INTERVIEW WITH MUSIC PRODUCER & ARTIST, DRUMROLL

Interviewer is Joseph “Aqweci” Ofori

INTERVIEWER:  Who is Drumroll?

DRUMROLL:       Drumroll, born Derek Asare Amoah is a sound engineer, beatmaker, graphic designer, and artist. Drumroll has been producing for about 5 years, taking about 2 years to focus on sound engineering.

6 REALITIES STUDENTS FACE DURING EXAMINATIONS PERIOD

Being a student is all fun and campus is convivial till you see your examinations time table. We’ve been writing exams all our lives yet consternation creeps up on us every semester. In the university, it’s much of a big deal because there’s nothing like a one final exam which accounts for your years in the institution. It’s a matter of building GPA. One thing about GPA is just like construction of a house, a firm and strong house involves expertise, quality materials and adequate time. On the other hand, a poorly constructed house is put together by shoddy work, hence it’s easy to break down. Every student gets busy during examinations period, First Class students try to maintain their spot, whilst the others sweat to incline. There’s a saying which goes like ‘you cannot change what you refuse to confront’. Hence there’s a necessity to forgo certain interests. Let’s look at 6 realities students experience during examination weeks.

CHRISTMAS; THE GHANAIAN WAY

This article was published on Dawuro GH (http://dawurogh.com/news/guest-featurechristmas-the-ghanaian-way/)

So, Christmas is here again! A wonderful season, an always memorable period. The atmosphere changes during Christmas. A moment set aside to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. Though there are a lot of conspiracy theories formulated to dispute that 25th December isn’t the birthday of Christ, the focus of many people doesn’t base on that, because whatever be the truth, it unites us, makes us see old friends and boosts business.

[Lyrics] Ko-Jo Cue – Oseikrom President

This article was published on Loud Sound Ghana (https://loudsoundgh.com/2016/04/lyrics-ko-jo-cue-oseikrom-president/)

Writer of lyrics/Contributor: Joseph ‘Aqweci’ Ofori (@Aqweci)

VERSE 1 [Ko-Jo Cue]

Uh! Chale beast n’abu cage

F*ck it raw on the singles make the beats fornicate

REVIEW OF E.L’S “ELOM” ALBUM

This article was published on Loud Sound Ghana (https://loudsoundgh.com/2016/04/review-e-ls-elom-album/)

After the epic release of his 26-track debut album, fans had been asking questions as to when E.L will release his next album. The questions got answered when The BAR released the first lead single “Mi Naa Bo Po” and added a tweet indicating that his second album is finally done.  I was personally amazed he had that plan because it was about a couple of months after he released the sequel to his BAR mixtape. That means E.L had been working on the album for long. He was creating and polishing his album and mixtape concurrently. Now that’s dedication and focus if you ask me.

Known by real name Elom Adablah, he wonderfully composes great music for the masses, both local and international. On this album E.L makes a bold statement, thus, he’s a jack of all trades and master of all. Maybe that’s why he called the album “Everybody Loves Original Music”.

[Lyrics] FlowKing Stone Ft. Sarkodie & Shatta Wale - Fire Bon Dem (Remix)

This lyrics was published on Loud Sound Ghana (https://loudsoundgh.com/2016/03/lyrics-flowking-stone-ft-sarkodie-shatta-wale-fire-bon-dem-remix/)

Contributors/ Writers of lyrics: Joseph ‘Aqweci’ Ofori (@Aqweci) & Alan (@alan_wbdn)

Sarkodie: Yeah

Stone: Flow King.. Stone.

          Sark, ma me huhh baako

Sark: Huhh!

PREDICTIONS OF WINNERS FOR VGMA 2016

This article was published on Loud Sound Ghana (https://loudsoundgh.com/2016/03/predictions-winners-vgma-2016/)

VGMA is Ghana’s biggest music awards show, powered by about 25 million people across the country. The event is set to take place on May 7 at Accra International Conference Center. As we wait for the big day LoudSoundGH presents you with predictions of winners on the night. This list was compiled after an in-depth analysis of songs nominated.

