Gossip
A Donda Experience: Listening To Kanye West At The Bloom Bar
“When we were asked to host the Donda release party, we only did it to be a part of history. We knew it will serve our stated goal. We want to be a globally recognized party venue. We did not expect it to be a big event here in Ghana. We had no idea how big Kanye is in Ghana”, Therese Jones said over the phone, in an American accent.
“Is this lady crazy?”, I said to myself and told her how big hip hop is in Ghana with an example.
On Friday, April 30, 2021, when Khaled put out his twelfth album, Khaled Khaled, I checked the Charts of the various countries available on my Apple Music to see how the songs are doing. I noticed that Sorry Not Sorry, which featured Jay-Z and Nas, had charted number 3 in Ghana. It was not in the Top 10 of any other country. When I checked the next day, the result was the same. I added that there is no point in the last 20 years when one of the biggest songs in Ghana is not a rap song.
“I dare say Ghanaians looove hip hop”, I said, in conclusion.
“Let me clarify. I know hip hop is a big part of the culture here, what I did not know was how much that love translates to Kanye, because of his style of hip hop”, Therese, who is the Communication Assistant for Bloom Bar, explained and we both agreed that Ghanaians love every subgenre of hip hop.
Bloom Bar hosted the Ghana listening event for Kanye West’s tenth album (if it ever gets released), Donda. Bloom Bar, an open-air club with sleek wooden furnishings, has built a reputation for its entrance, manned by legendarily beefy and harsh bouncers who enforce stringent and frankly arbitrary door policy, especially since the pandemic. It’s not unusual to see a drove of 20 and 30-year-olds, on a typical Friday night, standing around the entrance, complaining about the bouncers. Sometimes they console each other by saying, “Out here is even more fun than inside.”
The door policy has created an exclusivity culture around Bloom Bar, which is why it was the first venue to come to mind when audiovisual consultant, iamadinkra, was contracted to stream the Donda Listening Experience in Ghana. Kanye West’s team had contacted a Nigerian event company, Livefeed, that they wanted Ghana to be one of the 60 countries in the world to stream the Donda listening event at select venues. The Nigerian company contacted iamadinkra via Instagram. Iamadinkra declined to talk to me about the details of events leading to him landing the contract to provide audiovisual support for the Donda event. Their CEO said, “Kanye’s team in Los Angeles wants to have an ongoing relationship, and not speaking to the press about their business is a part of that relationship.”
I interpreted that to mean, “There is going to be more Donda listening events.” I tweeted my suspicion about a week ago.
Full disclosure. I am the biggest Kanye West stan in Africa. A close second is the Houston-based Nigerian-American who sat at the table next to me at the Donda Listening Party, at Bloom Bar on Thursday, August 5, 2021. Honestly, it was the dawn of Friday, August 6 (2:25am, 55 minutes after the advertised time), when the album started playing. Omo Naija (whose name I can not recall) said he canceled his flight because he did not want to be in the air when the album dropped. He wanted to have the experience of listening to the album in an environment like what we did on Friday. His Ghanaian friend did not seem like a huge Kanye fan. Omo Naija spent some time trying to get him to get what was happening. My date only knew Kanye is a musician who is/was married to Kim Kardashian. She left before the album started playing. That was a blessing because I got to share a table with a New York-based Ghanaian-American who canceled her Uber just when the album started playing. She had ordered the Uber because she got tired of waiting.
Omo Naija, New York Girl, and I played a game of guessing who the features are while the album played. Some were early to make out from their voice, like Jadakiss, The Weeknd, and Pusha T. For Others, the new voices Kanye was putting on, we had to both scratch our heads. We both yelled together, ‘THIS MIGHT BE THE RETURN OF THE THRONE’ in sync with Jay-Z dropping that line. He took the shisha he was sucking out of his mouth (pause) to pray when Kanye was floating. “God, please let him land safely”, he repeated for close to a minute.
The August 5 Donda Listening Party is the first Kanye-sanctioned event in Ghana in his 22-year career. As a fan, I have been praying for an opportunity to be part of a Kanye event for years. In 2011, my senior high schoolmate, Annor Mpere, posted on his Facebook, “Now I can die a happy man. I have seen Kanye perform live”. He lived in Morocco and had traveled to Europe for a Kanye concert. I remember my best friend, Frank, saying to me, “I know it breaks your heart someone you know has seen Kanye before you. He is a bigger fan than you.” Bro. That burn! It still hurts.
