The True Hiplife General

Obrafour

It is December 2004, a hot afternoon at Hush Hush Studios with the charismatic figure by name Obrafuor around. Obrafuor who attended New Star Preparatory and then proceeded to Abetifi Secondary and St. Peter's Secondary School was born in real life as Michael Elliot Kwabena Okyere Darko in 1976 to Mr. Kwaku Okyere Darko and Mrs. Gladys Agyapomaa in Kwahu-Obo.

At the age of 8, Obrafuor sang with his late mum at church. "Sometimes I sang along with my mum whilst she was working and to tell you I partially music was part of me at a tender age. I never dreamt of becoming a musician rather it was my dream to become a lawyer since my grand dad was a lawyer" he said.

Later on, a friend by name Quincy who could rap approached him and due to his encouragements, he gave it a try. "Reggie Rockstone is an artiste I looked up to. He is my role model and the funny thing is that I hanged his picture on my wall with the notion that he was always physically present in my room" he added.

Inspired by Snoop Dogg, Kwabena Darko wanted to carve his own being and rap in Twi. His first outside performance was at a programme held at Secaps Hotel which he was invited by a friend of his by name Afia to come over and show the world what he had inside him. B.B Menson now of Radio Gold was by then the master of ceremony and as B.B saw him perform, he was carried away by his style and thus wanted to help him out but due to one or more reasons, the efforts to help him out proved futile.

Through the help of a friend, Obrafuor came into contact with one of Ghana's best engineers if not the best by name Hammer. "Hammer told me to do a little bit of my style and wow a deal was in the cooking," he said beaming with smiles. With the help of Hammer, he secured a deal with Abraham Ohene Djan (CEO of OM Studios) as Abraham saw the best in him.

The real hiplife general who has set the pace for most artistes then came on the hiplife scene in 1999 with the hit album 'Pae Mu Ka' which had 7 tracks such as 'Yaanom' and 'Agoro Na Aso' after releasing some singles with Cy Lover which were tried on radio in 1998. In that same year, he featured on Tic Tac's 'Philomina' track as they were on the same label and did an advertisement together for Ashfoam which really shot him more into fame.

As evidenced by the platinum 'Pae Mu Ka' which won an award in the year 2000 and his tours to Sunyani, Takoradi, Tamale, Kumasi, Techiman, Koforidua, Bolgatanga and the likes, Obrafuor's been more successful and enduring than most of the 'cats' who call themselves career MCs.

In 2001, the hiplife warrior released another hit album titled 'Asemsebe' which saw him in London, Holland, Belgium and Germany. Obrafuor who is considered as a power player in hiplife came out with 'Tofa' in 2003 which won an award in Canada and won the album of the year award in London at the Ghana Music Awards UK 2004.

He has now come to a halt after releasing the wall breaking album 'Nteteepa' in 2003 which had lovely tracks like 'Oye Ohene remix' featuring Tinny and 'Nteteepa'. Lest I forget, he won the songwriter of the year at the Ghana Music Awards 2003 with the 'Nteteepa' album and performed in Canada and USA. In fact, the shows were something else.

Asked why he has come to a halt, he smiled and said "I want to produce more young artistes for some time". In the year 2004, Obrafuor's first produced album titled the 'Execution Diary' with artistes like Tinny, Okra, Kwaw Kesse, Yoggi Doggy, Okyeame Quame, Dogo, Hot Core on board and his record label were born. Who doesn't know this album has tore Ghana apart?

Recently, he performed in Holland with Togolese star Meiway and other Ghanaian artistes like Kwaadee, Sidney on a show which was put together by Sankofa TV in Amsterdam. Pumped to frenzy by him, fans and faithful couldn't help it but move their feet for a night of non-stop dancing.

Now pay attention! Obrafuor will be touring America with the likes of Obuor, Buk Bak, Nana Quame, Kwaadee in March 2005 and will also be performing at Miss Ghana New York next year and sssshhh! he will be out with his new album in June 2005 after producing Joe Frazier who will be out next year.

Beyond rhyming, Obrafuor has managed to penetrate the public consciousness to the point where his videos rank among the most memorable ever made. Fresh from performing in Canada, Obrafuor will never disappoint. Everywhere you go, his songs still hover in the air. Heads have really been listening to the hiplife mentor who has been to where other hiplife artistes have not.

His songs keep cars 'bumping' and heads nodding. The charismatic dude has enjoyed tremendous local and international popularity with his hit albums. To end it all, the 'supa dupa' lyricist is back.