Again in 2007, Sarkodie had a dream — and an issue. He needed to be a terrific rapper, however his native tongue, Twi, was not a language many understood, particularly exterior his hometown of Tema, Ghana. He wasn’t about to be deterred. “I believed that I used to be capable of take Twi someplace,” he says. “That I used to be capable of push it and transcend the shores of Ghana.”
Sarkodie got here up via the underground, and his battle expertise and rap-fire supply set him on an unstoppable upward trajectory as he rhymed largely in Twi. He earned a rabid fan base throughout Africa, the U.Okay., and the U.S. — a feat many African rappers have tried however failed to attain — and even took dwelling Finest Worldwide Circulate on the BET Awards in 2019. On the identical time, Sarkodie, born Michael Owusu, additionally turned an integral a part of a Ghanaian hip-hop scene that’s dwelling to certainly one of Africa’s largest rosters of rappers, with artists akin to Kwesi Arthur, Black Sheriff, Yaw Tog, and Medikal developing cross-continental hits.
Because the years progressed, so did Sarkodie’s talents. His bars have change into extra intelligent and thought of, filled with acerbic wordplay and heartfelt, true-life tales. Sarkodie’s final full-length effort, 2021’s No Stress, confirmed off the rapper’s elite lyricism whereas additionally pulling in generation- and continent-spanning options from Oxlade, Giggs, Kwesi Arthur, Vic Mensa, and others.
Now, he’s again with one other new album — JAMZ, which blends African-inspired hip-hop, tropical Afropop, and vibrant amapiano. Forward of the album’s Friday launch, Rolling Stone spoke with Sarkodie concerning the new venture, his evolution as an artist, and his secrets and techniques to his long-term success.
Your songs are rooted in your life experiences. How has hip-hop been instrumental in serving to you navigate life as a toddler?
I used to be born and bred in Ghana. I sort of had a darkish upbringing once I was arising. My mother and pa have been separated, so I needed to go along with my dad, and he took me to stay with anyone else. It was a really darkish expertise and a harsh one for me as slightly baby. I had no concept the place my actual instant household was and I simply needed to take care of this lady. That is only for me to inform the story and never essentially making an attempt to make her seem to be a foul particular person, however I didn’t actually have a terrific childhood expertise along with her. So it introduced up a whole lot of emotion in me as a toddler, however then I needed to discover a technique to categorical how I felt. I’ve at all times been an delinquent particular person and I used to maintain to myself, however I needed a method out.
That was once I fell in love with hip-hop music as a result of I’ve heard folks speak, however all they needed to do was make it sit on a beat. I began writing what I used to be going via and the way I needed to get out, and simply what I needed for my life. It simply carried on from there.
Who have been some performers who helped mould you into the artist you’re at the moment?
We had Biggie, Jay-Z, and Tupac. In fact, I used to be younger and I used to be listening to them, however I believe who obtained me to jot down my first ever lyrics was a legend right here in Ghana known as Obrafour. He impressed me. This was as a result of I beloved hip-hop, however then they have been rapping in English. I didn’t know if that’s what I needed to do till I heard him rap in my native language, so I felt very linked to it. He raps in Twi, and I’m an Asante and I communicate Twi.
That was once I picked up the pen and paper to jot down my first ever verse, which I don’t keep in mind. I needed to do my very own model of certainly one of his largest information, known as “Yaanom.” I modified these lyrics after which put my very own lyrics. Then, shifting ahead, lots of people performed completely different roles with their fashion and the whole lot. Within the States, Jay-Z gave me the enterprise strategy on tips on how to extend my profession. So it’s been lots of people for various causes, however I can say Obrafour and Jay-Z have been very constant in my profession.
Together with your music, there’s this sense of objective. For you, what’s the final objective you need your music to attain?
One factor I notice is that subconsciously, what I contact on essentially the most in my music is giving folks hope due to how I got here up. It’s because I used to be in a scenario and I didn’t know the way I used to be going to have the ability to get out. It was like a stain in my life, and it’s one thing that I at all times nonetheless relive in my head as a result of it’s arduous to overlook. And I do know lots of people undergo that, and if I’m right here at the moment as Sarkodie, who’s successful awards just like the BET, having the ability to have a household and supply for your loved ones, I’m simply grateful. I actually need my music to offer folks hope.
