Ghanaian hiplife music lyrics are not very conscious or political in general but one artiste has gained a reputation for making political songs. His 'Letter to Parliament' ruffled feathers in high places and gained him many fans, critics and detractors. A-Plus keeps moving on though and continues to be one of the best rappers in Ghana. Museke.com caught up with him to discuss his thoughts on politics and music and his own music career. Below is the transcript of the interview.

Museke.com: How are you doing?
A-Plus: Am good Sir

Museke.com: Can you tell us about your background and family?
A-Plus: Am Kwame Asare Obeng, from Saltpond in the central region of Ghana.

Museke.com: How did you all get interested in rap music and what was your first big break?
A-Plus: I went to my Dad's basic school and then went to Swedru Secondary School. i have five siblings and am the second. After JSS, awaiting my results I decided to while away time with listening and writing of songs. thus copyright. And so when i went to secondary school I had written so many songs that I was the only person who could rap the most popular and difficult songs. Basically I was the main entertainer. After school I realized what I was doing for fun in school was what other were making a living from so I decided to pursue it.
My first big break was when I recorded my first political song- freedom of speech one.

Museke.com: How did you get the name A-Plus?
A-Plus: I decided to call myself A Plus when I decided to do music profesionally. I knew that people were doing very well in the music industry those days, like tic tac, obrafour, vip etc. But I knew I was going to do best. So if they all have A in music I was going to get the A with the Plus.

Museke.com: You’ve become synonymous with political hiplife in Ghana. What made you choose to make songs like that?
A-Plus: I have always been an opinion leader. From my school days I hated to be dictated to. I always wanted to have a say in what concerned me. When I grew up I was itching to have a voice in society. Because I was not a journalist or on radio, I decided to put my views into music. That was how I was going to get my message across. I do political songs to let the politicians know that there is an eye out there watching.

Museke.com: Which musicians African and foreign) did you listen to growing up?
A-Plus: Fela is the man. My dad loved Fela's songs so much and we played it almost every day

Museke.com: You composed a song for Nana Akufo Addo during the last election. He made an effort to use young Ghanaian musicians in his campaign. What did you make of that?
A-Plus: I think he made the right decision. It made us musicians have the opportunity to be treated as stars. It is one of the greatest experiences I have had in life.

Museke.com: Do you think President Atta Mills is dedicated enough to the growth of the Ghanaian music industry? What must he do to help?
A-Plus: Every government has a manifesto and an agenda. I believe that no government can do everything. Former President Kuffour built stadiums for footballers and fans. Nana Addo's agenda was to build big theatres for us and pass laws that will protect us. President Mills has not clearly said his position in respect to the two. I will congratulate him for not going after any musician after election. That alone gives us freedom to do what we want to do. In life, if you have freedom you have everything. He's doing his best where he can. Let's hope we the musicians fall in this plans somewhere somehow. Let's hope so.

Museke.com: What’s the name of your latest album and where can we get the music to buy?
A-Plus: The latest song i made is 'Excuse me'. It is a single. I did not make this one for the market. It was just to send a message and I believe it did.

Museke.com: What do u think of the Atta Mills' ringtone?
A-Plus: You see if you don't want people to talk ill of you or make fan of you, don't do politics. If you do you have to be ready for things like ringtones and all.

Museke.com: What did you feel about the backlash that came with your letter to parliament song (the threats, etc)?
A-Plus: I am a very tolerant person and don't care what people say about me. I do what I want, I deem right and do it ucz I want to do it. As for threats, it is the least of all the problems I have. It is my dream to die a hero, legend. What ever you do, death is inevitable, something must definitely kill a man. And if I die for a good cause I wont have a problem.

Museke.com: What has been your most difficult song to write?
A-Plus: A letter to parliament. I composed that song in three days.

