no time. He has won.”
The ‘Makaa Maka’ hitmaker added that Black Sherif’s nomination and consistent growth are even more impressive when people notice he is being himself and staying away from copying trends or joining the new Afrobeats craze.
“This person doesn’t play Afrobeat or Hip Hop, and you get his whole vibe. He really defines what I always tell everyone. You don’t need to follow trends. Everyone is doing Afrobeats, and he went the other way.
“It’s very hard right now not to be influenced by what is going on around you. That is why it’s difficult to tell the difference between Ghanaian musicians and Nigerian artistes. He is just like Kwaw Kese, he never changes his style,” he noted.
Reggie Rockstone said he is glad to be alive to witness some of these growths in the music industry.
Black Sherif was the only Ghanaian that was nominated for the 2022 BET Hip Hop award. He was nominated in the coveted Best International Flow category with stiff competition from UK’s Knucks, South Africa’s Blxckie, France’s Benjamin Epps and five others.
France’s Benjamin Epps took home the award.
Meanwhile, on Thursday, rapper Black Sherif released his much-anticipated debut album ‘The Villain I Never Was’.
Purposefully biographic, ‘The Villain I Never Was’ is about Black Sherif’s trials and tribulations.
“It took me everything to give life to this body,” the 20-year-old artiste said. “The one thing in my life that I gave everything up for. There is life in this body, I hope it treats you good and speaks to you like I want it to,” he earlier wrote in a social media post.
Appearing on Accra-based Hitz FM as a guest entertainment pundit, Ghanaian creative arts figure Bullgod has projected Black Sherif’s album, ‘The Villain I Never Was’, will perform better than that of Sarkodie and Shatta Wale’s.
“I woke up this morning and I was like, yo, this month of October is a serious month because we have three of our artistes releasing: Black Sheriff just released, Sarkodie will release in a few days, then Shatta will release,” he said.
“Now listen. Off the top of my head, I’ll say, Black Sherif will do better than all of them,” he projected.
“If you look at the numbers, Black Sherif has a label. They don’t,” Bullgod explained.
“Shatta and Sarkodie are about to compete with EMPIRE [the record label Black Sherif is on] and they don’t have the strength to do that,” he stressed.
Formerly called Bulldog, the music talent manager argued that “unless some miracle [happens],” his former artiste, reggae/dancehall star Shatta Wale and rap star Sarkodie cannot have the marketing reach and success that the newcomer Black Sherif will with his maiden album courtesy his American record label.
“Music’s changed – I mean, it’s been like that for a very long time but it’s just that we really didn’t understand the system at the time. You can’t do this alone,” Bullgod again said clarifying this position and highlighting the importance of a record label partnership.
“It’s not about the talent, it’s about the reach,” he added and stressed you cannot compare an independent artiste to one that is signed and assisted by a label.
Emphasising that radio personalities and pundits, like himself, must keenly educate themselves, he concluded: “If these albums come out and Black Sherif’s is doing well, we shouldn’t come and sit here on radio” and do uninformed comparisons.
Today, Thursday, 6 October, 2022, Black Sherif released his 14-track debut album which comes ahead of industry seniors: Sarkodie’s ‘Jamz’ advertised to be released on October 11 and Shatta Wale’s ‘Gift of God (GoG)’ advertised to be released on October 17.
Another newcomer, rap star Amerado who has a hit collaboration called ‘Abotre (Patience) with Black Sherif, is set to release his ‘GINA: God Is Never Asleep’ album on October 25.
Advising Ghanaian rap sensation Black Sherif to craft a unique name for his music style, Ghanaian Hiplife pioneer Reggie Rockstone has cited how he zigged away from the Highlife of his youthful days and as a result created the Hiplife genre.
He made the recollection to Nana Romeo, host of Accra 100.5 FM’s mid-morning show ‘Ayekoo Ayekoo’, on Thursday, 6 October 2022.
“When I came home [to Ghana], I came to meet the likes of Uncle [Daddy] Lumba [but] I just stayed in my corner, in my lane,” he reminded the audience.
“I kept at it for a while and eventually named it,” he continued.
“So me, I’ve always said this, I don’t chase trends, I create trends,” the rap megastar stated matter-of-factly before adding: “When others are making music in this direction, I’m going in the other direction.”
As if to indicate how challenging the trendsetter’s path is, he said, “Slowly, you [the audience] will see or notice it. And that’s how I move. It’s a fact.”
