O'Kenneth

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O'Kenneth
O'Kenneth in 2020
Born
Kenneth Opoku

(1998-08-13) August 13, 1998 (age 25)
Kumasi
NationalityGhanaian
EducationTepa Senior High School
Occupation(s)Rapper, singer, songwriter
Years active2016–present
OrganizationLife Living Records
Notable workYaw Tog – Sore ft O'Kenneth & Asakaa
Musical career
Genres
Labels
  • Life Living Records

Kenneth Opoku (born August 13, 1998), known professionally as YGA O'Kenneth, is a rapper, singer, drill artist, and a songwriter from Ghana.[1] He is regarded as one of the most influential hip hop artists from Kumasi due to his progressive musical styles and socially conscious songwriting. Born and raised in Kumasi, Ashanti Region, O'Kenneth began his musical career in 2016 in Kumasi, Ashanti region, and quickly gained local attention, which led to him signing a recording contract with Life Living Records in 2019. O'Kenneth rose to prominence in 2020 with his verses on the songs "Sore" and "Akatafoc," both of which featured Yaw Tog and Kawabanga.[2]

In 2021 he released "Until It's All Said and Done," a conscious drill record, as his debut studio album. The album received positive reviews and featured singles such as "Loosing Grace Ft Reggie", "Gimme Dat" and "Hopez Ft Jay Bahd, Skyface SDW and Chicogod".[3] In 2022, he released his second studio album "Straight Outta Kumerica 2" with Reggie under the aegis of Life Living Records. The album, which featured the singles "Pa!", "Loading," and "Timing" and was heavily influenced by Drill and gangsta rap, received widespread critical acclaim.[4]

O'Kennth is one of the pioneers who brought the Asakaa genre of music to light as a member of the group (Asakaa Boys) that started the Kumerican movement.[5] Asakaa thus refers to the group's ability to speak and use street slang on each track.[6][7]

Early life and career[edit]

Kenneth Opoku was born on August 13, 1993, in Santasi, Ashanti Region, to Ghanaian parents. He grew up in Santasi with his parents and siblings. Although he was not a member of a gang, he grew up around street gang members, which he claimed in an interview was the source of his musical language.[8] While still a teenager, he was admitted to Tepa Senior High School in Bechem, Ashanti Region, where he studied General science. At Tepa Senior High School, he began his musical career. He has been a working musician since 2016. He admitted that American rapper Kendrick Lamar served as his inspiration and that he initially began by freestyling. O'Kenneth revealed during an interview on The Delay Show with Deloris Frimpong Manso that he comes from a happy home and that his parents had wanted him to pursue a formal career and further his education. His parents did not, however, support his decision to pursue a career in entertainment because they believed it might not be a good fit for him and that he should instead pursue something else.[9]

He is a member of Asakaa, a drill music group in Kumasi that was established as a result of random men stopping by to record at the "Trap House," which is where the "Life Living" home studio in Kumasi, run by Sean Lifer and Rabby Jones, is located.[10] With his verses on songs by Asakaa members like Sean Life's "Ma drip" and Jay Bahd's "condemn," O'Kenneth rose to prominence in the Ghanaian music scene in 2020.[11] Later, he was a featured artist on Yaw Tog's "Sore" and Kawabanga's "Akatafoc" songs, which helped Asakaa become well known in Ghana and other nations.[12] In addition to his numerous songs, YGA has three External Play albums: "Until It's All Said and Done," a solo EP; "Straight Outta Kumerica" and "Straight Outta Kumerica 2," joint EPs with Reggie.[13] He's also known for his single "Agyeiwaa", "Obaa Hemaa ", and "Cinderella" where he collaborated with Skyface SDW, Beeztrap KOTM and the Asakaa Boys.[14]

Discography[edit]

Studio album's[edit]

  • Straight Outta Kumerica – Joint EP (O’Kenneth & Reggie released on August 27, 2020)
  • Until It's All Said and Done (December 18, 2021).
  • Straight Outta Kumerica II – Joint EP (O’Kenneth & Reggie released on July 20, 2022)
  • PAIN IN GLORY - Joint EP (O'Kenneth & Xlimkid released on October 27, 2023)

Song catalog[edit]