Museke.com: Which of your songs has made the most impact of all or made the best impression you wanted on the public?
A-Plus: Agye gon. That song is the best I have ever written

Museke.com: What are some of the highlights of your career so far?
A-Plus: The highlights of my career are many. I have been a panelist on BBC's Africa have your say. live studio guest on network Africa. World Bank documentry on Africa and corruption, guest speaker at the secod youth summit Ghana. Perfomed on the AU debate, have had my music play on every major radio and tv's prime time news, etc etc

Museke.com: Where do you get inspiration for your lyrics?
A-Plus: I believe it's divine

Museke.com: ‘A letter to the West’ was the first music video of yours that I saw. Why didn’t you make any videos for the previous ones? Tell us the story behind that video.
A-Plus: I was inspired to do that song after the World Bank documentary. I think that the fight against corruption should not be only by Africans but people in the west as well. That's why I said anytime you pay your tax in the West remember that that money can end up in the pocket of some corrupt leader. Because your government gives it to Africa as aid. I shot a video for that particular song to tell the whole world some of the things that go on here in Africa. I shot that video to let people see that if Ghana, one of the most civilized states in Africa, has schools under trees and human beings drinking water from the same pond cattle drink from, what will the uncivilized parts of Africa look like.

Museke.com: You’ve had some popular songs which were not political. Do you think they got the airplay they deserved compared to the political ones?
A-Plus: Of course yes. Like mirror mirror. It did very well and is still doing well.

Museke.com: Which African musicians do you admire (presently)?
A-Plus: Right now they are all talking about women and cars. That's not my kind of music. Akon has some good songs though.

Museke.com: Which musicians would you like to collaborate with?
A-Plus: If it's Ghana you are talking about, then i will say, Sidney (Barima). And he's a good friend you know.

Museke: Do you think hiplife (as we knew it) is dying? What is your opinion on the different types of hiplife these days?
A-Plus: We Ghanaian musicians are not monolitic. We are not traditional and myopic, we study the system and conform to what is going on. The Nana Ampadu thems took over from some generation of musicians, then there came the Daddy Lumba thems, then hiplife took over. We don't want to let go easily so we work hard to give our fans what they want. Even though the music industry as a whole has taken a nose dive, we are still on top

Museke.com: Do you think the need for a record label is disappearing due to new channels of distribution and independence of musicians?
A-Plus: The fact that a musician is doing his own production does not mean he is not under any record label. It may be yours but that is still a record label. You just have to put things right and have very good management in place.

Museke.com: What challenges do you face in the Ghanaian music industry?
A-Plus: Piracy and payola are the basics. But I also think that we as Ghanaians don't appreciate what we have. And the people refuse to see you as somebody with talent. Rather they see you as a desperate person who is trying to make ends meet.

Museke.com: Do you have a new album coming out soon? Can you tell us about it?
A-Plus: Am still working on it. It will be ready soon. I mean very soon.

Museke.com: What are your future plans?
A-Plus: My plans for the future is far from music. I want to see my company, North East Discount Limited become Ghana's number one company. I will make music alongside. But trust me it is not part of my future plans.

Museke.com: Do you have any present engagements and works other than music?
A-Plus: I do comedy you know. I love to see happy people. I just love it. And I can make you lose a rib.

Museke.com: What is one interesting thing about you that some of us fans don't know?
A-Plus: Playing my play station three fifa soccer and drinking my small whisky. LOL and when am tipsy I tell all the jokes. I don't like to be drunk. I love to be tipsy and my eyes are that sexy. LOL. you cant stand it. Hahahahaha

Museke.com: LOL. Do you have a website?
A-Plus: No. (contact A-Plus through A-Plus' Facebook)

Museke.com: Do you have any messages for fans, family, etc?
A-Plus: Am still working hard to become an icon for generations to come. I want it to happen that in the event of my demise, my legend, my legacy etc will touch people positively, and will be passed on from generation to generation like some precious gift, whose value can never ever be measured.

Museke.com: Thank you for your time.
A-Plus: You are most welcome.

Photos from A-Plus' Facebook