“So Blacko, your style, if you decide to name it Sherif-life or Blacko-something, you’ve in fact started a new sound,” he suggested.
Naming his music style “would be really good judging from what happened to me,” Reggie Rockstone said.
“When you finally do it, give the evidence so 30 years later, after your hard work, no one will come and claim you are not the originator. Have you heard?” he stressed the advice.
Using both the American English and Twi dialect of the Akan language of Ghana, sampling classics like ‘Kyenkyen Bi Adi Me Awu’ by Alhaji K. Frimpong, and with his captivating energy and panache, Reggie Rockstone is acclaimed as the 1994 originator of the Hiplife music style of Ghana.
Twenty-year-old Ghanaian rapper, Black Sherif, also known as Blacko has won the heart of gospel singer and preacher, Sonnie Badu, who has commended the young champ for his hard work and rise in the local industry.
According to Dr Badu, Blacko is the incarnation of Jamaica’s iconic reggae singer and songwriter, Bob Marley.
This comes after carefully following the progress and talent of the rapper who on October 6 released his maiden album titled ‘The Villain I Never Was’.
“I think this young man @blacksherif_ is BoB Marley incarnate living in Ghana. His song writing abilities are just incredible,” read the Facebook post.
Also reacting to his latest album, the preacher of the gospel prophesied that Blacko was going to be a music giant on the African continent.
Dr Sonnie Badu added: “This new album solidifies the fact that – he will be one of the Giants of African music. And he will surely win some #Grammys for Ghana .. May God protect you from jealousy, envy, and premature termination as you walk in your giftings…. #DrBadu.”
The rappers’ 14-track album has received positive feedback from music lovers, his colleagues and industry players.
Five years after losing his unforgettable love, Black Sherif pours out his heart in the emotional tune which highlights ‘sad Blacko’ telling a story of how his late girlfriend left without a goodbye.
He also detailed how her departure has since left him broken.
But in the quest to quench the curiosity of fans who have wondered who this particular lady was, pictures of the late Clementina Konadu, a former student of the Kumasi Academy Senior High School believed to be Black Sherif’s former girlfriend, have been splashed on the internet.
Obituary pictures of the lady-in-question, who was then a 17-year-old ‘school girl’ as well as some photos of her, captured in a uniform are making rounds on social media.
It can be recalled that sometime in 2017, it was reported that two first-year students of the Kumasi Academy SHS died following an outbreak of swine flu.
Clementina was part of the two students who ‘gave up the ghost’ at the KNUST hospital after the incident.
Rapper Black Sherif on October 6, 2022, released his much-anticipated maiden album titled ‘The Villian I Never Was‘ and subsequently topped trends across Ghanaian social media platforms.
The 14-track album features his monster hits ‘Second Sermon’ remix which features Burna Boy, Kwaku The Traveller, and Soja released a few weeks ago ahead of the album.
The new entries include ‘The Homeless Song’, ‘Oil In My Head’, ’45’, ‘Prey Da Youngsta’, ‘Sad Boys Don’t Fold’, ‘Konongo Zongo’, ‘Wasremwn’, ‘We Up’, ‘Toxic Love’, ‘Don’t Forget Me’, and ‘Oh Paradise’.
Music lovers have already given high ratings to Blacko’s project which they believe sums up his life story and struggle in his hometown Konongo, and how he rose from a small community to become a Ghanaian music star.
Already ‘Konongo Zongo’, the 7th song on the album has earned the love of Twitter users. It is a favourite of many, who have credited the rapper for singing with passion.
We up, can’t pin we down. Them try but still we up. On God I trust no man 🔥.
“The villain I never was” is a masterpiece. A collection of thoughts from a worried soul who has the highest faith in God. The album is a conscious one and I love it. Victory is near, great job👏🏾
45, Sad Boys don’t fold, we up, from Konongo Zongo, that’s some Toxic Love City, I’m a Soja with Oil on my head, Wasteman don’t prey Da Youngsta with the Homeless song.
Blacko🔥
“You know sad boys don’t fold⁰So jigga man never fold⁰I kept my heart cold⁰And I fought like a man bro” herr Blacko, just at the right time😑 #TheVillainINeverWas
This year’s BET Hip Hop Awards witnessed rapper Kendrick Lamar sweep six awards, followed by Drake, who won three.
This year’s BET Hip Hop Awards, which celebrates black culture, went down in Atlanta and was hosted by American rapper, Fat Joe.
