‘Okyeame Kwame Is The Best’

--- says Kwesi Kyei Darkwa

By James Harry Obeng

Okyeame Kwame -- The Best?

The fierce contestations that rocked Okyeame Kwame sometime ago after he had touted himself as the ‘Best Rapper Alive’ may have extinguished now, but there appears to be some music connoisseurs who still believe the rapper was not wrong after all.

Such connoisseurs share the unwavering opinion that aside the rapper possessing an extraordinary music talent, the music industry also needed to celebrate all such musicians who exploit their creativity in a way that no other has done before.

This was what Kwesi Kyei Darkwa, well-known in showbiz by his initials K.O.D, had to say about Okyeame Kwame a fortnight ago at the Aphrodisiac Nite Club at Nhyiaeso in Kumasi, during the official video premiere of the rapper’s latest single, ‘Mr. Versatile.’

In an apparent appreciation of the rapper’s unmatched musical craftsmanship as demonstrated in the song, K.K.D – who was the Master of Ceremony (MC) for the event – indicated that indeed, Okyeame Kwame was the best rapper one could find.

He explained that his comment was not borne out of any personal fondness he has for the musician, but because his song ‘Mr. Versatile’ was one of a kind, which type nobody has done before, globally.

KKD - 'Okyeame Kwame is the best!'

K.K.D added that in his line of work and travels around the world, he had not come across any song that alternates between various genres and presentations, talk less of a musician who does this in just a song. 

However, KKD noted that ‘Mr. Verstaile’ was one rare example of a song in which the rapper alternates between as many as nine music genres, alongside the chorus which is delivered in Blues (by Irene Logan). In all, Okyeame Kwame employs raga in the first rap verse, then switches to Hiplife (second), a blend of ‘adowa’ and ‘kete’ (third and fourth), Highlife (fifth), Hiphop (sixth), swing/jazz (seventh) and rock (eighth).

“Such a musician needs not only be celebrated, but also appreciated and encouraged,” he quipped. The ‘Mr. Versatile’ video can be accessed on TV and the internet – Youtube!

Meanwhile, Okyeame Kwame declined to comment as to whether or not he is the best, when the ‘Spectator Agoro’ contacted him on Wednesday.