Since his emergence in 2017, Kwesi Arthur has been a keynote speaker for the streets. The Tema boy with the locs and that voice. But it was what he said, streetwise knowledge and urgent drills, that popularised his name amongst the youth. Soon, on the streets, he was regarded as a sort of rapping and singing prophet. And whether you preferred the razor-sharp hardcore raps, his youthful chronicles of life in Tema, or the moody melodies he pivots into reflections on the hollow pursuit of love, Kwesi’s catalogue had it all. Ghana had a new superstar.
Kwesi used the next years to hone in on this fact. Covering all the bases of a new-age rap scene, taking it to a new dimension. But despite the domination – or perhaps because of it – Kwesi would face his fair share of troubles in the industry, troubles with loyalty and trust.
After becoming the poster child for the emerging label Ground Up Chale, in 2022, in a series of since-deleted tweets Kwesi called out the label, claiming he was being “taken advantage of.” Shortly after, the partnership ended in a public fallout over publishing and distribution disputes. All the while, he put his trials into the music. And, after all the tribulations, label issues, and increased scrutiny from fans, his debut album “Son of Jacob” felt like the beginning of something new. But for the artist, an era was coming to an end. The following year, Kwesi cut his hair and, while still dropping occasional cuts and features, he largely disappeared from public life.
It’s 2024. And Kwesi Arthur is back. On “This Is Not The Tape III” (his album precursor mixtape series), Tema’s very own returns with a vengeance. The music is raw. He’s taking bigger lyrical swings and getting wilder results. There’s a confidence that exudes beyond the music. He’s freshly independent, owns a new label,“Sisi.” He’s taken charge of his career. In conversation with IMullar, Kwesi Arthur discussed everything from elevating Ghanaian rap with Joey B and collaborating with Da Honorable C. N.O.T.E. to taking business into his own hands. In his own words: “It’s going to be a good year. I can feel it already.”
On cutting his hair
Cutting my dreads off was just me being tired of having it on my head. I’ve had it for five years, and that can get tiring. I wanted to try something new. In a way, it’s also kind of me announcing a new era. People haven’t seen me with a short fade before and to them, that marks a new era. I don’t want to be defined by my hair, there’s more to Kwesi Arthur than just the trademark hair.
Why he’s been away.
People are not getting what they expect from me, so they think I’m away. But if you are a true follower, you know I’ve consistently dropped music. But I understand where the narrative stems from because there was a time when I used to flood fans with music every month. But I’m glad this tape is out now.
On getting this far.
I can only be me, the same as you. Fortunately for me, I’ve been gifted and touched by God, my creator. How I came onto this earth, my journey, and how my life has transpired into good days, my story is truly unique. To me, that is enough proof to say God has touched me. And the devil will always want what God wants. Responding to the right call is what will make you different. I understand my gift as an artist, and with Him, everything is possible.
On This Is Not a Tape III and the upcoming album.
This is the third installment to the TINTP franchise, and you know what follows after… an album. I love this tape. I hope it crosses new boundaries. It’s a project heavy enough to stand on its own. Like a prelude to the album.
On getting features from IDK and Da Honorable C. N.O.T.E.
It was quite a trip. Da Honorable C.N.O.T.E is a legend, for real. How this song came about was crazy. I was in the studio with Free The Youth, they had the beat, they were working on their project and we recorded a couple of songs. After making “Jungle Music,” I gave it a few spins and was like “Yo, I relate to it so well, I need it for my project” and the FTY guys agreed, big love to them. I felt like IDK was the perfect fit for it and he went hard – chale, ein verse dey slap waa! – he bodied it. It added more ink to it “Jungle Music” as a pure hip-hop song.
Creating a new sound on “Raging Bull” with Joey B and Kreptismenace.
I was at Tema when Krept sent me the beat. I told him “This is crazy, I’m coming to the stu right now” – and drove straight to Joey B’s studio. I didn’t even have a writing session, the lyrics just came to me. We played it for Joey, he loved it and made a verse. We made it in 2022, we’ve been going back and forth regarding the song’s release. Glad it’s finally out, especially at a time when Joey is trying to introduce that type of sound here. “Raging Bull” adds more weight to the movement of being free as an artiste.
On experimenting with new sounds.
Nowadays, I don’t fancy people’s expectations, I like what I like, I study music, and the scene as well. If you’ve been with me from the start, you know that I’ve always been creative and experimental with the music I make. As a country with a good creative scene, we need to diversify our craft and give artists the chance to try something new, after all, that’s what creativity is about. Personally, I can’t do the same thing throughout just because I’m good at it, I’m way too diverse to stick to one thing. I understand the backlash but I want to be free.
On music ownership and partnering with Even.
My music is important to me, it’s my craft, it’s what I use to feed my family, my legacy – a legacy I’m looking to leave behind for generations after me. Even is a platform that supports this in terms of giving the music directly to the fans, without using mainstream streaming platforms. So my Tape is exclusive on Even under the “Proud 2 Pay” model, a strategy pioneered by Nipsey Hussle where fans can pay however much they feel like a project deserves. I get the funds directly, I don’t have to wait for months to receive royalties, it’s a great platform. I wanna serve my people, I’ve been seeing the complaints online, I’ve been starving them for a long time and it’s time to feed them directly with music. That’s the whole concept behind me partnering with Even.
What he’s learned in the industry.
If there’s anything I’ve learned: business is business. Whoever you get into business with, make sure you champion your interests and consult who you have to consult before you put pen to paper. Always remember, nobody is entitled to have your best interest at heart, so you just have to be careful and prioritize your craft. Never put anything above you or your craft. These are my guidelines moving forward.
On how he handles criticism
Criticism used to get to me in the beginning. But in this whole music journey, I have dreams for myself, a purpose – to inspire people and motivate them. I keep that message in my head and focus. I don’t get carried away by compliments, nor do I get rattled by the backlash, it comes with the job, and you have to deal with it alone. I know what I want from this music thing, and that’s all that matters. There’s enough will to dominate, these things don’t faze me.
Stream “This Is Not A Tape III” Here.
