The Hipelife invasion

Whether it is Buk Bak?s Kpanlogo-driven beat, Abrewanana?s ragga-influenced style or VIP singing in a relaxed highlife mode, it can?t be doubted that the new genre of Ghanaian music called hiplife has taken hold of listeners and has brought a renewed vigour to the music scene.

That verve was on full show at the National Theatre in Accra last Saturday when a collection some of the biggest names in the music performed to raise funds in aid of the country?s delegtion to the Athens Olympic Games. Batman, Obuor, Tic Tac, VIP, Antwi Ne Antwi, Sidney, Tinny, Sonny Achiba, Abrewanana and others were all on hand to show their patriotism. As they sang, rapped and danced to a good cause, they also forcefully drove home the point that the type of music they represent is here and can?t be wished away.

The initial style of hiphop done in a local language with skimpy traces of highlife date back to about thirteen years ago. Recording engineer and music producer Panji Anoff is believed to be the real progenitor of the genre as Reggie Rockstone?s manager and producer in London. That was before Rockstone became big in Ghana.

Rockstone, who is now regarded as the ?Godfather of Hiplife? had a style much closer to the hardcore American hip hop presentation. It is very intersting now to see the variety of routes hiplife has taken. Some of its well-known performers do not even want what they do to be described as hiplife because it is neither hip hop, highlife nor a mixture of the two styles. Kwadee, for instance, has distilled a unique ?shrewd and wisecraking Akan rural man? image that greatly contracts the baggy trousers, sneakers, sweatshirts and heavy jewelry of some of his colleques. No matter how they choose to appear on stage, it is noticeable that many of the hiplife performers see themselves as folks pursuing a common goal and are quick to act together to protect their interests.

A specific case is the furore brought about by Major Courage Quashigah?s comments about them three years ago. After listening to a song about local foods from a group of schoolchildren from the Akropong district at the launch of an agricultral fair, the Agriculture Minister said; ?I wonder why we are denied the opportunity of listening to such good soul-searching and moving music that would change the attitudes of Ghaniains instead of what we are now exposed to - a whole lot of madness. Disappointed musicians who just like to talk and call it rap music. And you find people jumping about like grasshoppers, moving their hands like praying mantis and their whole attire does not show too much difference between them and somebody walking in the streets insane?.

The Minister later apologised for his comments but not before the hiplife guys had gone into top gear and excpressed disdain at what was said. Sidney noted that: ? It was a serious attack on us, comparing us to mad people in the street. His comments were uncalled for.? Omanhene Pozo said: ?A Minister of Agriculture should be talking about cassava and not music.? Lazzy of VIP also stated that: ?We are more important than some of the people who think they are the ones who matter in this country. People listen to us and our messages go far.?

The Stop Aids Love Life advert on television features some of the hiplife artistes. They were obviously selected to be in it because they command audiences nationwide. When Terry Bonchaka died last year, his funeral was more what one could expect for a prominent statesman.

The profanity in some of the hiplife lyrics has been criticized by many. Minister of Information Nana Akomea said about two years ago that the use of profanity in the songs had become sickening. ?The profanity is horrible. You listen to the lyrics and you become embarrassed. They are so suggestive.?

Profanity is still a problem in hiplife but some of the performers are also towing very positive lines. Obrafour, for instance, spent his own resources on a campaign for more discipline and Obuor has just embarked on a road safety awareness tour. There is still some way to go before hiplife completely cleanses itself of the ?dirty words? image. What can?t be denied is that a highly captivating style of music has emerged here and is feeling its way into more hearts and bigger markets here and abroad.