Kofi Kinaata

Ghanaian musician

  • