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Sabo Kpade
Aug. 28, 2018 08:33AM EST
Kojey Radical & Juls "Normal."

The 11 Best Ghanaian Songs of the Month

Featuring Sarkodie, E.L, Juls x Kojey Radical, Shatta Wale and more.

The robustness and invention of Ghanaian pop music are evident in a bumper month of song making—from the grafting of trap to highlife, to continued displays of rap virtuosity and singing flourishes.

Read ahead for our selection of the Best Ghanaian Songs of August.

Medikal "Yesu"

Medikal's "Yesu," featuring Phil Blak, is a stream of consciousness display of verbal virtuosity about self-affirmation and triumph over adversity.

Juls & Kojey Radical "Normal"

An excellent pairing of vocal delivery and sensible beat-making that went to even more complex depths on 2017's "Temperature Rising."

Adina Thembi "On My Way"

Pertinent life advice sung with beautiful vocal clarity and graceful flourish.

Sarkodie "Can't Let You Go" feat. King Promise

Sarkodie and King Promise share a beautiful ode to a long term partner, celebrating everlasting love and companionship.

Strongman in "Change" and "Wappi"

A state of the nation address made even more brilliant by the clever blending of highlife and trap; a more adventurous endeavor but no less satisfying than "Wappi" with Gamebwoy.

Shatta Wale "Ginger"

A hortatory epistle with a reassuring yet inconclusive maxim—"some people say life no be fair / me say life just be test"—from Shatta Wale.

Qwesi Flex & Patapaa "Dirty Yourself"

A house banger with a clear directive from Qwesi Flex and Patapaa.

DJ J Masta "Magic Remix" feat. Bisa Kdei, Skales & Praiz

An exemplar of afropop's synergy with American R&B by a stellar line up of Bisa Kdei, Skales and Praiz, each of which is affecting and memorable.

Kumi Guitar "Konkosa"

Highlife goodness by singer-songwriter Kumi Guitar, whose smooth vocal muscularity is as old fashion as it reassuring over present-day production.

GuiltyBeatz & Joey Boy & King Promise "Fire"

"Fire," a song-title-as-song-description that for once is well earned.

E.L "Dare To Dream" & "Yo Geng"

Technically astute and emotionally precise verses whose lofty title undersells turns of earnest self-examination and social commentary over production of which J Dilla would be proud. Equally impressive is "Yo Geng" on which E.L brag-swags with real charm about his personality and prowess.

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Photo courtesy of the artist.

Watch J.Derobie's New Boxing Video For 'Back It'

Video Premiere: The buzzing Ghanaian act and emPawa artist comes through with a new music video for "Back It."

Ghana's J.Derobie turned heads last year when he arrived in a big way with his hit single "Poverty." The track, released through Mr Eazi's emPawa, was one of. our top picks for the Best Ghanaian Songs of 2019.

J.Derobie is now returning with the brand new music video for his latest Uche B-produced dancehall banger, "Back It," which we're premiering here today.

The new Accra-shot music video, directed by Babs Direction, follows J.Derobie to a boxing gym and ring as he trains to become a champion, while also splicing in scenes of the Ghanaian artist as a military leader.

"The idea was to create a song to show resiliency, to show courage, to show that you are not weak, and you can handle challenges that come your way," J.Derobie tells OkayAfrica. "To prove that yeah, you are a man."

"The boxing concept came from the director. The song sounds so hard, so he was picturing something like boxing. In boxing, you are not afraid of your opponent, and it's all about winning. We shot at a boxing gym in Accra, Jamestown. It's a real gym, and those pictures are legends from back in the day like Azumah Nelson and Joshua Clottey," he continues.

"When you see me in the [military] uniform, that is like I am a president addressing the nation, a leader. Every leader shows courage, every leader is not afraid of challenges, every leader is not afraid to go into whatever situation, and face the challenges for their people," J.Derobie explains.

Watch the striking new music video for "Back It" below.

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The 12 Best Ghanaian Songs of the Month

Featuring Joey B, Juls, Sarkodie, Shatta Wale, Efya, King Promise and more.

Here are the best tracks that came out of the buzzing Ghana scene in July.

Follow our GHANA WAVE playlist on Spotify here and Apple Music here.

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C Natty/emPawa

You Need to Watch C Natty's New Music Video For 'Ojah'

Video Premiere: Check out the striking first release from Mr Eazi's #emPawa30.

C Natty arrives in style with his new single "Ojah."

The track, which is the first release from Mr Eazi's new group of #emPawa30 artists, sees the Nigerian artist delivering a highly-infectious and grooving concoction over jazz-leaning afrobeats produced by Killertunes.

The new music video for "Ojah," which we're premiering here today, is equally as stunning and follows the story of someone who doesn't take others' advice. C Natty told us the following about the DK of Priorgold Pictures-directed video:

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News Brief

South African Hip-Hop Producers Tweezy and Gemini Major Set for Instagram Live Beat Battle

Two of South Africa's hip-hop super producers Tweezy and Gemini Major will face-off in upcoming Instagram live beat battle.

After Instagram live beat battles such as Swizz Beatz versus Timbaland and Mannie Fresh versus Scott Storch amid the lockdown to curb the spread of the COVID-19 virus, it was only a matter of time until the hip-hop community across the world followed suit.

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