Asakaa rapper Skyface SDW has revealed that his mother’s opposition to his music career began to soften after the Asakaa Boys travelled to the United States for a performance in 2021, helping her see the potential for his music to create international opportunities.

Speaking in an interview on The Delay Show, the rapper said his mother had initially insisted that he prioritise his education, despite the growing success of his songs.

The rapper said his mother's reservations stemmed partly from her desire to see him complete his education and the lack of successful musicians from their hometown whom he could point to as examples of what a music career could offer.

Skyface said he grew up at Krofrom, attended primary school at Bantama and later enrolled at Kumasi High School, where he met fellow artiste Reggie Osei.

He subsequently gained admission to the University of Ghana, where he studied Psychology and Information Studies and graduated.

However, he said balancing his studies in Accra with his growing music career in Kumasi proved difficult, particularly when the song “Popping” was gaining attention.

“I was in school in Accra but doing music in Kumasi, so I could be in Kumasi for about a month without going to school,” he explained.

According to Skyface, his prolonged absences from school angered his mother, who wanted him to obtain a university degree. He said none of his siblings had previously attended university, making his education an important source of pride for her.

He added that his family did not initially support his musical ambitions, even after the success of “MOB”, which he described as an early breakthrough.

Skyface said his relationship with music eventually began to receive greater acceptance during his university years, as his career showed signs of international potential.

He recalled that the Asakaa Boys' trip to the United States for a performance in 2021 helped change his mother's perception of what music could offer him.

He said the trip made her realise that he could also benefit from similar opportunities as the group continued to grow.

The rapper also recounted how his mother reportedly went to church to testify after he travelled to France for a tour.

“I have actually been a pain in my mother's neck,” he said, recalling earlier incidents in which his mother had to intervene when he got into trouble.

Skyface credited Reggie Osei with introducing him to the Asakaa group, which he said gave him an opportunity to pursue his musical ambitions when support from home was limited.

His account highlights the tension he experienced between meeting his family's educational expectations and pursuing a career in a music scene that was still emerging as a viable path to international recognition.

AM