We always look back on this kind of list and think, In the past, it usually took a year or two for an artist to really find their groove and reach their audience. One or two early singles would lead to initial buzz, but that breakthrough moment took time.
In 2018, we saw how fast things move. J. Derobie might be the perfect example; he went from a virtually unknown artist to a bona fide superstar in a matter of months. There’s no right or wrong path to a successful music career—we’re still seeing a lot of artists take the slow and steady route—but in 2019, it’s clear that anything is possible.
This list is by no means an attempt to name all of 2019’s potential breakthrough acts. There are plenty of other artists who could have been included, but these are some of our favorites. In no particular order, these are the Top 5 new acts who needs a listening ear in 2019.
KOJO DAIN
By the time Bruno Bright Arhin known as Kojo Dain released his ”Don’t Keeping Me Waiting” , ”Weytin We Gain” cover, he was already one of the most buzzed about new artists in the music industry. His breakout song “Angelina” has tens of thousand of plays across platforms, and his success seems inevitable.
But perhaps the most interesting thing about the covers is that they are just that—Covers—and Kojo Dain wrote those songs. Kojo Dain is destined to be a fan favorite, even if his hyper accessible music doesn’t impress critics in these early days. They compare most of his delivery to most mainstream artistes performance.
But these days, being a critic’s darling isn’t worth much. Kojo Dain’s music is already connecting with the masses, and despite what naysayers feel, we like his songwriting, plus he’s an impressive keyboardist.
BANJUI
I feel Banjui is already a legend despite the fact that I get the sense he feels he has not even hit his peak and introduced into the lime light yet. He is creating content that will outlive him. On the musical level he remains one of the top fast rising stage performers on the in Ghana, and also went on to drop a few hits in the year.
He is legally called, Bani Jude Delali and was born on 16th September 1987 in West Africa, Ghana, Tema in theGreater Accra Region. Banju-i’s love forReggae/Dancehall music was realised at the age of 7 when he will get beatenby his dad for sneaking into his wardrobe to pick up cassettes/records ofreggae artists like Bob Marley, Jimmy Cliff, Lucky Dube, Culture, BujuBanton, Shaba Ranks etc Just for his listening pleasures.
The young performing art who inhabits the Southern part of Greater Accra, Tema is one of a select few young artists, if any, who have ensured that each year since realizing his talent, have hit songs within the calendar year. He’s emulated the footsteps of his predecessors, releasing mouth watering tunes Legalize It, Run Dem Out(#LightOutRiddim), One Step Ahead which is not expected from a young artiste.
OKAILEY VERSE(O.V)
O.V is that jeune fille who has not attained 12% of her potential but already has the town talking. She is immensely talented and made sure she had songs to shore up her beginnings. Among the new breed of acts, he is the best stage performer though with a long way to go to reach those dizzying heights set by her pioneers.
I saw her play live band at the BHiM Concert and she was simply sensational. Lyrically she seems diverse as well and has shown that he can work with different talents and deliver well.
Christened Barbara Naa Okailey Nyarko at birth, she is known in the music circles as OV while her spectacular touch of writing and delivering her verses on her songs earned her the name “Okailey Verse”. She has some few songs enjoying massive airplay with latest jam ‘Want Me’ featuring african Dancehall King, Stonebwoy.
She is currently signed unto the Burniton Music Group, and I pretty much sure Stonebwoy and Blakk Cedi has some good developmental plan for this lass and they work together to become the big acts she seems destined to be. I am also looking forward to a steady release of bangers like he has started.
J. DEROBIE
J Derobie born Derrick Obobbie Junior is a fast-rising Ghanaian dancehall artiste who idolizes afro-beat star Mr Eazi a lot and wants to be like him in the near future.
He was born in the Northern Region of Ghana, brought to Nungua, stayed at Midie for some time and he went back to the North to school. He returned to Accra after completing Dagbon Stage Senior High School for his senior high school level education.