When Kanye signed Nigerian superstar D’Banj in 2011, I knew it was only a matter of time. In 2013, he rapped, “That D’banj causing hysteria. Soon as we hop off the plane in Nigeria” on D’banj’s Scapegoat (The Fix). I started saving up. To others, it was just bars. Not to me! It was proof that Kanye is coming to Nigeria. I needed to get ready if I wanted to see him in person.
Weeks after the song with D’Banj came out, Kanye’s face was plastered on building in 66 locations across the globe. All locations are in North America, Europe, and Australia. Not a single location in Africa.
I put out the fire that he will be ever coming home to the motherland.
In 2016, there were two globally streamed release events for Kanye’s The Life of Pablo album. One for the Madison Square Garden listening event for the album and another for the Famous video premiere The Forum, Los Angeles. None of the global locations were in Africa.
“WHY DOES KANYE HATE AFRICA SO MUCH?!”
While I would have liked to attend a performance concert, I would have gladly attended a global stream of a Kanye music event, even a fashion show, because I understand how important visuals are to Kanye’s artistic delivery. Visuals have always been an important component of Kanye West’s music. For most musicians, videos are a promotional tool used to gain attention for the song, for the 22-Grammy winner, the music videos have been used as props to elevate the narrative of whichever music he’s serving the listeners at the time.
In 2007, Kanye was feeling on top of the world. He had gone from a producer who was struggling to be taken seriously as a rapper to a rapper whose first two albums are Grammy-winning classics. He was known beyond just the music space after he made the news for saying the then US president, George Bush, doesn’t care about black people. (Bush will later say in his memoir that being called out by Kanye was the lowest point of his presidency.)
Everything visual of Kanye from 2007 reflected the sentiments of the moment. The album he put out that year, Graduation, had songs like Can’t Tell Me Nothing, Stronger, Champion, Drunk and Hot Girls (I know what I’m doing, 😊), and Homecoming. Every song felt like a celebration. The visuals matched the tone of the music. When you Google Kanye 2007, the first images to appear are pictures of him wearing bright-colored clothes and shutter shades. In September that year, he told Wendy Williams, “I am the biggest musician in the world right now”.
Two months later, on November 10, 2007, the flamboyantly dressed, braggadocios rapper lost his mother. That changed everything.
He became a deflated man. The cover for his next album, 808s, and Heartbreak, had an image of a deflated heart-shaped balloon, designed by American artist, KAWS. Pictures of Kanye looking defeated, wearing a grey suit with a badly cut heart on his left breast dominated that era.
“Hip-hop is over for me now. From now on, I want to be seen alongside only the musicians you see in the old black-and-white photographs—Jimi Hendrix, the Rolling Stones, the Beatles”, Kanye said in a press conference in New Zealand, while on his album premiere.
From when he lost his mother till now, Kanye’s music has gotten darker and darker and so has the visuals. The music has always felt like he is on a permanent search for the next high. Any new sound feels like an attempt at catching a wave. The release plans for the albums reflected the unrest. The Donda album sounds like the album where he let go and let God. It is the album on which he accepts the void the loss of his mother has created and receives the filling of that void with Jesus Christ. As a fan, who has been on this journey with him, attending the Donda listening party is my way of acknowledging that acceptance.
Just like the guerrilla marketing style of New Slaves and the wearing of the confederate flag said, “I am anti-establishment, fuck the system”, the communal nature of the Donda listening party seemed to say, “we are family and we are in this together.”
While I sat at Bloom Bar, a world-class Ghanaian club owned by two Ghanaians Kofi Adjei-Maafo and Keith Edem Aweke, I remembered Raising Kanye, a book by Kanye West’s late mother, Dr. Donda West. In the book, Dr. West said her biggest regret is not bringing Kanye with her when she visited Ghana. She described her trip to Ghana as one of the most life-changing experiences of her life. She wrote that she shared her experience in Ghana with Kanye when she went back. I will like to believe Kanye remembered Mama West’s love for Ghana hence his decision to include Ghana in his global release plan. My belief is rooted in the fact Ghana and Poland were the only countries who had some sound in the 24-hour stream that preceded the album. I pray he is inspired by the same love to eventually visit Ghana when he decided to tour the world to promote Donda.
