I've known Eli Jacobs-Fantauzzi for a long time since he started working on this documentary on Hiplife. Made a couple of trips to his place to help him with some Twi translations, etc, that was fun. The much anticipated documentary, HomeGrown: HipLife in Ghana, is finally out and it is on tour. The documentary follows the career of arguably Ghana's most famous hiplife musicians, VIP. It starts as early as the time they are underground. Eli had been living in Ghana the whole time and has a lot of exclusive footage. You can't miss this. Catch it one of these days.

HomeGrown: HipLife in Ghana is a feature-length documentary about the Ghanaian HipLife group V.I.P. (Vision In Progress), and the film documents ten years of their journey from the ghetto in Accra to their first international tour. They grow from being teenagers with a shared dream to musicians with fans around the wor...ld.

I was so excited when I heard Obrafour was releasing some new singles after his Heavy album in 2006. Obrafour is my favorite rapper and through the years, he's faced a lot of criticism, but I don't think he has hardly put a foot wrong. Obrafour is a wise man, like we see from his lyrics and he knew he was re-entering the music industry at an interesting time that called for some creativity and hard work. He delivered his singles and he has quickly become the talk of the town. I am really looking forward to getting his "Asem beba dabi" album and I hope it does really well and Obrafour becomes an international superstar. It's about time. His singles have caused some controversy and I'll like to discuss the issues arising.

This blog entry is upon request to list the Top 10 Hiplife artistes currently eliminating those who haven't done anything in a year and half. In determining this order, I took into consideration, artiste popularity, song popularity, demand for shows/concerts, award recognition, number of features with other artistes, amongst others. I also took out the groups with more than one member, and artistes who are more Afro pop or hip-hop. This is not scientific and this list is adjudged by a committee of one. Let's get into the countdown.

The most-talked about rapper in Ghana these days is Sarkodie. This may change soon, with the emergence of Yaa Pono, another rapper based in Tema. Where from these guys? Before their freestyles hit Facebook and Youtube, they were turning heads on Adom FM's Kasahare level show hosted by Dr. Duncan.

Kasahare level is a hiplife/rap show on Adom 106.3 FM every Saturday night. Kasahare (talking fast) is the Twi name for Rap. Dr. Duncan interviews various musicians, plays some old and new songs and organizes a rap battle. Sarkodie and Yaa Pono were discovered on this show. Other rappers who came through this show are Kojo Korea and Burbon Fly. Adom FM is a radio station based in Tema and is a sister station to Accra's Joy FM and Kumasi's Luv FM. There is the hiplife crew from Kumasi, and that from Accra, and they may be making way for the boys of Tema (R2Bees is also from Tema).

M3nsa is one of the most respected rappers in Ghana and one of the mainstays since the beginning of the hiplife movement. He featured on many Reggie Rockstone hits and released a few singles over the years. He is preparing to unleash an EP (Extended Play) album later this year. Museke asked him about his music, thoughts on Ghanaian hip-hop, hiplife and his plans. Below is the transcript.

Museke.com: How be Chale?
M3nsa: OH CHALE I BASE!! I DEY COOL!

Museke.com: Can you tell us about your background and family?
M3nsa: I am the third born son of Ghanaian parents. I grew up in Ghana and over the last seven years I have spent time in LA and London. My father, Tumi Ebo Ansah, rocked stages as a guitarist of British afro-pop sensation, OSIBISA, and also starred in HERITAGE AFRICA (winner of the outstanding film award at the 1989 London Film Festival) and my mother, the biggest influence on my music, taught me to play the piano when I was just eight years old. My brother is an amazing comic(graphic) artist/ currently working on his new novel. My cousin, Joey Ansah has featured in popular movies such as the BOURNE ULTIMATUM and BATMAN BEGINS. I also have an uncle who is a film director, Kwaw Ansah, who directed HERITAGE AFRICA, and another one Kofi Ansah, a fashion designer who designed clothes for the royal family wedding in the 1980s. My artistic background has definitely influenced me and continues to inspire my work , and in a sense gives me the right kind of pressure because everyone in the family excels in their discipline... Its very motivating.

Sarkodie Obedempong’s sense of humor is rarely in doubt and he’s not afraid to let u know. An encounter with him is always a welcome one for me. Whether making fun of wannabe Legon girls or just plain political satire, he’s sure to get the humor out of a listener with his outrageous lyrics. Along the line, this interview would inevitably turn into a rib cracking session.

Today the emcee is on a black t-shirt with the statement “I LOVE TRACY,” on pair blue jeans and his standard addidas sneakers. Ask who Tracy is, and without hesitation he declares that she happens to be the love of his life. Nothing unusual, but don’t get it twisted, this Hiplife emcee is nothing like your ordinary .Sarkodie Obidi belongs to that rare select of emcees who can deliver a series of punch lines in one breath, known as ‘twisters.’ The trick is, this man takes it to a different level. His, is a blend of good humored punch lines delivered with the same speed and precision of a master, puts him ahead of others in this rare art. For his exploits Sarkodie is now rated the fastest rapper in the Twi dialect. No bad, for someone who admits that back in the day he did his thing the regular way ,like most emcees do, but only decided to flip the script a bit after it got too monotonous for him.

Sex sells and we all know that. It sells even more when you are adored by female fans and don’t have to try too hard to get them screaming sexy! Haven’t you ever wondered though; which artistes have got the female masses under wraps; and is sure to get them wide eyed and bodies tingling any day? Besides, what goes into being considered a sex symbol?

To most ladies I spoke to, the criteria is really yet to be defined when it comes to determining which GH act gets them going. There’s always existed a train of thought that, being a star is the automatic qualification to being a ladies man but in recent times it looks as if the womenfolk are upping the scale on their pick of the sexiest male celebrities.
Nowadays before female fans buy into a male artiste as sexy, it is their prerequisite that he must be cute [a very tricky one!], muscular [Notwistanding that he may just be slim], his fashion sense and more practically, how good he is as an artiste.