AO Gorman – Aspiring Artist From Toronto, Canada

Albert Okwasi Gorman will be known in the music industry as Young AO. He is the Ghana-born, Toronto-raised rapper who has been consistently on his grind, both in and out of his hometown for the past few years. Now preparing to release another mix-tape this spring titled, ‘Sky High’, he remains focused on the bigger picture- his official album release, executive-produced by one Toronto’s elite beat makers, T-Nyce. He’s in a good position; currently riding of the hype of his well received ‘Ready for Takeoff’ mix-tape that dropped last year which spawned the popular ‘Ryderz Remix’ featuring Chubbz, OG, Jonny Roxx, Jaydahmann & Frankie Payne (produced by T-Nyce).

At a young age he experienced the break-up of his family unit and briefly lived in a shelter with his mother & step-brother. More than a decade later, he is once again a witness to the dissolve of yet another tight circle – his family unit with the friends with whom he originally formed an entertainment company, Topflight Entertainment. Determined to keep it moving, he traveled to his home country last year where he left an impressionable impact.

He collaborated with hit makers of “Lyk Father Lyk Son” (Konfi Muzuk), one of the most popular tracks circulating on the Ghana airwaves in the summer of 2009. They recorded the song “Yewo Town” which he describes is his home-town as a “street anthem”. Due to the success of the single, he was featured on Ghanacelebrities.com; a popular website which highlights Ghanaian talent, locally and abroad.

Still making appearances in and around Toronto, as well as over-seas, he is featured on DJ Flacco’s “Come Up” mix-tape and Slip & Slide’s DJ Swiss Ivory’s mix-tape “The Showcase Mix-tape Vol. 58″. He’s on the right track to achieving his 5 year goal of becoming an international artist. He is embracing changes in his life as he matures. “I was raised in the hood so I still have those experiences to convey in my music, but as I grow I feel more comfortable being able to talk about new topics such as world & political issues. Also, doing mix-tapes allows me to experiment with different new sounds & styles”. Keep your eyes & ears on Young AO because you never know where he’ll end up next.

Quabena Jay aka Maphia

The ladies call him A.J…his stage name KWABENA JAY…On the streets, he’s known as Maphia….Can’t say it enough but this is the newest and hottest sensation to hit the music industry.

Very few people make waves both in front and behind the scenes. The recent trend to hiplife tunes prove what visionaries like the godfather Reggie Rockstone said about how dynamic this genre was going to be.

Listening to Quabena Jay popularly known in showbiz circles as Maphia spit out his lyrics will make you fall in love with hiplife music for the first time in your life.
Quabena Jay (Maphia) is one of the best individual singing rappers of all time since he kicked in the door of the hiplife scene. Definitely by now, you’ve seen or heard ‘Akokora Bone’ on TV or Radio. Everywhere you go be it the pool side, club, gas station or school, they are talking about Quabena Jay or politics.

Things seem to come easy to the biggest, hottest and sexy new sensation in Ghana the last couple of years. I will admit that where the list of lyrical MC’s is debated, his name is somewhere near the top.

To many, Quabena Jay represents the hope for hiplife and he’s not been afraid to bear this title.
Quabena Jay has always made music for party people. Watching ‘Akokora Bone’ tells you of his ability to act out everyday events with the originality his contemporaries lacked.

His maturity as a singer and rapper manifests itself in more ways than one on ‘Twa Me Last’, which features the hiplife destroyer Castro.

Hiplife and rap can’t be anything without Quabena Jay who has survived everything from criticism to laughs after his critics believed he would not come to the top of the game.

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Spek won – Hiplife (Video)

Spek Won, the up and coming rising star from Toronto, Canada brings you this hot new video called Hiplife.

Cameo appearances by: ROCHESTER, JD ERA, KWADJO CINQO, KID KUT, THE VOYCE, TONE MASON, LICOLN, RGG, LOGIKAL ETHIX, LORD QUEST, REGULAR ROBB, plus many moreDirected by Hatch X longfieldfilms.com

http://www.myspace.com/spekwonmusic
Born in the west end of Toronto, Spek Won is an ambitious,disciplined, and focused artist and rapper. His dynamic personality is second only to his explosive, magnetic and distinctive lyrical style. Growing up in the Rexdale/Willowridge community, with its blend of Afro-Caribbean culture, along with his strong Ghanian heritage, has greatly influenced Spek Won’s unique sound. His ability to combine the styles of Classic Hip Hop, Reggae and Ghanian Hip-Life sets him apart from other artists in the music industry. As Hip Hop expands further into the international realm, Spek Won’s sound and style is not merely a reflection of this change and growth within Hip Hop, but with his ability to preempt this change he will no doubt be recognized as a pioneer of this movement. Growing up at the birth and rise of Hip Hop Spek Won understands the power it can have on a person’s life, Hip Hop grew with him, therefore his influences, the grand masters of the art cannot be mistaken in his sound or lyrics.

