What makes a song Ghanaian? – Jayso asks

Few days ago, rapper/producer/singer Jayso of Skillions Records took to his Twitter handle to ask some salient questions about the music industry in Ghana that have been left unanswered for a very long.

We reproduce in full (partly delivered in Pidgin English), the questions and subsequent explanations given to what was, a thought-provoking and intelligent presentation

Q: If I may ask, what makes a song Ghanaian?

Q: Dis song no go fit hit for Ghana. You dey waste your time. Ghanaians don’t have time for ‘good’ music. Dem wan dance” I ask, is this true?

Q: If I no do danceable song the DJs go bounce my track. How i go make money?” – common words uttered by many GH artists. Again I ask, True?

Q: Are we creating a fair industry? One that supports all the various art forms? One that allows creative people to express themselves?

Q: If she can’t make dance records because it is not her style. Or maybe she can’t dance to save her life. Are we saying there’s no room for her? I mean 1st off she doesn’t have any funding. Zero. Her best bet is to quit. This is the story of 1,000s of upcoming GH musicians.

Q: This isn’t about dropping names or dissing popular/mainstream material. It’s about creating room for alternative Ghanaian music. Do you know what’s even retarded? Here I am talking about alternative GH music/arts …When’s the last time u heard traditional GH music on air?

I bet many people think I’m bashing other musicians for doing dance records. If that’s your thought, wait for my upcoming dance song.

Let me tell you what ignited this. As a producer, I come across many musicians. Both popular & upcoming. I met this young lady sometime this week. She sings beautifully. She’s pretty & got so much talent. She just graduated from school & wants to do music full-time. By full-time I mean taking it as her profession. No manager. No label. Just passion. She’s submitted her songs to many media houses & the response at 1st listen is “this won’t do well in Ghana”. “DJs won’t play it” “Go back & do some danceable songs”. Now this is where it gets tricky.

Was advised not to speak on this because radio/TV folk could sabotage me. Hey, I came from little to no support.

I don’t care if my music receives zero spins. The purpose is bigger. I’ll continue to do it for those who want me to.

Shouts to those giving hope a chance.

Is Chris Brown coming to Ghana with Rihanna?

While many have welcomed the news of Grammy Award winning act Chris Brown storming Ghana to perform at a mega concert on March 5 at the Accra Sports Stadium, fans have been left wondering and hoping if he will be coming to the country with his girlfriend Rihanna.

The two, after Chris Brown assaulted Rihanna in 2009, have patched up their differences and have been seen virtually together and at shows.

The two lovebirds arrived in Cote D’Ivoire last December 2012 for the Kora Awards where Chris Brown delivered a sizzling performance to the delight of many.

Apart from Cote D’Ivoire, Chris, born Christopher Maurice, over the past few weeks has performed in South Africa and Nigeria where he did not fail to leave an indelible showmanship.

Fans in Ghana do not want to miss out on what is expected to be a spectacular show - Hope City Launch Concert - from the man popularly known as Chris Breezy.

With such a unique opportunity being handed fans on a silver platter by Ghana’s number one ICT company, rlg, many are already seeking answers to the question, “Is he coming with Rihanna?”

www.ansongb.blogspot.com/’s quest to get answers to that all important question has proved futile as sources close to the event organizers have remained tight lipped.

A source, who was bold enough to voice out a remark said, “Patrons should just brace themselves for a night of unimaginable surprises.”

Local acts expected to support Chris Brown on the night include R2Bees, D-Black and Sherifa Gunu.

The Hope City Launch Concert is in commemoration of the sod-cutting of a new technology village – Hope City, proudly powered by rlg. The concert is produced by Charter House Ghana.

I'm humbled by Best DJ in Ghana award - DJ Black

Awards play an integral part in one’s career and DJ Black has scooped several awards as a Deejay, but winning the Best Ghana DJ of the Year, he says is particularly humbling.

Born Kwadwo Ampfo, DJ Black who hosts the Open House Party every Saturday on Joy FM emerged Ghana’s ultimate Disc Jockey at the maiden edition of the Ghana DJ Awards which came off at the National Theatre last Friday.

The man, affectionately called Mr. Black by colleagues at Joy FM told Myjoyonline.com, he feels humbled by the award.

The recogntion, he said, means there is “a greater responsibility now on your shoulder because now it’s a recognized thing among all DJs.”

He was of the view that “every DJ has his unique style and to be the best in Ghana is not just about scratching or is not just about the fact that you can DJ or you can play but how you can put everything together and entertain people.”

Apart from the topmost award, he scooped two other awards - Best Event DJ of the Year and Best Male Radio DJ of the Year.

DJ Black believes that the recognition is a clear indication that “whatever you’ve been doing people have been observing, people too appreciate it so yeah a lot more hard work, no stopping. This art form of Deejaying when you start, you don’t sleep, you can’t stop.”

DJ Black regretted that due to reasons beyond his control, he couldn't attend the awards. He said although there were hitches, which are expected in the first edition of every event, the organizers have done a good job.

“One of our main aims as DJs in Ghana is to unify and come under one common umbrella and let everybody see our use and, of course, what we contribute to the Ghana music industry,” he said and that the awards was a positive step towards realising that goal.

Kwadwo Ampfo started Deejaying in 1995 and 18 years down the line, he says “it’s been a lot of hustle” but “it’s been worth it.”

