Ghanaian rapper Lyrical Joe has opened up about his disappointment after losing the Best Rap Performance award at the 26th Telecel Ghana Music Awards (TGMA), despite what he described as the enormous effort poured into his nominated track, ‘5th August 8’.
Speaking in an interview with DJ Slim and Doreen Avio on Dabreak Hitz on Hitz FM, Lyrical Joe admitted he had high hopes of clinching the award due to the intense work and creativity behind his 10-minute lyrical masterpiece.
“Yeah, I was disappointed this year because last year’s ‘5th August’ caused me a lot of stress and a lot of work went into it,” he said. “Slim, you know it’s not easy to shoot a 10-minute hip-hop video and keep it top-notch.”
The rapper further explained that his disappointment stems not just from the award loss, but from the emotional and creative investment he made in producing a high-quality rap performance. Known for his annual 5th August freestyle series, Lyrical Joe’s entries often display lyrical dexterity, thematic depth, and high production value.
He emphasized that he has consistently supported and promoted the Best Rap Performance category, actively campaigning each time he is nominated.
“As for me, anytime I’m nominated, I do it. Even my fans alone— they would not let people sleep online. They want us to have the best rap performance and everything,” Lyrical Joe stated.
Despite the letdown, the rapper chose to stay diplomatic, noting that expressing dissatisfaction publicly could be misinterpreted as disrespecting the other nominees or winners.
“There’s never any clean way to complain. You just leave it alone. It’s going to look like you don’t like the other artistes that won,” he said.
Lyrical Joe lost the 2025 Best Rap Performance award to Kwaku Smoke, who won for his song ‘Holy Ghost’. The category also featured strong contenders including ‘Manual’ by Eno Barony, ‘No Competition’ by Okyeame Kwame, ‘Brag’ by Sarkodie, and ‘King is Back’ by Flowking Stone.
In 2022, Lyrical Joe took home the same award with his powerful freestyle ‘5th August 5’, earning praise for his lyrical depth and punchline-heavy delivery.
Although disappointed, the rapper’s remarks show a commitment to his craft and a respect for the industry’s evolving landscape. He concluded the interview with a tone of resilience, hinting at continued dedication to pushing the boundaries of Ghanaian rap.
With consistency, lyrical ingenuity, and a growing fan base, Lyrical Joe remains one of Ghana’s most formidable voices in hip-hop—one who may have lost the award this time, but certainly not his impact.
