Ypee, Kwaku Flick reflect on Kumasi’s role in their music journey

Ghanaian musicians Ypee and Kwaku Flick

Ghanaian musicians Ypee and Kwaku Flick have reflected on how Kumasi shaped their music careers, with both artistes acknowledging the city’s contribution to their growth while stressing that there is still room for improvement.

Speaking during the Rising Kumasi Summit hosted by Sarkodie ahead of the Kumasi Rapperholic concert, Ypee recalled how he initially felt artistes from Kumasi were not receiving enough recognition until the Asakaa movement changed the narrative.

According to him, the emergence of the Asakaa boys inspired many musicians from the Ashanti Region to believe they could also break into the national music scene.

‘I’m not an A-list artiste if it includes Stonebwoy, Sarkodie and Shatta Wale’ – Kelvin Boy

“Yeah, so when I started doing music in Kumasi, at first I used to think that the people were sidelining us till the whole Asakaa thing took over. Yes, and it really motivated us,” Ypee said.

Kwaku Flick also praised the support Kumasi has shown its artistes but noted that both musicians and fans have a role to play in taking the city’s music industry to greater heights.

“I feel like the love has been great in Kumasi. But we can do more,” he stated.

When asked who needed to do more, Kwaku Flick explained that the responsibility lies with both artistes and fans.

He added that Sarkodie’s decision to host Rapperholic in Kumasi should encourage local musicians to organise their own headline concerts and invest more in the city’s entertainment industry.

“As Sarkodie was saying, we have to. Me, for instance, I’ve organised a show before. That was in 2021. That was the only show I’ve done. So I feel like Sarkodie doing Rapperholic this year, it has to tell me something that maybe next year I have to do my own show,” he said, with Sarkodie responding, “Yes.”