(Note: The predicted winners are in bold along with the other nominees)

SNAPSHOTS OF KUNTA KINTE (BRADEZ)'S "RESURRECTION" MUSIC VIDEO

This article was published on Loud Sound Ghana (https://loudsoundgh.com/2016/03/exclusive-snapshots-kunta-kinte-bradezs-resurrection-music-video/)

Bradez, a music duo made of Flowking Stone and Kunta Kinte went off the music scene for a while due to the unfortunate stroke ailment the latter got some years ago. Kunta Kinte after going through treatment decided to break his silence with a single titled “Resurrection of Kunta Kinte”, which features Emmerɛ. The single reveals information about his sickness, debunks various rumours that were spread about him concerning the stroke, and more.

DJ KEYYYZ DECLINES GHANA DJ AWARDS NOMINATION

This article was published on Loud Sound Ghana (https://loudsoundgh.com/2016/03/dj-keyzzz-declines-ghana-dj-awards-nomination/)

On the 19th of February, 2016, the nominations list for this year’s edition of Ghana DJ Awards got released. There was a significant number of complains as to the criteria of nomination, and about the fact that it’s centered mostly on DJs in Accra, and a few from Kumasi, without recognizing other hardworking DJs in the remaining regions.

After the fuss about it went down, DJ Keyzz, a nominee has openly declined her nomination as Best Female DJ. In a tweet attached with a twitpic, she makes her decision clear, pointing out that she prefers to be acknowledged by her skill, not by her gender. Read out the full tweet below: 

REVIEW OF VGMA 2016 NOMINATIONS

This article was published on Loud Sound Ghana (https://loudsoundgh.com/2016/03/review-vgma-2016-nominations/)

So soon, after the usual annual complains about the scheme and organization, the 17th edition of Vodafone Ghana Music Awards (VGMA) is here with us. Radio, TV and social media most especially, got buzzing with music analysts, bloggers, entertainment personalities, musicians and the general public sharing sentiments about the nomination list which got released on Feb 26, 2016.

DETAILS: 2016 GHANA MUSIC WEEK

This article was published on Loud Sound Ghana (https://loudsoundgh.com/2016/03/details-2016-ghana-music-week-festival/)

Ghana Music Week is a music festival held in Ghana, West Africa to celebrate Ghanaian music, one of Africa’s thriving music industries. The annually held festival aims to create heightened awareness and exposure for Ghanaian music and its artists.

This year’s edition promises to be intriguing with its line-up. The week as defined by organizers starts from March 1 and ends on March 7, 2016.

PHOTOS: LAUNCH OF GHANA MUSIC WEEK

This article was published on Loud Sound Ghana (https://loudsoundgh.com/2016/03/photos-2016-ghana-music-week-media-launch/)

Ghana Music Week (GMW) is an initiative aimed at promoting Ghanaian music worldwide and seeing into the progress of the industry.

The 3rd edition of the festival commenced with a media launch on Tuesday, March 1, 2016 at GH One TV premises. The short ceremony witnessed the presence of industry moguls such as the MUSIGA president Bice Osei Kufour (Obour), Okyeame Kwame, and Wiyaala. Below are some photos of the ceremony.

PROFILES OF VGMA 2016 UNSUNG CATEGORY NOMINEES

This article was published on Loud Sound Ghana (https://loudsoundgh.com/2016/02/profiles-of-vgma-unsung-category-nominees/)

1.   Feli Nuna (@felinuna)

RECAP (+PHOTOS): LAUNCH OF VGMA 2016 NOMINATION LIST

This article was published on Loud Sound Ghana (https://loudsoundgh.com/2016/02/recap-photos-launch-of-vgma-2016-nomination-list/)

Vodafone Ghana Music Awards (VGMAs), the biggest awards show in Ghana’s music industry is here again with us. On January 14, 2016, Charter House, organizers of VGMAs opened call for entries and music submissions for qualified works released between Jan 1, 2015 to Dec 31, 2015. Submissions ended on Jan 31, 2015. This is the first time submissions were accepted online, and it goes as a plus to the organizers.

