US-based Ghanaian rapper and singer, Kash has hinted that Ghanaians should expect nothing but exciting and standard music from him as his debut album is set for release later in March. The musician, whose album would comprise mixed genres including hiphop, hiplife, pop and R&B believes the Ghanaian music scene is ready for a variety of musical styles, and in his opinion, the Azonto style is gradually fading away to room for others.
Currently pursuing a degree in science at the Houston Community College (Houston, Texas), Kash was born as Norbert Asare in Kumasi where he attended Kumasi Polytechnic and University College of Management Studies. He used to visit the States for holidays until 2007, when he finally became a permanent resident in USA, and last visiting Ghana in 2008.
Although much may not be known of Kash’s music back home in Ghana, he has been in the industry, singing and rapping since 2002. His first music was recorded by ace Ghanaian producer, Zapp Mallet in 2003 and it was supposed to be released by Lisaf Music but unfortunately, the record deal couldn’t go through. Kash has since recorded songs with Charley Pee, Kofi Nti, Chicago, Roro, Frank Mensah Pozo, Old Soldier, Triple M and some other upcoming artiste in the United States. His current singles, ‘Ride Me’ and ‘Never Lose Hope’ are getting huge audiences globally via online music stores including iTunes, Nokia Music, Verizon, Emusic, Rhapsody, CD Baby and Amazon.Com.
According to Kash, he has been keeping tabs on the Ghanaian music industry and he is ready to launch his career both in the US and Ghana with full throttle.
“I’ve been keeping in touch with Ghanaian music and studying the trend but the sad thing today is Ghana music is not selling outside the borders of Ghana because every artist seems to be doing the same thing. Whenever we have an industry of such scenario, artists lack creativity and genuineness. In the United States and various parts of the world, musicians don’t follow the same pattern or style of songs: example, Usher will not use a beat similar to Lil Wayne or Jay-Z because in that case nobody will patronize the product he is selling.”
Kash’s debut album will include 12 main tracks and 2 bonus tracks. It also features Tristan, one of the fastest growing R&B artists in the US, on one track which Kash describes as a must-listen, hoping it would introduce a new style of music into the Ghanaian music market. Still on the album, Kash dropped hints about collaborating with American hiphop artist, Mike Jones.
“I’m currently recording a song called ‘Respect’, which is a strictly Hip-hop made for the American market and expected to be released in July. The song features artiste like Mike Jones, who I met at the same studio I do my recordings.” Kash was nominated for Best Male Artiste in 2011 at the Afro Entertainment Awards, which was held in Chicago last October. He is one of the highly rated Ghanaian musicians in USA and was endorsed as one of the biggest upcoming artiste in Africa in the Nigerian Promoters Association Annual Entertainment review in Atlanta, September 2011. He promises to make Ghana proud with his new album and also give fans and would-be fans more exciting music in the coming years.