Sarkodie is unarguably Ghana’s most successful and best rapper of all time. He’s also widely believed to be Africa’s finest rapper presently with several local and international awards yet to be equaled by any rapper on the continent.
The iconic rapper, whose real name is Michael Owusu Addo is the first Ghanaian artiste to win a BET Award for the “Best International Act (Africa) in 2012 which served as the tone for his greater things to come in his musical journey.
Sarkodie was born on July 10, 1988, in Tema and was raised singlehandedly by his mother Emma Maame Aggrey. He was the fourth child out of five children.
He started knocking on the doors of fame as a fearsome underground rapper when he was in Junior High School. He was a former student of IPMC (one of the leading computer schools in Ghana) where he gained a degree in Graphic Designing. He also attended Tema Methodist Day Senior High School.
Sarkodie, who goes by the moniker Obidi gained ‘cameo’ recognition when he started competing in rap battles, notably “Kasahare Level” on Adom FM saw him knocking out several other rappers and becoming a rap champion in Tema.
It was through these rap battles that he met his manager Duncan Williams of Duncwills Entertainment. He also met Edem, Castro and other artistes who introduced him to a renowned sound engineer who had previously worked with seasoned rappers like Obrafour, Tinny, Kwaw Kesse and Edem. Hammer gave Sarkodie his first shot on Edem’s 2008 album, Volta Regime to introduce him before the recording of his debut album.
He grabbed the opportunity with both arms as he spat real bars fluidly mixed with hardcore metaphors in his native language.
In 2015, Sarkodie was ranked the 19th most Influential Ghanaian by e.tv Ghana. He is considered one of the major proponents of the Azonto genre and dance. Sarkodie released his first album Maakye in 2009, Rapperholic (2012), Sarkology (2013), Mary (2015), Highest (2018), Black Love (2019) and one Mix Tape dubbed Alpha.
Sarkodie has received 87 awards from 158 nominations, including 22 Ghana Music Awards. Makye, his debut studio album, won him three awards at both the 4syte TV Music Video Awards and Ghana Music Awards.
The album also earned him a nomination at the 2010 MTV Africa Music Awards. Rapperholic, his second studio album, earned him accolades at the 2012 editions of the BET Awards, The Headies, Ghana Music Awards, National Youth Achievement Awards, MOBO Awards, and Channel O Music Video Awards.
SOURCE: www.Ghgossip.com