Hip-hop creates so many egos, however your levelheadedness amazes me.
I didn’t sit all the way down to have a plan that I’d enchantment greater than anybody else, however I believe it’s one thing that I’ve as a pure factor. However one factor I can say is that hip-hop is sort of restricted. There are specific people who wish to take heed to rap music, and particularly right here in Africa, which is dominated by music that makes you progress, however I nonetheless discover a technique to enchantment to the ears. I needed to give you a method that, whether or not you’re into rap or not, you’d discover it fascinating to take heed to me. That’s the reason I’m very eager on the movement and supply. However realizing why folks love Sarkodie basically, I simply suppose it’s God’s grace and his favor.
Your work so far has featured a whole lot of thrilling African artists. When selecting artists to collaborate with, how have you learnt who to choose?
Earlier than I began doing music, I was a really huge music lover. So once I take heed to music, I sort of get what makes me like music as a result of I can see what kind goes with the opposite. I believe I simply know the suitable focus for the suitable beat. I can hear beats and inside two seconds I’d know who has to leap on it. I don’t wrestle an excessive amount of to determine what would make this track a dope file. Typically I write the choruses after which I’d know the melodies I’m going for, the suitable particular person to do it, and the temper of the music. That’s additionally one thing that’s pure to me as a result of I’ve been into music for a very long time. I understand how to return about nice information and to seek out the suitable folks to execute them.
JAMZ is nearly prepared for launch. Are you able to inform us about it?
Truly, it didn’t begin up as me recording an album. I used to be simply recording some random songs and realized that I used to be within the house the place I used to be having enjoyable in life, so I wanted music that I may have enjoyable with. In fact, there have been sure moods, as an example, the place you’re on a ship or a yacht along with your lovely household or family members. There’s a sort of sound that you’d wish to hear, and that’s what impressed JAMZ. It’s mainly such as you listening to your favourite playlist on the radio and you don’t want to skip. That’s how this venture is — a batch of excellent songs that you don’t want to skip. You simply wish to put it on if you end up having a highway journey or any event the place you wish to be in temper.
Do you suppose that is your greatest venture to date?
I believe all people says that, however I positively love this venture. It’s going to be certainly one of my favorites as a result of I really like the information. I don’t skip them each time I’m figuring out venture. However I believe my all-time favourite venture could be my fourth studio album, Mary. I named it after my grandma, and I gained’t lie, I put a whole lot of work into it. It was a section I used to be in as a result of I misplaced my grandma, and that impressed the venture. It should be very arduous to position something above that however, sure, there’s no method I’m going to file one thing I don’t like. So this is without doubt one of the tasks that I like, however I wouldn’t put that over the Mary album.
With this new album, do you are feeling like it is a new period for you?
I strive to not lose my first purpose for recording songs. I by no means set expectations, which typically are unhealthy, however I don’t try this. I simply do what I like, what I really feel, and I’ve a enterprise workforce that works with me. However my motive is simply creating music that, to start with, I personally would wish to take heed to, and likewise realizing that it will enchantment to the plenty. It’s really pure and it isn’t like I’m making an attempt to focus on one thing. I additionally know that there’s positively going to be some sort of file that will take me to the subsequent degree.
You launched an album final 12 months, as effectively. Have you ever ever considered slowing down?
I do what I really feel. If there’s a sense of slowing down, I’d. There was a time I took a break for a 12 months or two. If I don’t really feel prefer it, I’m not going to attempt to suppress it. I at all times go along with emotions. The venture Mary got here as a sense. JAMZ got here as a sense too. Lately, I’ve been taking journeys to some African nations. I went to Zanzibar, Cape City, and all these lovely cities impressed me. So if I’m not impressed, I’m not going to attempt to push myself to place a venture out. I thank God that I’m impressed from time to time to have the ability to write. Typically I’d really feel like I’m not impressed and I don’t wish to make a file. However till then, I don’t know why I ought to put brakes on it.