E.L, THE MASTER PLANNER

This article was published on Loud Sound Ghana (https://loudsoundgh.com/2016/02/e-l-the-master-planner/)

I guess it’s so disheartening as an artiste to see your name in the headlines only when there’s bad news about you, or probably because every blog/site is publishing a new achievement you’ve accomplished (mostly for internet traffic). The BBnZ bigwig Elom Adablah AKA E.L deserves to be recognized fully for what he does, and on this platform I salute him & his management for great works being done and greater ones in the pipeline.

MAKING MUSIC READILY AVAILABLE TO FANS

This article was published on Loud Sound Ghana (https://loudsoundgh.com/2016/02/making-music-readily-available/)

If music is to be done, it should be done well. But after it is done, it should be easily accessible to everyone who wants it. Many-a-time, musicians compose great pieces of music but it gets stuck on their laptop, CD, or even in the studio. Not that the artiste doesn’t have a listening audience, but the music is just hard to reach.

Now, all artistes should grab a seat and be all ears. The listening audience, in other words, fans, uses different devices for listening to songs these days. The most common device is the mobile phone, because he/she can carry it around - in a troski journey, when walking around the hood and almost everywhere. So long as he/she has a headset or earphone plugged in, the person is good to go. Other devices include personal computers, especially laptops and notebooks, mp3 players, iPods, multimedia systems, among others. To keep it real, no one uses a portable CD player these days.

EVENT REVIEW: CLIMAX OF ACCRA HIP-HOP WEEK

By Joseph ‘Aqweci Ofori

& Alan Kyeremateng

This article was published on Ghana Community Online (http://ghanacommunity.com/event-review-accra-hip-hop-week-climax-concert/)

The maiden edition of the Accra Hip-Hop Week, a 6-Day event held at Alliance Francaise which took place from 16th to 21st November, 2015 was historical. For the first time, a whole week was dedicated to Hip-Hop in the capital of Ghana to promote the culture. The programme was arranged in a manner that encompassed all the elements of Hip-Hop i.e Rap/emceeing, b-boying/break dancing, beat boxing, DJ’ing and graffiti.

REVIEW OF BISA KDEI'S "BREAKTHROUGH" ALBUM

This article was published on Loud Sound Ghana (https://loudsoundgh.com/2016/01/review-of-bisa-kdeis-breakthrough-album/)

Artist: Bisa Kdei || Album: Breakthrough || Label/Management: Black Legendary Music

In this our generation where every artist is “selling out” and making songs that are hailed by the people to enhance commerciality and fetch money, singer, Bisa Kdei breaks through with his classy High-Life sophomore album. The Breakthrough album is a 10-track project which follows his thanksgiving (debut album title) to Almighty God who he believes has brought him this far. Born Ronald Kweku Dei Appiah, Bisa stands as one of the most featured artists in recent times. His low-tone whispery vocal is something Ghanaians admire and find unique. He’s not the type to hit the high pitches but can sing calmly to you, making the audience listen closely to his artistic works.