Written By Tony Nenebi
Gossip
“I produced most of the biggest hit songs in Ghana last year” – Beatz Vampire claims the crown ahead of TGMA 2024
Showbiz and showboating go hand in hand and Beatz Vampire is sticking to the script. As one of the industry’s most sought-after producers, he confidently declares 2023 his own and believes none of his peers even come close heading into the Telecel Ghana Music Awards 2024.
Despite the prominent awards show just a month away–June 1, Beatz Vampire is already anticipating a clean sweep under its rebranded glory. His gaze is set on one of the night’s most coveted achievements: the “Producer of the Year” award. And with four hits credited to him under three artists in the previous year alone, it is easy to see why he is confidence levels are stratospheric.
Last year, the young producer was all over the place. His work on JZyNO and Lasmid’s ‘Butta My Bread’ was a mega success, bringing over 160M streams across platforms. The song’s popularity on TikTok also got under the skin of artists like Nigeria’s Ruger, who tried to downplay its quality and appeal. Beatz Vampire chased this down with equally catchy tracks like ‘Goodsin,’ ‘Likor’ and ‘I Lied,’ which garnered similar acclaim.
Indeed, Beatz Vampire has a good chance of winning the award. Since the nominations list dropped, his name has been on the lips of fans who showed their support. The producer chimed in on his fans’ sentiments, saying: “I feel honored even though this was expected. I produced most of the biggest hit songs in Ghana last year, from JZyNO and Lasmid’s ‘Butta My Bread’ to Olivetheboy’s ‘Goodsin,’ Kidi’s ‘Likor’ and ‘I Lied,’ so it’s only right I am handed the award on that night. Big shouts to the rest of the nominees though.”
Of course, Beatz Vampire is no stranger to the hype around prestigious awards. In 2022, he was nominated “Producer of the Year” at the Ghana Music Awards USA and Ghana Music Awards France. His contributions over the years, like Jahmiel’s ‘Beautiful,’ P-Square’s ‘Jaiye,’ Shatta Wale’s ‘Hajia Bintu’ and ‘1 Don,’ Mr Drew’s ‘Mood’ and ‘S3k3,’ Lasmid’s ‘Atele’ and ‘Sika,’ among others, were super hits of their time. But this year in review is a special one. He believes after so many years of missing out, the award is coming home.
As the Telecel Ghana Music Awards (formerly the Vodafone Ghana Music Awards) draws close, Beatz Vampire stands on the cusp of glory.
Gossip
Gospel singer KODA passes on, after reportedly battling a kidney disease
Gospel singer, Kofi Owusu Dua Anto popularly known as KODA is dead.
He died on Sunday after reportedly battling a kidney disease.
Tributes, especially from gospel musicians started flying on social media on Sunday when they heard about KODA’s passing.
Some musicians expressed shock when they heard about the death of the gospel stalwart.
Among those who expressed their shock were, Empress Gifty, who posted on Facebook: “I hope it’s not true, KODA,” with crying emojis.
Speaking to Graphic Showbiz on Sunday afternoon, Gospel musician Nii Okai, a very close friend of KODA said, “I wish I could tell you another thing but that’s the truth. KODA is dead”.
He said it was quite shocking to him considering that KODA was doing very fine after going through treatment.
KODA, celebrated for his uplifting melodies and soulful compositions, was not just a singer but a producer who left an indelible mark on the Ghanaian music scene.
Gossip
WATCH: Irene Logan sings ‘At Last’ as she dances with her husband at their wedding reception
Ghanaian singer, songwriter, philanthropist and entrepreneur, Irene Logan has tied the knot with her sweetheart, Prince! (more…)
Gossip
Lagos police arrest gay gang of criminals, who raped their male victims
The police in Lagos have recorded a breakthrough by arresting eight members of a vicious gang of criminals that specialize in subjecting their victims to several hours of anal sex after dispossessing them of their properties and cash.
The arrest, said to be one of the biggest successes of detectives recently, under the watchful eyes of Commissioner of Police, Adegoke Fayoade so far, was made in the highbrow areas of Lekki, Ajah and Ikoyi areas of the state and efforts are in top gear to round up fleeing members of the dreaded gang made up of young men between the ages of 23 and 40.
Giving details of the operational strategies of the gang, police sources said the young men usually perpetrate their evil acts by renting living apartments in the highbrow areas of the city after which they embark on search for their victims.
