How TiC became one of Ghana's hiplife pioneers
When Ghanaian rapper TiC, formerly known as Tic Tac, recently reflected on the success of his career on X, one assertion stood out: 15 million cassettes and CDs sold from his hit song “Philomina.”
The post has since reignited conversations about the commercial power of Ghanaian music during the cassette era, when artistes relied heavily on physical sales, and few songs enjoyed the nationwide reach achieved by TiC’s 1999 classic.
Born Nana Kwaku Okyere Duah, TiC is regarded as one of the artistes who helped shape Ghana’s hiplife movement, a genre that fused Ghanaian highlife influences with hip-hop. He hails from Kwamo in the Ashanti Region and began his musical journey in the late 1990s while still a student.
TiC’s first major step into music came in 1997 when he formed the group Natty Strangers with his childhood friend Bessem Bikhazi, popularly known as Cold Sweat.
‘I sold 15 million cassettes and CDs’ - Tic Tac recounts success of ‘Philomina'
The group gained attention through performances and won recognition at events including Kidafest and Fun World before TiC later embarked on a solo career.
Before becoming a household name, TiC gained industry attention through collaborations and appearances, including his feature on Azigiza’s “Woye Bia,” as well as collaborations with Slim Busterr and Daasebre Gyamenah. These appearances helped establish him as one of the promising voices of Ghana’s emerging hiplife scene.
However, it was his debut solo album “Philomena”, released in 1999, that transformed him into a national star. The project produced popular songs including “Philomena,” “K.K.B.K,” and “Mmaa 4mula,” with the album becoming one of the defining projects of Ghana’s late 1990s music era.
The success of “Philomena” was followed by more chart-topping records. His song “Menka Bio (Shordy)” from his album Masem reportedly dominated Ghana’s music charts for more than 20 weeks, while his album Wope expanded his reach through collaborations with international acts including Ivorian musician Freddy Meiway and Nigerian artiste Tony Tetuila.
TiC later became known for songs such as “Kwani Kwani,” “Kangaroo,” “Rashida,” “Santrofi” and other records that kept him relevant across different generations of Ghanaian music lovers.
His song “Kangaroo” also gained continental attention after its music video reached the top of MTV Base Africa’s charts, and Ghana’s national football team adopted its dance celebration during the 2008 Africa Cup of Nations period.
Over the years, TiC has collected several honours for his contribution to Ghanaian music. He has been credited with 11 Ghana Music Awards, including the prestigious Musician of the Year award in 2004, and received multiple nominations during the peak of his career.
‘I would tell you if I can’t marry you’ – Tic Tac on ending relationships
Beyond music, TiC has also explored entrepreneurship. During periods away from active music releases, he ventured into the food and hospitality industry, establishing restaurants and food businesses. He is linked to Gennex Pizza Restaurant and Grill, which has expanded to locations including Dansoman, Weija, Kumasi, Konongo and Nsutam.
The rapper has often spoken about the importance of artistes building multiple income streams beyond music, noting that the entertainment industry can be unpredictable and that musicians should think about long-term investments.
More than two decades after introducing himself to Ghana through “Philomena,” TiC remains one of the names associated with the golden era of hiplife, a period when songs moved from radio stations to street corners through cassettes, CDs and word-of-mouth.
His reported 15 million sales figure has reopened a conversation about an era when Ghanaian artistes could turn a single hit into a cultural movement.
PAT/EB
Source: www.ghanaweb.com« Previous |
Next »