[Lyrics] Sarkodie - Hand To Mouth

Lyrics was published on Loud Sound Ghana (https://loudsoundgh.com/2016/01/lyrics-sarkodie-hand-to-mouth/)

FULL PRODUCTION CREDITS OF SARKODIE'S MARY ALBUM

This article was published on Loud Sound Ghana (https://loudsoundgh.com/2016/01/full-production-credits-sarkodies-mary-album/)

Usually, artists are given all the credit for composing music, but there are a lot of music professionals who come together to make it a success. Such people include songwriters, vocalists, samplers, sound engineers, instrumentalists and digital beatmakers. A lot goes into music than how we see or hear it. Somehow this fact can be disputed because these days credit is given to producers & engineers in parentheses, but then, what about others such as keyboardists, guitarists and other instrument players including percussionists who contribute to making songs soulful? In this digital age, where one person can sit and create a complete song solely, it’s not seen as quite important to delve deep into production credits. However, for a project like Sarkodie’s “Mary” which is a live album, one can’t overlook the details as the instrumentalists & backing vocalists played a major role in the project. I present to you the full production credits of “Mary”:

REVIEW OF JAYSO’S “MAKING TASHA PROUD” ALBUM

This article was published on Loud Sound Ghana (https://loudsoundgh.com/2016/01/review-of-jaysos-making-tasha-proud-album/)

Artist: Jayso || Album: Making Tasha Proud || Label: Skillions Record

After about a decade of thirst for some good music, Paul Nuamah Donkor, popularly known as Jayso quenches the thirst by showering us with refreshing songs packaged in a body of work with the title “Making Tasha Proud.” Some may ask why would Jayso make an album after all these years and dedicate it to just one person? Why Tasha? Who is Tasha?

Jayso Making Tasha Proud

Well, Tasha happens to be Jayso’s greatest fan, and she doubles up as an aspiring rapper. She had been looking up to the Skillions’ bigwig for inspiration but unfortunately got more disappointed and discouraged as time rolled by. Upon knowing this, the “Pizza & Burger” hitmaker decided to get Tasha back on toes and feed her needs with this album. He uses ‘Tasha’ to represent all his fans, everyone who relates to his music and all who need that elevation. Proud yet?

REVIEW OF GOLDEN HAIR AND FASHION SHOW

By Alan Kyeremateng

And Joseph ‘Aqweci’ Ofori

This article was published on Ghana Community Online (http://ghanacommunity.com/review-of-golden-hair-and-fashion-show/)

The annual graduation of elegant and dazzling models from the prestigious Gold Model Agencytook place on Saturday, the 10th of October at the world trade center; this was the fifth batch of models to be produced by this power house in the modeling industry.

The event has being all the media houses have being talking about throughout the week as the show was expected to be the platform to exhibit the most exotic and well trained models to the world and due to this reason, the house was filled to capacity within the shortest possible and the ball was set rolling.

Introduction of 2015 Class

EVENT REVIEW: KIKI GYAN TRIBUTE SHOW

By Joseph ‘Aqweci’ Ofori & Alan Kyeremateng
This article was published on Ghana Community Online (http://ghanacommunity.com/event-review-kiki-gyan-tribute-show/)

On Saturday, 3rd October 2015, a historic event was held at Alliance Francaise, Accra, as Ghana paid tribute to legendary Kiki Gyan whose demise occurred in 2004. HPR Media made this possible, bringing to one stage both legends and vibrant new acts, including Gyedu-Blay Ambolley, VVIP, M.anifest, Ko-Jo Cue, and Adomaa among others. The night also witnessed the presence of the only daughter of Kiki, Vanessa Gyan.

The event was planned to start at 7pm, but there was an hour delay, and for once it wasn’t the fault of the organizers, rather the audience who turned up late and the few that were present were socializing. 

2015; THE YEAR IN MUSIC REVIEW

This article was published on Loud Sound Ghana (https://loudsoundgh.com/2016/01/2015-the-year-in-music-review/)

Whoa! Wonderful how the year 2015 welcomed us and waved goodbye within a short measurable time. Ironically, a glut of occurrences surfaced in the year. I hereby take the stage to walk us through the 2015 musical journey. This article has been divided into 6 sections to ensure I leave no stone unturned.

SONGS

Every person who updates his/her playlist will have a huge folder of songs, as musicians, both mainstream and underground didn’t rest their heads on their pillows. Personally, I was impressed with the kind of songs that were released last year.