It was learned that they normally place notices in strategic areas of the city, advertising job vacancies and acting as estate agents.
Sources said desperate job and accommodation seekers who respond to their adverts would be taken to their apartments usually situated in one of the booming estates where they are subjected to all kinds of torture with a view to forcing them release their account details after which they would be forced into several hours of anal sex by members of the gang.
According to sources, their operational method is to roam around with exotic cars including high flying SUV’s. They place fake advertisements in strategic areas of Lekki, Ajah, Banana Island and even Ikoyi after which they also scout around, looking for fine and healthy-looking men.
As soon as they succeed in getting a victim, they drive the person to their apartment where they torture him for hours. While torturing their victim, they would extract all information about him including his financial status.
“As soon as they are in possession of those personal facts, they swing into action by proceeding to his house or banks to empty his money and other valuables. The second round of their operation is to subject their victim to hours of anal sex which they take turns to have their fill. They usually record their exploits on video and later relax to view it while enjoying their loot.”
It was gathered that their criminal exploits were blown open after they succeeded in cornering and maltreating a relation of a mobile police officer. The enraged officer was said to have gone to one of the police stations at Lekki to lodge the report.
Based on this development, the Commissioner of Police, Adegoke Fayoade gave marching orders to his special squad to round up the criminals without delay.
The Special Squad, it was learned, succeeded in penetrating the gang and rounded up seven of their members including their oldest member said to be a lawyer.
Crime Guard learned that during interrogations, members of the gang who were looking unruffled stated boldly that their victims were healthy looking young and old men that will satisfy their sexual urge through the anus.
“They reportedly shocked detectives when they confessed that they had been operating for over three years and that they choose highbrow areas where they could easily track well nourished and endowed men.
Police sources said: “They were boasting to us about how many healthy looking men they have abused through the anus. They said they reject men that are not looking health, stating emphatically that they have no business with women. After their arrest, we confined them in separate cells so that they would not descend on our male suspects inside the cell.
“However, few days later, one of them raised alarm that the oldest member of the gang who claimed to be a lawyer was having same affair with a member of the gang. When we accosted him, he said the relationship had been going on since they have been operating as a gang.
“Our greatest problem now is that some members of the devilish gang have escaped and we strongly suspect that they must be carrying on with their devilish criminal acts wherever they are.
“We are spreading our dragnets and we are sure that very soon, we will round all of them up. I must state that if not for the swiftness with which our Commissioner directed the operation, many men in Lagos state would have been endangered species by now.”
Gossip
Joyce Dzidzor to release Tatata featuring Freddy Meiway
Former Aids Ambassador and actress Joyce Dzidzor is gearing up for the release of her latest single Tatata featuring Ivorian Legendary musician Freddy Meiway.
Scheduled for release on April 10 the song recorded by King Dee, mixed by Donguy and mastered by Franz talks about broken heart and how to come out of it. Speaking in an interview with Joyce she said Freddy will not just jump on any song if he is not okay with it “How many musicians have been able to feature him on a song. It was not easy getting him on the song but finally we did and I am so grateful for that.
Asked why she went in for Meiway she said she has so much respect for him and even got a tattoo of him at her back said that her latest tattoo at her back.
“Meiway songs helped me her come out from depression. His music was a therapy for me when I was going through severe depression in 2019 in Hamburg and I tattoo him at my back to celebrate his achievements as an artiste for the past 35 years” she said Asked about her next project and collaboration with other Ghanaian musicians Joyce said that will only depend if this project goes well.
“ I have a lot of plans for my music career but that will depend on how my latest single goes. If it goes well and accepted by Ghanaians it will give me the energy to continue my music career and feature other musicians” she said. Joyce has been doing music for more 15 years now and has backed musicians like Highlife musician Gyedu- Blay Ambolley and singer Sherifa Gunu.
She was also a member of Dela Hayes Women of Colour band. She pleaded with musicians in Ghana to acknowledge backup singers for their contributions they play. “It is only few musicians who come out to acknowledge who backed them in a studio but I have backed a lot of musicians in the past and they know it. It is just right that they acknowledge our contribution we play so that we can do fill happy for a good work done. When that is done, other musicians who probably liked what we did on other songs can employ us on their projects. That has been my worry for sometime and I wish it could be addressed” she said
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