Rapper Benjamin Epp, from France, emerged winner of the Best International Flow category, beating the likes of Black Sherif from Ghana, Blxckie, Central Cee, Haviah Mighty, Knucks, Le Juiice, Nadia Nakai, Tasha & Tracie.
Best Collaboration went to Future’s “Wait for You,” which features Drake and Tems.
Rapper, Benjamin Epps, from France on October 4, won the BET Best International Flow Award, cutting short Ghana’s dream of bagging the prestigious award for the second time.
The Ghanaian rapper, Black Sherif, who bagged a nomination in the Best International Flow Awards category this year, was hoping for a win together with his fans.
Tons of music lovers, including some of his colleagues, threw their height behind him.
Blacko is the second Ghanaian to bag a nomination after Sarkodie, who in 2019 won the International Flow category.
This year’s BET Hip Hop Awards, which celebrates Black culture went down in Atlanta and was hosted by American rapper, Fat Joe.
Announcing Benjamin Epp’s win in an Instagram post, BET wrote: “Congratulations to Benjamin Epps on winning the 2022 BET HIP HOP AWARDS BEST INTERNATIONAL FLOW! Please see attached digital assets for your talent and team.”
Meanwhile, Black Sherif is set to release his maiden album titled ‘The Villain I Never Was’ on October 6, 2022.
Rapper Blacko, on Thursday, October 6, will release his maiden album ‘The Villian I Never Was’ after serving music lovers with monster hit singles.
The rapper’s upcoming project has been tipped to break the record as the most-screamed Ghanaian album across all digital platforms due to the positive feedback it has received so far.
Not only is Black Sherif expected to win big in Ghana, but also, fans are hopeful of him topping international charts and winning big on the African continent.
On Monday, Blacko published the official trailer of his album, which was well promoted across all social media platforms by his teeming fans, including colleagues.
In a tweet, rapper Sarkodie commended the young champ for his incredible work.
He wrote that “BLACKO’s attention to detailing” was on point.
On Tuesday morning, Shatta sent a notice to the general public concerning the major project that has taken him years to produce and share with fans.
“October is for GOG. Don’t make that mistake,” the dancehall singer on October 3 wrote on his Facebook page.
Already, there have been several campaigns from the Shatta Movement camp, all in support of the GOG album.
The release date is special to the Ghanaian musician as it will mark his 38th birthday.
During a performance at the SummerStage Festival in Crotona Park, New York City on August 13, Shatta dropped the major announcement after postponing the GOG album for years.
“I have this album that I have been creating for three years and everybody has been talking about it and asking ‘when are you gonna drop the album?’
“Today you guys are the special people with my press release date. On the 17th of October, I am gonna release the Gift of God Album and you guys are so special, you guys are the first. I have not told anybody and I know the press is gonna take it. I love you guys, you guys are looking like angels. Clap for yourselves,” said Shatta who couldn’t hide his excitement.
Meanwhile, Shatta has named Nigeria’s Naira Marley as one of the musicians on his album, with fans anticipating major surprises on the project.
Sensational Ghanaian rapper Black Sherif broke the internet when he announced the release of his debut album; The Villian I Never Was.” The project will be released on Thursday 6 October, across the various streaming platforms.
Announcing his debut album, Black Sherif wrote; It took me everything to give life to this body. The one thing in my life that I gave everything up for. There is life in this body, I hope it treats you good and speaks to you like I want it to.My debut album, “The Villain I Never Was” Available on all stores on October 6, 2022.Thank you, Love you.
While performing at the Summer Stage Festival in New York, Shatta Wale announced the release of his much-anticipated Gift of God Album.
The project which the self-proclaimed King of Dancehall had teased in 2020 and continuously postponed is set for release on Monday 17 October 2022.
Wendy Shay
After serving fans with two hit singles, Survivor and Warning, Ghanaian singer Wendy Asiamah Addo, known in showbiz as Wendy Shay will drop an Extended Play titled Enigma. The singer has been teasing the project set for release on Friday 21 October 2022 by sharing photos of herself in customized Enigma merch.
Amerado
On Tuesday 25th October 2022, fans of Amerado Burner will be treated to an amazing piece of work from the Ghanaian rapper. Amerado took to social media to announce the release of his album G.I.N.A which stands for God Is Never Asleep.
As the only Ghanaian artiste to enter the Boomplay Golden Club and currently a BET nominee, he definitely struck the iron while it was hot and swiftly ramped up the pace in his current trend to release his new single Soja, which is swiftly becoming a global anthem.
