Ghanaian rapper and hip-life legend Kwaw Kese has boldly declared himself as the only hip-life artiste still active and thriving in the genre.
Speaking in an interview on Hitz FM on Thursday, October 9, the “Abodam” hitmaker emphasized his enduring impact on Ghana’s music scene, asserting that he and others from his era helped shape the foundation of the country’s contemporary sound.
“We helped shape this industry. Like, I am the only hip-life musician alive right now doing great and still doing it,” Kwaw Kese stated.
The rapper expressed disappointment that most of his contemporaries have moved away from the hip-life sound that once dominated Ghana’s airwaves, choosing instead to align with the booming Afrobeats trend.
“These hip-life musicians, they don’t do it anymore. Most of them have turned from doing hip-life to singing, trying to do their Afrobeat — and I still do my thing, hip-life, hundred percent,” he added.
Kwaw Kese, known for his raw lyrics, energetic stage performances, and rebellious persona, has been one of the most consistent figures in the Ghanaian music industry since the early 2000s. His declaration reignites the conversation about the evolution of hip-life, a genre that once defined Ghana’s urban music culture but has since seen a decline in mainstream presence.
Hip-life, a fusion of hip-hop and Ghanaian highlife rhythms, rose to prominence in the late 1990s and early 2000s through pioneers such as Reggie Rockstone, Obrafour, Lord Kenya, and Okyeame Kwame. However, the genre has struggled to maintain dominance in recent years, with the rise of Afrobeats and other contemporary sounds capturing younger audiences.
Kwaw Kese’s assertion positions him as a torchbearer for the genre’s legacy, as he continues to release hip-life-inspired tracks while balancing modern influences.
His comments have since sparked debate among fans and industry observers about whether hip-life is truly fading or simply evolving into new forms of Ghanaian urban music.