Spek has the addictive and imaginative sounds and stylings of Hip Hop mavericks Nas and Outkast; the lyrical potency of Cash and Dylan, and the charm and ease of Old Skool rappers; all culminating in an explosive and dynamic sound that can only be described as spectacular and wonderful. Spek Won’s music cannot be confined within one category or definition, his mantra, write what you know translates in his raps about the realities of growing up, he raps uninhibited, of being Ghanaian as heard in Ghana Bre(a)d, defining one’s self and their place in the world as in Legal Rifle, he also raps of loss, hope and pride in being unique and standing apart. In short his versatility has no bounds, or restrictions. His interests are not only in front of the mike, but also behind the music. Spek’s passion lies in all aspects of creating music and is constantly developing and perfecting his craft. Spek has contributed as a producer and engineer to the works of other artists such as Ghetto Concept, Ray Robinson and Kid Kut at Play Ground Studios. Spek Won has traveled around Southern Ontario and the United States, participating in multiple showcases like GhanaFest in New Jersey. He has built an ever growing loyal fan base with each show, and will no doubt become a recognized and revered name in music in upcoming years. Spek Won’s talent is undeniable and an increasing force to be reckoned in the music industry.

Flexy A.k.a Da Godson Representing Ghanaians in Canada

Flexy Da Godson (or simply Flexy) also known as SlimFlex is the new rising sensation in the new African Hip Life music. Hip Life music is a new innovative fusion of West African High Life music with Hip Hop. Hip Life also utilizes Western and Caribbean sounds and musical styles and are usually sung in pidgin English (West African Patua) and sometimes native African dialects. The name “Flexy” was given to him by his friends because of his versatile musical styles.

Flexy was born Felix Akwasi Appiah-Korang in Accra Ghana on November 29th. Flexy’s talent became obvious since childhood, as he will often impress his parents and peers with his music. He would sometimes perform with his brothers who are equally talented just like him. From West Africa to North America, Flexy has been described as the ambassador of Hip Life music and the king of African Dancehall.

Flexy displays an uncanny dedication to his career of choice as an artist. Although a new emerging artist in the Canadian and African music scene, Flexy’s fans stretch all the way from North America to Africa. Haven release his debut album titled “Odehyea” in April 2007, Flexy is by no means relenting, as he is constantly writing new songs for more albums to come. Flexy’s record label OddRuff Inc. is currently working on a compilation album scheduled to be released in April 2009. This album features recordings of all artists under the label. This sixteen (16) track compilation album, features three (3) songs performed by Flexy. Flexy’s three (3) songs in the compilation titled “I Love You” “Yearning For You” and “Roll” have all been described as having all the elements of a hit song. In no doubt, this artist is on his way to leaving his mark in the Canadian and African music industry.

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Erik Flowchild – Rising Ghanaian Artist From Canada

Erik Flowchild. Equipped with a witty flow, evident potential, and fresh approach to the craft of rhyme writing, he is held in high regard by his peers who see him as talented, determined, and resourceful.

Flowchild (Born Eric Asante) was born to be different. Deemed a ‘miracle baby’ by his uncle, he is destined to make things happen for himself and for his world around him. It is no surprise why Erik Flowchild prides himself as one of Canada’s top young lyricists: He’s been writing lyrics since the 2nd grade.

“I wasn’t messing with producers when I was seven. I was writing to music I would find while playing video games. I’d look for anything that caught my ear while I was playing a certain level by going into the sound menu. Game Gear and my N64 were my producers.”

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Upcoming Artist From Canada – Freeman aka Flexx

Believe it or not.There are so many talented Ghanaian Canadians getting discovered everyday. NO wonder why many critics believe that Hip life is not dead but rather living in the Northern part of Canada.

In an oversaturated industry of Entertainment, this up coming artist “FREEMAN” distinguishes himself from the rest as a consistent artist performing rhyming swag of English, hauza and twi. Leaving his listeners in awe from the infinite pleasant sounding quality of songs that he provides. It is pooling with charisma with many meaningful contents that was designed to surely satisfy the mind of a Hiplife and hiphop Lovers.

Freeman who is currently part of the “You Never Know Entertainment” , is going to release his first mix album “Yedebedi Asa” this fall of 2009 which is promised to be the most anticipated mixtape featuring ,Andriana, Shoalin,Kidd Blitz,Redd Ice, Akyekyedee , Big Shaq of  fac Bois, Soulfoul, Maphia aka Quabena Jay, Nana NYC And G-Solo  . His songs are recieving heavy notations on radios all over Canada as well as Ghana. Check out and see more of “Freeman” on Facebook(flexx oppong freeman) and My Space (myspace.com/freemanakaflexx

Written By:K.Carter/Sheryl Papp(YNKE)

David Mensah out with ‘Music is The Food of Love’

UK’s new R&B sensation, David Mensah continues to rise after his song ‘Food of Love’ was released through Universal Music in 2008. ‘Food of Love’ was his contribution to a compilation album called “A Change is Gonna Come” which was recorded to commemorate the 200 year anniversary of the abolition of the slave trade.

Born to a Ghanaian father and a British mother, David draws from an eclectic mix of influences from all over the world when it comes to his music. He has been called the UK version of Avant while others draw comparisons to John Legend. Then again, some people have even mentioned Luther Vandross in their description of the music that he makes. “I never really go in to the studio with a set brief, I prefer to keep an open mind and let the song happen organically. However to someone who has never heard my music I would say that it is soulful R&B with elements of Jazz”, he says. Read more

Introducing Nana NYC: Ghana’s Gift to New York

Nana Yaw Boateng, alias Nana NYC, is a US based Ghanaian artist making huge waves among Ghanaian communities in US and Europe.  Born in Accra, he spent a few years in Kwahu before migrating to the United States in 1992. He found his love for music early and started playing drums in the church. As a young boy living in the small town of Mpraeso, he was exposed to live band music on the streets every other weekend and at times at funerals. All these honed his passion for music.

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