A FRESHER'S MAIDEN UNIVERSITY EXAMINATIONS

This article was published on Kuulpeeps (http://kuulpeeps.com/2016/01/the-freshers-maiden-university-examinations-experience/)

One afternoon, amidst the nervousness and impatience, I repeated what I had been doing for about 2 weeks; I checked my admission status and like a dream, my surname preceded the first beautifully. As the cliché goes, “this calls for celebration”, we made a bit of joyful noise and took some beverages. Fast forward to the day I settled on campus in a hall I secured; what a great feeling I had as I realized that truly no authoritarian housemaster would be monitoring my movements. The freedom of choice of eating what I wanted when I felt like was blissful. I was present at a couple of parties… and man, I’d never witnessed an uncountable number of pretty ladies all located in one community at the same damn time.

TRIBUTE CONCERT FOR LEGENDARY KIKI GYAN

The music legend, Kiki Gyan, the then keyboardist for UK-based Afro-rock group, Osibisa who at a time was the fifth best pianist in the world shall be celebrated. The late Gyan became addicted to hard drugs, to the detriment of his career. After the sad demise of this great man in 2004, the right time has now come for him to be celebrated.

On Saturday, October 3, 2015, Alliance Française amphitheater comes alive as HPR media, a communications and media consultancy delivers an extravaganza as musical heavyweights, both legends and new acts, unite to celebrate the legacy of Kiki Gyan.

Musical stalwarts including VVIP, M.anifest, Ko-Jo Cue, Ewvdzi and Adomaa among legends such as Gyedu Blay Ambolley will grace the occasion with food for the soul.

In Kiki Gyan’s last interview, he stated his desire to start a foundation. His family is making that desire a reality by partnering with HPR Media on this event. According to the daughter of Kiki, Vanessa Gyan, she is blessed to unveil the Kiki Gyan Foundation on the night of the show. She states “it will highlight the Say No To Drugs campaign, while also being a platform to give back to those who have a passion for music but may not have the financial backing to learn more about the craft they love.”

DON’T ENTERTAIN EVIL

During the early days when man was created, referring to the Holy Bible, Genesis 2:9, 3:1-6… 

“From the soil, God caused to grow every kind of tree, enticing to look at and good to eat, with the tree of life in the middle of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

Now, the snake was the most subtle of all the wild animals that God had made. It asked the woman, ‘Did God really say you were not to eat from any of the trees in the garden?’
The woman answered the snake 'We may eat the fruit of trees in the garden.
But of the fruit of the tree in the middle of the garden God said, 'You must not eat it, nor touch it, under pain of death.’

BATH YOUR LEFT ARM WITH YOUR RIGHT HAND

I tried bathing my right arm with my right hand and I couldn’t. I did it with my left arm and it was very simple.

That’s the intro to this piece. I typed this immediately after a young man who is offering his Master’s degree in Communication Studies at University of Ghana named “Sledge” gave me series of advice. I was highly motivated and was left with no choice than to put it into writing.

In this world, there has to be help from somewhere to enable one reach higher heights. God says in the Bible “as you didn’t do for your brother, you didn’t do for me”. The message I’m trying to put across here is to help the needy. Sledge gave me numerous testimonies that came as a result of his giving. I can’t share my own because frankly, I’m not a giver. But I turned into a new leaf right after, and hence, I’m going to start giving.

GATHER THE BROKEN AFRICAN PIECES

I didn’t write this in any particular order. It just hit me like… go write about that!

Where should I even start from?..

Well, I was wondering why most Ghanaians living in Ghana are broke, but when the same people settle in developed countries, they find a way to make a lot more.

Is it because our land has been cursed against progression? Or we’re lazy and individually independent? Or do we lack ideas? Or probably, most people here are dumb?

If so then does it mean majority of poor people are dumb, and so the reason for their state of living?