  • Breaks
  • Gang ft. Reggie.
  • All Eyes ft. Reggie.
  • Stakes ft. Jay Bahd
  • Skyface SDW ft O'Kenneth – Obaa Hemaa
  • Bust – (& Reggie)
  • Loading – (& Reggie) ft. G4 Boyz
  • M.O.B – (& Reggie)
  • Ya Parke – O’kenneth & Reggie
  • Calling ft. Kawabanga, O’kenneth, Jay Bahd, Sean Lifer, Reggie & City Boy.
  • Losing Grace ft. Reggie.
  • Hopez ft. Jay Bahd, Skyface SDW & Chicagod.
  • Lotta Guan ft. Chicagod
  • Nante ft. Jay Bahd.
  • Gaza ft. Reggie, Terrist Carter, Cartnez & Jay Bahd.
  • Till Finish ft. Thywill.
  • Wishie Wishie ft. Bra Benk, Reggie & Terrist Carter.
  • Gimmie Dat – Thomas The Great, Terrist Carter, Chicagod, Sparkle, Kawabanga,
  • Reggie & Jay Bahd.
  • Agyeiwaa ft. Reggie & City Boy

Concerts Played[edit]

Title Location Year Ref
Black Star Line festival Accra, Ghana 2023 [15]
Afrochella Accra, Ghana 2020 [16]
Mozama Disco concert The La Palm Royal beach

Accra, Ghana

2022 [17]
Made in Kumerica Concert Kumasi 2022 [18]
"Wizkid Live" Concert Accra Sports Stadium,

Ghana

2022 [19]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "#BlackStarLineFestival: Historic night as Chance The Rapper, Vic Mensa, T-Pain lead epic Accra showdown - MyJoyOnline.com". Myjoyonline. January 7, 2023. Retrieved February 3, 2023.
  2. ^ "Asakaa: How drill music found a new home in Ghana". BBC News. March 22, 2022. Retrieved February 3, 2023.
  3. ^ Dwomoh, Kenneth (March 28, 2022). "Album Review: O'Kenneth – Until It's All Said And Done". Hitz360.com. Retrieved February 3, 2023.
  4. ^ "Kumerica radio: The anthems shaping Ghana's drill scene". Music in Africa. November 25, 2020. Retrieved February 4, 2023.
  5. ^ "Asakaa movement is misunderstood - Kweku DMC - MyJoyOnline.com". Myjoyonline. April 12, 2022. Retrieved February 4, 2023.
  6. ^ Rouhani, Neena (January 5, 2023). "Vic Mensa is Bringing Clean Water to Over 200,000 Ghanaians". Billboard. Retrieved February 4, 2023.
  7. ^ Dwomoh, Kenneth (July 18, 2022). "How Life Living Records Poineered The Asakaa Wave With The Asakaa Boys". Hitz360.com. Retrieved February 4, 2023.
  8. ^ bigedemtimes (December 27, 2022). "O'kenneth Biography, real name and net worth". Times in Ghana. Retrieved February 4, 2023.
  9. ^ "DELAY INTERVIEWS ASAKAA BOYS (Kwaku Dmc, Jay Bahd, City Boy, O'Kenneth)". GhanaWeb. April 18, 2022. Retrieved February 4, 2023.
  10. ^ "Going Global: Inside Ghana's Burgeoning Drill Scene". Complex. Retrieved February 4, 2023.
  11. ^ Ellingham, Miles (July 14, 2021). "Meet Yaw Tog and The 'Asakaa' Boys, Ghana's New Wave of Drill Rappers". Rolling Stone. Retrieved February 4, 2023.
  12. ^ Braga, Brunno (December 1, 2022). "Chance the Rapper And VicMensa Team Up With United To Offer Flight Discounts To Ghana". Travel Noire. Retrieved February 4, 2023.
  13. ^ Dwomoh, Kenneth (March 28, 2022). "Album Review: O'Kenneth – Until It's All Said And Done". Hitz360.com. Retrieved February 4, 2023.
  14. ^ YESU (January 21, 2023). "Skyface SDW – Obaa Hemaa Ft. O'Kenneth, Reggie, Beeztrap KOTM, Kwaku DMC & Jay Bahd". Hitz360.com. Retrieved February 4, 2023.
  15. ^ Baruch, Yolanda. "Vic Mensa And Chance The Rapper Launch The 'Black Star Line Festival' In Accra, Ghana". Forbes. Retrieved February 4, 2023.
  16. ^ "We performed for free at 2020 Afrochella but they neglected us in 2021 - Asakaa Boys - MyJoyOnline.com". Myjoyonline. March 17, 2022. Retrieved February 4, 2023.
  17. ^ "Black Sherif shows class at Mozama Disco concert". Graphic Online. Retrieved February 4, 2023.
  18. ^ "Made in Kumerica Concert '22 Theme:"Redefining Kumasi's culture and unity"". Cheesewave. December 22, 2022. Retrieved February 4, 2023.
  19. ^ "Gyakie, Darkovibes, Efya, Asaaka Boys & others thrill fans despite Wizkid's absence". GhanaWeb. December 12, 2022. Retrieved February 4, 2023.
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