The three-minute song which recalls the young rapper’s life from his early years and challenges tells of his quick rise to fame, something he is yet to learn to accept.
As he expresses his fragility and need to put aside insecurities in a catchy rhythmic pattern, he also portrays a side of him in the song that has been mentally strengthened.
He doesn’t stray too far from his typical genre of songs and lyrics, but he does provide the listener a real-life glimpse into his life and how he decides to fight anxieties to find success in the world.
Blacko, as he is fondly called, reveals in the lyrics: My mystery box is somewhere very near. I feel it inside me, I’m feeling very weird. Something wey I dey chase. For years back in the days. If you told me I would see this flag waving I won’t believe you, Cause how far could I go? How far could I go? I’m too close I can feel it. Something is vibrating inside me. I’m celebrating. But outside them dey kill me.
Soja has been well-received and as of press time yesterday, Wednesday, September 28, it had peaked at number one on the Apple Music Top 100 Ghana Chart and is currently at number 14 on the Apple Music Top 100 Nigeria Chart.
It has also impressively outperformed Kizz Daniel’s Lie, Piesie Esther’s Wayε Me Yie, Stonebwoy’s Gidigba and other global hits to land in the 68th position on Boomplay Top 100 Africa Chart.
The song also made a remarkable quick entry into Boomplay’s Top 100 Ghana chart, earning the 17th spot while outperforming songs that had been on the chart for longer.
On YouTube, Soja is number one on trending for music, with the official visualiser clocking over 1.5 million views.
Given the song’s outstanding response from music fans, the song is likely to up the charts in coming days.
Several influential figures in the industry, including entertainment pundit Arnold Asamoah Baidoo, Highlife artiste Rex Omar among others have responded favourably to him and are praising him for making strides.
Rex Omar on his Facebook page remarked that Black Sherif wrote the song to portray reality, and it was a fine one as such.
He said: “Black Sherif is writing and singing from a higher plane. A real artiste, he needs all our support and prayers.”
Both songs will appear on his upcoming 14-track debut album, The Villain I Never Was, scheduled for release on Thursday, October 6.
With top singles such as First Sermon, Destiny, Money, Second Sermon, Golddigga, Adwenfii, Ade Akye and Assignment, the new Sherif in town is already garnering international attention and music devotees hope Soja will increase his popularity on the international front.
High-flying Ghanaian artiste, Black Sherif has unveiled the cover art for his much-anticipated debut album, titled, ‘ The Villain I Never Was’, slated for Thursday, October 6, 2022.
This comes off after an impressive global charting year with singles like Second Sermon Remix, Kwaku The Traveller, and recently, Soja.
The 20-year-old rapper is poised for action as his sound has been co-signed by several industry greats such as Timberland, DJ Khaled, Busta Rhymes, and Popcaan among others.
Black Sherif in a tweet opined, ”It took me everything to give life to this body. The one thing in my life that I gave everything up for. There is life in this body, I hope it treats you well and speaks to you as I want it to.
My debut album, “The Villain I Never Was”, is available in all stores on October 7, 2022.”
Born and raised in Konongo, a small city in the Ashanti region of Ghana, his cult following is now spreading across the globe as the local and national scenes in his hometown make headlines around the world.
Famous Ghanaian musician, Black Sherif, has been spotted hanging out with Nigerian female vocalist, Tiwa Savage, in a video that was circulated on social media.
In a post shared by a social media user; ‘One blog stop’, the pair wowed people with a lovely interpretation of the famous legwork dance that goes with the vigorous shoulder dance moves.
It is uncertain where the two vocalists met, yet they appear to have had a decent bond while having fun together displaying different dance moves.
This video comes shortly after Ghana witnessed one of the biggest shows, the Global Citizen Festival a week ago at Independence Square where ten and thousands of people trooped in the watch American artistes, Usher and SZA perform.
Tiwa who was not billed to perform at the event shocked fans when she was invited on stage by Usher in the middle of his performance.
Tiwa jumped onto the stage barefooted with so much energy while performing her famous song, ‘Somebody’s Son’ among a few hit tracks to her credit.
The mother of one mounted the stage wearing a short sparkly skirt she matched with a stylish short-sleeved top that exposed her full-arm tattoos.
Other artistes who performed at the show were, Sarkodie, Stormzy, Stonebwoy, and Gyakie among others.
