Ghanaian rapper Lyrical Joe has revealed that losing his parents at a young age became the defining force behind his resilience, relentless work ethic, and eventual rise in music.
Speaking in an interview on TV3 Afternoon Show with host Godwin Namboh on Thursday, February 26, the rapper opened up about how life changed dramatically after he lost both parents at the age of 12. According to him, the tragedy forced him to mature quickly and confront life’s harsh realities at an early stage.
Lyrical Joe described the experience as both a blessing and a curse. While it stripped him of the comfort and security most children enjoy, it also ignited a deep sense of determination within him.
“There was nowhere to run to. I had no excuse to fail, so I just had to go hard,” he said, explaining how the absence of a safety net pushed him to develop a survival mindset.
It was during this challenging period that he began writing music intensely. Although he did not immediately start recording or performing, writing became his emotional outlet. By the age of 12, he was already filling notebooks with lyrics, using words as a way to process grief and express his thoughts.
Music, he noted, had always been present in his upbringing. Growing up in Accra, he was introduced to reggae through his father, who was a devoted fan of the genre. His earliest musical inspiration was legendary Jamaican icon Bob Marley.
“I could perform Bob Marley songs for my father’s friends. Everyone knew I loved music,” he recalled fondly.
His transition into hip-hop happened later, influenced largely by his brother, who was already involved in rap. After relocating from Accra and staying with his sister, Lyrical Joe would often receive phone calls from his brother requesting verses.
With limited access to recording equipment or technology at the time, he would simply read his lyrics aloud from his notebooks over the phone.
Those humble beginnings, he explained, marked the true start of his journey into rap music.
Today, Lyrical Joe is widely respected within Ghana’s hip-hop scene for his lyrical depth, storytelling ability, and authenticity. He believes those qualities stem directly from the life experiences that shaped him at a young age.
His story stands as a powerful reminder that adversity can be transformed into purpose. Through discipline, passion, and resilience, Lyrical Joe turned personal loss into the fuel that propelled him toward success in music.
