Renowned Ghanaian sound engineer and producer GuiltyBeatz has opened up about the unexpected turn of events that led to his collaboration with global pop icon Beyoncé.
In an interview with Sincerely Accra, aired on Monday, June 23, 2025, GuiltyBeatz (real name Ronald Banful) reflected on the moment that changed his career trajectory.\
The Grammy-nominated producer recalled being jet-lagged after returning to Ghana from a trip, only to be invited to a spontaneous studio session. Unknown to him and the other 20 producers in the room, Beyoncé’s team would be arriving unannounced to scout talent for an upcoming project.
“I had just landed in Ghana from a trip. I was a bit jet-lagged but had a session scheduled with a few other producers. We were just vibing in the studio when Beyoncé’s team suddenly showed up,” he said.
The producers were asked, one after the other, to connect to the studio’s aux cable and play a beat on the spot.
“I just landed, and they took me straight to that conference room and they were passing the aux cables around. They were like, ‘You play, you play.’ No, she wasn’t around, so I was like, what kind of pressure is this?”
When it was his turn, GuiltyBeatz played an instrumental he had produced for Ghanaian rapper Pappy Kojo titled “Thomas Pompoyɛyaw” — a song that fused highlife elements with modern Afrobeat energy.
“It’s a very local, highlife-inspired beat, very authentic to the Ghanaian sound. But to my surprise, they were feeling it! They liked the energy, the bounce, everything,” he shared.
The beat was a hit with Beyoncé’s team, and by the next day, the global superstar herself was in GuiltyBeatz’s studio in Accra.
“She came to my studio with her entire team. We locked in and started working right away. It was surreal. She was down-to-earth, focused, and really open to experimenting with African rhythms,” he recalled.
That moment became a defining one in GuiltyBeatz’s career, as he went on to contribute to multiple tracks on Beyoncé’s 2019 album, The Lion King: The Gift. His production work can be heard on fan favorites like “Already” featuring Shatta Wale and “Keys to the Kingdom.”
Reflecting on the experience, he concluded:
“It taught me that sometimes, all you have to do is show up and stay true to your sound. You never know who’s listening.”
The collaboration remains one of the most impactful Ghanaian contributions to a global music project, bridging cultures and showcasing African creativity on the world stage.