Black Sherif and Tiwa Savage display dance moves during a hangout
Young Ghanaian drill musician, Mohammed Ismail Sherif, also known as Black Sherifhas chalked another success with his latest song ‘Soja’ on the digital streaming platform, Audiomack.
As you may remember, Black Sherif just released “Soja,” another banger on September 22, 2022, and the single has already made great waves across the country.
The song recently peaked at number one on Ghana’s Apple music defeating Asake’s ‘Terminator’ after leading the charts for a couple of weeks.
Black Sherif also celebrated after his ‘Soja’ surpassed 1 million views in 3 days on YouTube.
Well, Blacko has reached another milestone with the song as it becomes the most streamed song on Audiomack this week.
The list was posted on the digital streaming platform, Audiomack’s social media pages on September 27, 2022.
The award-winning singer, who has dominated the field in his brief time in the music business, earlier revealed his upcoming album ‘THE VILLAIN I NEVER WAS’ will be available for purchase and streaming on all digital music platforms on Thursday, October 6, 2022, according to the details he shared via his official Apple Music account.
The album, ‘The Villain I Never Was’, contains 14 tracks which include the ‘Second Sermon’ remix featuring Burna boy, ‘Kweku The Traveller’, and ‘Soja’.
Black Sherif, has been on fire with his unmatched talent since breaking into the Ghana music industry in 2021 and is arguably the hottest artist in Ghana right now.
The Empire Records signee has solidified his name by dropping some bangers that are leaving rent-free in our heads, with the likes of First Sermon, Second Sermon, Second Sermon remix, and Kwaku The Traveller, among others.
The multi-award-winning rapper who released “Soja” on Thursday, September 22, 2022, also revealed the completion and release date for his debut album, which is titled “The Villian I Never Was”.
Controversies have sparked up regarding the release of his new song dubbed ‘Soja’.
Anxiety amongst the fans has made them not to wait any longer for the album since his lyrics are straight forward from his heart in addition to his fans relating to his lyrics.
From the details he shared via his official Apple Music account, the album will be available for purchase and streamed on all digital music platforms on Thursday, October 6, 2022.
The album, ‘The Villain I Never Was’, contains 14 tracks which includes ‘Second Sermon’ remix featuring Burna boy, ‘Kweku The Traveller’, and ‘Soja’.
He opined on the Kastle Entertainment Show monitored by MyNewsGh.com that “I think that with me my perspective about the Grammys is different, however, I will be very excited to win the Grammy Awards”.
According to Black Sherif who has been nominated for Best International Flow at the 2022 BET Awards, his focus as a musician is to raise high the flag of Ghana in the world of music.
“But I feel that what’s happening is about raising high the Ghana flag so me my part that I can play till I will go is what I’m playing,” Black Sherif disclosed to the host Amansan Krakye.
The multiple award-winner said he’s just playing his part and if it happens that he wins the Grammys in the future, he’ll praise God.
“Because me alone I can’t release songs from 1st January to 31st December so my part that I can try hard to play is what I’m doing and if the Grammys come Alhamdulillah,” he stated on the show.
Budding Ghanaian music star Black Sherifis undoubtedly one of the biggest talents Ghana has produced in recent times.
Soja, a moving song by the rising singer, has received over 500,000 listens on Audiomack in the few days after it was released. This is a tremendous accomplishment that should not be disregarded.
Black Sherif expresses his emotions in “Soja,” detailing his hardships and expressing how he never imagined becoming as well-known and prosperous as he is today.
Thanks to the song’s relatability, the young celebrity was able to win over listeners’ hearts.
‘Soja’ has received a lot of support and praise from Ghanaians on social media since its release. Ghanaians seem to be in love with Black Sherif’s style of music and talent, as many regard him as the next face of Ghanaian music.
Black Sherif, real name Mohammed Ismail Sherif Kwaku Frimpong, rose to fame when his songs ‘Money’ and First Sermon went viral on social media. Blacko has achieved a lot since then and has become one of the pillars of Ghanaian music.
Ghanaians fall in love with Black Sherif’s Soja
joanananayaaanokye was impressed
Wow!!!!! I love this song
nbreakable918 also said:
This is a heart beating song… so deep ❤️
ruthiedinma also wrote:
Unmatchable ❤️❤️❤️…. the love keep adding up
lexxjnr was also impressed:
This guy go carry matter come ampa…. But the song is dope ❤️❤️