How do you suppose your method has modified because you launched your debut album?
I really like this query. Lately, I sat down, listened to my movement through the years, and I noticed that it’s at all times like an improve. Sure, you’d at all times discover Sarkodie, my voice and tone continues to be the identical. I work on the supply as a result of I’ve carried out to completely different crowds. The extra you get opened to completely different crowds, the extra you get to know what they react to and what they don’t. Typically there’s a good movement that Africans love however my folks don’t, as a result of we’ve got our genuine, typical Sarkodie supply that Ghanaians actually like.
Most information that Africans actually love, Ghanians don’t essentially. For those who come to Ghana and also you ask Ghanaians what’s the peak of Sarkodie’s songs, they might have completely different songs that different African nations have no idea as a result of the supply works for them. I’m good at adjusting into the ears of these I’m interesting to. I’m on the level that I carry out to crowds of various races, and your supply issues loads. It’s extra of my expertise with my followers and the place my music is reaching. That is how JAMZ is. For many of the songs on it, you shouldn’t have to be a Ghanian to love them. The supply simply sounds interesting to the ear, and I can’t watch for the followers to listen to it.
You had a giant run a decade in the past, and right here you’re doing it once more. What’s the key to your long-term success?
Very first thing is that it is best to strive to not lose that feeling that makes you fall in love with music. It’s straightforward to fall for the gimmicks, the lies, the hype and the whole lot as an artist. All this stuff are available in after you’re into the sport since you are scared and also you attempt to discover a technique to keep related. Individuals suppose that I’ve had clean crusing resulting from my 10-to-15-years journey, however it isn’t the case. I’ve had instances the place, as a standard human being, issues broke me down. There have been instances the place everybody was saying that I’m performed and they’re bored with listening to my music. There’s at all times somebody arising and evaluating you to this different particular person. However one factor is that I’m a real artist, I respect artwork and I really feel like no one was born to be simply the one. It isn’t even logic. I believe your understanding of life basically would make you be handled the way in which it’s. And now, when somebody comes up and the particular person is dope, that could be a blessing from God.
There’s a major shift going down within the African music trade, specifically with regard to the continued use of social media platforms like TikTok. How have you ever skilled that as an artist?
Like I mentioned, it’s a must to learn the room and ensure music is one thing you are able to do. Typically, being a method may also assist. Because the music trade continues to evolve, you simply have to determine what your strengths are. We’ve individuals who could be a TikTok kind of artist as a result of they naturally have that aspect of them that they’ll change on. Good for them, as a result of in the event you can’t, that’s not the one method you can survive.
You can’t inform me that since you don’t have a TikTok account you can’t be an artist. That doesn’t make sense. It helps, and so if you are able to do it, why not? I’m not on Snapchat, I’m not too energetic on TikTok, however I make the most of what I do know greatest, and even when I’m not so energetic on TikTok, I’d discover methods to creep in there. However it doesn’t guarantee something. It’s because you’ll be able to nonetheless go there and never make it. I simply suppose it is best to keep true to your self and stand for one thing, and never fall for the whole lot that comes.
What would you like your legacy to be when it’s all mentioned and performed?
Sarkodie’s legacy is a man that got here into this world and believed in one thing. He had lots of people that believed in him, that he was cussed sufficient to have the ability to show it — a complete record of stuff. However the widespread instance is the truth that I used to be rapping in Twi and I believed that I used to be capable of take Twi someplace. I used to be capable of push it and transcend the shores of Ghana. There have been a whole lot of setbacks, that it wasn’t potential as a result of it was like folks didn’t perceive me and it was going to be arduous for them to take heed to me. However then, once I stood on the BET stage, taking my award for the Finest Worldwide Circulate in 2019, I mentioned to myself, “I’m one cussed particular person, however I believed in one thing, and at the moment I’m right here.” I wish to be remembered as somebody who was actually cussed about his dream and was capable of obtain it.