J Derobie was among the few chosen for a project launched by Mr Eazi which was named the EMPAWA 100 project and promised to shoot music videos for 100 upcoming artists who were chosen. His song “Poverty” was his breakthrough. According to him, he started writing the song in June 2018 and couldn’t figure out an appropriate title for it until he settled on poverty since a lot of people were complaining about it. Before ‘Poverty’, he had released ‘Awuradee’, ‘Vim’ and ‘Odo Yewu.’
Having courted the attention of great dancehall musicians like Popcaan, Kranium, Shatta Wale and the like, up and coming dancehall act, J Derobie is making great strides with his new music.
QWAJO KEYS
Has this very young talented Afropop, Dancehall & Hip-hop Artist. Born on 3rd August, Hanson Kwadjo Mensah Avalorm, popularly Known in showbiz as Qwadjo Keys been the the busiest up and coming artiste? He probably is. He has released a lot of tunes, some dope, the rest just ok.
Qwadjo Keys who officially took up the mantle in making music his life career, recorded his first single “Wha Gwan” by then his artistic brand name was Addi-Blame and also did a studio video for ”Done Dem” which is one of his dope Dancehall songs at the age of 16.
Qwadjo Keys decided to release songs to keep him active after his song Wha Gwan and his Studio Video(which is Still available on YouTube). He released songs like Help the children, High Mi High, You Better, Mi Love, We need Peace, Holy Ghost Fire, Baamugindakowa, Complicated and few others which was all produced by himself (Badboss),
TYRA MEEK
Within her jurisdiction, it appears the most visible female fast rising female artist we had in 2018 was Tyra Meek. Molded into the Best Music Records fraternity, she has had a number of songs released in using 2018 as your year of review, and as expected, they are all sexually suggestive.
Laweh Millicent known in showbiz the fraternity as Tyra Meek was born on the 2nd September 1998 at Somanya in the Eastern Region. She had her basic education at Ashalaji MA basic school in Ashalaji-Amasaman and a 2017 candidate of Yilo Krobo Senior High School(YIKROSEC).
She was then signed to Best Music Records where she had had her debut commercial record dubbed “Demon” in September 2018 and the second “Suicide Love” in January 2019. Tyra Meek became the public interest and was attributed to American female super star R&B/hiphop music performer Rihana.
Her hardwork, commitment and professionalism had earn her a great reputation before the mass and now one among the best young fast rising female musicians Ghana can boast of. A little encouragement and perhaps a shake-up in her creative output may be of help.
CHRIS PHOEBUS
Chris Phoebus is vocally brilliant and has some exciting songwriting ability. He always says he wants to be like singer Robert Kelly(R. Kelly). That is a huge task to put on one’s self because, we all know R. Kelly is a huge brand, despite the few controversies generated around him recently.
Born Chris Agbenu musical influence however grew from time and specially in secondary school when he used to listen to a couple of Top notched artists such as RKelly, bob Marley and lucky dube and he begun to mime to their music. That was when he begin to write his own lines on their instrumentals and rhythms.
Around the same time he began recording his own material and released his first demo in 2009. .The young versatile artiste began to get a little buzz as he started putting his music on social media to get more listeners on the online media. The budding artiste does diverse genres ranging from hip-hop,RnB ,dancehall and Afro pop. He’s currently signed to FMF entertainment and dropped an album last year in London entitled “PROPHECY”.
He’s One Artise who have been tagged to be the new face of the Ghanaian music fraternity. Silky voice ,lyrics dexterity and amazing stage performance and also he Recently performed in South Africa in the 2018 Ghana music awards SA , Other international performances included nigeria and London.
Ghana’s Entertainment industry is arguably evolving. But, definitely we need to tackle issues of promotions, roles of DJs, roles of radio and TV stations and media in general, appropriateness of ‘beats’ for both the Ghanaian and international markets. The dialogue has just seen a beggining.
By: Gerrard-Israel
