I enjoy being a critic, i.e. to observe
and study situations to offer differing or lacking perspectives to appear more
intelligent than the initiator(s) but I have decided to do something different
today – to take time off to sing the praise song of one of the sensational and
versatile acts of our time, the VRMG’s Edem, before the eulogies starts trickling
in.
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| Swagnificent Edem in a happy mood |
Edem beats the likes of Mafikizolo
from South Africa, Davido, Yemi Alade and Oritse Femi, all of Nigeria and Eddy
Kenzo from Uganda among other African artistes from other parts of the
continent over the weekend to become the crowned King of the Black Community in
Canada.
Just like I predicted for other
enduring Acts, Edem was promising with his official debut as soon as he stepped
on the scene and caught up with everyone like a wildfire in a dry season and
has lived up to the billing over the years by featuring both local and
international acts.
The award winning rapper and
singer whose recently launched album ‘Books and Rhymes’ features dope songs
waxed with beautiful storylines, literary prose, watertight lyrics and good
compositions deserves a special mention for his immense contribution to shaping
the musical landscape of Ghana. This recognition for me should even be a notch
higher considering the fact that as a poster child for VRMG, the rapper who
raps mostly in Ewe, defied the odds and made a breakthrough when other rappers
could barely string words together, let alone over beats.
Edem, who cannot be exactly
touted as the torchbearer of the Ewe rap has however worked hard to pay his
dues by putting Ewe rap on the map of both hip life and hip hop genre and has
quickly risen to become the one to
inspire all the aspiring Ewe rappers who are seeking to cement his legacy
through the lingua.
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| Edem, in one of his performances feat. Gemini, a Dancehall Act |
To this end, Edem is
incontrovertibly the forte of Ewe rap music by being the first to cross country beyond Africa and the musical ambassador representing
the Volta region while still making inroads into the international scene where
he’s had several nominations, some of which he eventually won. He has three studio albums to his credit namely 'Volta Regime' , 'Mass Production' and 'Books and rhymes' Edem is more
than a rapper and a force that will not stop until his work is done. Kudos Edem
for blazing the trail and while having solace in the fact that the ghetto will rise one day.
Writer tweets @vilejah