Encouraging persons aspiring to be DJs, he said despite the challenges, “If you want to venture into it, why not,” but stressed that education must and should be the corner stone.

DJ Black, who also hosts the Weekend Warmer on Joy FM on Fridays, was of the view that would-be DJs have been handed the profession on a silver platter with the emergence of technology - computers, softwares - and the internet but one’s composure is always key in achieving success.

He urged would-be DJs to research and always practise.

Popularly known as Mr Toontoom, DJ Black has performed on several international platforms. He won the Rothman's West African DJ Champ in 2001, International Red Carpet Award in 2007 and 2008, voted Africa’s second Best DJ and also performed at the Big Brother Africa platform in South Africa.

While he has unearthed several DJ talents, like E Double, DJ Master J, Nii Ayi Tagoe, DJ Loft, he wants to continue nurturing more talents to prove to people that Deejaying can also be a rewarding profession.

“Today DJs are also climbing up the ladder and the future is to open up more doors to people and also be an icon,” he said.

Touching on some of the challenges facing DJs in Ghana, DJ Black pointed out that the low remuneration and lack of equipment were the two big issues.

Another downside, he added, is the lack of respect for DJs, calling for a change in attitude towards the profession.
Full list of winners at the maiden Ghana DJ Awards: Best Gospel DJ
Kwesi Aboagye – Peace FM (Accra)

Best Highlife DJ
DJ Advicer – Happy FM (Accra)

Best Hiplife DJ
DJ Slim – Kapital Radio (Kumasi)

Best Reggae/Dancehall DJ
Blakk Rasta – Hitz FM (Accra)

Best Mobile DJ
DJ Master J

Mixtape DJ of the Year
DJ Mic Smith – Da Reminda

Scratch DJ
DJ Hubert

Nite Club DJ
DJ Killa-Fingers – Vanity/Baloroma

Artiste DJ of the Year
DJ Mensa (Sarkodie)

Best Event DJ of the Year
DJ Black

Best Record Promoter
Sammy Forson – YFM

Video Jockey of the Year
Billi Ocean

Best Female DJ of the Year
DJ Kess

Best Male Radio DJ of the Year
DJ Black (Joy FM)

Best Female Radio DJ of the Year
Jessica (Citi FM)

Discovery DJ of the Year
DJ Vision – YFM

Best Ghana International DJ
DJ Abrantie – Choice FM

Best International DJ
DJ Divalash - South Africa

Life Time Achievement Award
Kwesi Kyei Darkwa (K.K.D) & Tommy Annan Forson

Best Ghana DJ of the Year
DJ Black

Mercy Johnson shares photos of her baby

Nollywood’s newest mom, actress Mercy Johnson Okojie just shared beautiful pictures of herself and husband with her little adorable baby girl as she prepares to leave the United States of America for Nigeria.

Mercy Johnson will be leaving for Nigeria next week to attend her baby thanksgiving ceremony at Christ Embassy church in Lagos.

Baby Purity Ozioma Okojie’s thanksgiving ceremony has been scheduled to hold the first week of March 2013.

Her mother-in-law, Mrs Okojie recently joined the family in Atlanta as they set to return home together come next week.

Mercy Johnson is really looking fabulous in that post-baby body.

Fans’ fear over Tonto Dikeh’s health

Tonto Dikeh who made her début in Nollywood few years back is naturally fair in complexion.

But despite this, the controversial actress has gone ahead to tone her skin in a manner that makes her look like a ‘weird beauty.’

 


Her fans are expressing fear that the actress whose green veins have become so obvious through her now thin-layered skin, may soon break down with a skin disease.

Speculations are also rife that Tonto may have gone through a whitening machine to get her skin whiter than normal.

We learned from a tweet bird that despite Tonto’s denial that she had stopped smoking, the actress is still secretly smoking.

A concerned fan of the actress expressed her fear this way: “This girl will not kill herself.”

First Reggae & Dancehall Awards slated Friday

Bass Awards, the first ever award scheme to reward talents in Africa’s Reggae and Dancehall music industry, is set to hit Ghana’s music scene this year.

The award is presented by a company called Rackus and powered by Bullhaus Entertainment and Solid Multimedia, two of Ghana’s influential entertainment houses.

It will be launched in Accra on Friday, February 22, 2013 at the Alisa Hotel from 6pm.

The launching event, which is anticipated to attract various stakeholders in Ghana’s entertainment industry, will be used to announce award’s date, explain categories and introduce the award to the industry.

Bass Awards is the first of its kind to recognize talents in Reggae and Dancehall music industry which has arguably become big.

Tic Tac, Stonebuoy to perform @ Ghana DJs Award

The first biggest night in music on the 2013 Ghana entertainment got bigger now as two of Ghana’s finest, multiple Ghana Music Award winning Tic Tac and Dancehall sensation Stonebuoy who celebrates his birthday in March, have been added to the list of performers who will touch the stage at the Ghana DJ Awards 2013.

Tic Tac returns to the stage for the first time since 2012 when he performed his all time hit "Philomena" off the same titled album.

Backed by a live DJ set, Tic Tac dazzled the audience then and is prepared to deliver a repeat performance at the maiden Ghana DJ Awards show which will be aired live to about 20 million viewers across the world via TVGH.

The event comes off at the National Theatre of Ghana this Friday and starts at 8pm.