Sean Kingston, Fat Joe arrive today

American singers, Kisean Anderson popularly known as Sean Kingston and Joseph Antonio Cartagena, affectionately called Fat Joe are expected to arrive in Accra today to jam with Ghanaians at a “State of the Republic” concert.

The organiser of the event, Eugene K. Chinebuah confirmed this to Graphic Showbiz in a telephone chat and said that “the show is an icing on the entertainment programmes that marked this year’s Republic Day.

The venue for the concert is the Accra International Conference Centre and the date — this Saturday, July, I9.

Sean Kingston was born on February 3, 1990 in Miami, Florida, but was predominantly raised in Kingston, Jamaica, after moving there at age six.

His stage name pays homage to Kingston, Jamaica. Reggae superstar Buju Banton is a close friend of Sean Kingston’s family and gave him advice upon entering the music industry.

Kingston, through a venture between Epic Records and Koch Records, released the single Beautiful Girls in summer 2007 and has since rocked the world with his silky smooth voice and captivating lyrics.

Fat Joe, the man who will be sharing the stage with Kingston at the Conference Centre is also known as Joseph Antonio Cartagena, (born August 19, 1970).

He is an American rapper of Puerto Rican and Cuban descent, and is signed to Imperial Records. Fat Joe also runs his own label Terror Squad Entertainment, where he is the CEO and main artiste and also a performer in its musical group, Terror Squad among several other New York City-based rappers.

Fat Joe’s first album was Represent, released in 1993, followed by Jealous One’s Envy in 1995. From 1998 to 2006, he was signed to Atlantic Records, releasing four albums under the label, Don Cartagena in 1998, Jealous Ones Still Envy (J.O.S.E.) in 2001, Loyalty in 2002, and All or Nothing in 2005.

His most popular song was Lean Back with Terror Squad, which was a number-one hit in Ghana in 2004 and still fills the airwaves and rocks nightclubs around the country.

Some of the Ghanaian performers billed to share the stage with Sean and Fat are 5Five, 4×4, Wan Luv Kobolo, Tiffany, Scientific and Asem.

The concert is being organised by Exclusive Vista Entertainment (XVE), whose director, Eugene Chinebuah says that:

“Vista is using the “State of the Republic” concert to announce its presence on the Ghanaian entertainment scene and more importantly roll out our services which include seminars and workshops for players in the entertainment industry”, he said.

According to Mr Chinebuah, XVE has plans to invite to Ghana celebrated executives in the international entertainment business to share their experiences with Ghanaians.

The “State of the Republic” concert is being sponsored by Coca Cola, the African Regent Hotel, Somovision, Accra Mall, Frankies, Hennesy, Bacchus, MKOGH, Graphic Communications Group Limited, Sparkx, Atlantis Radio and TV3.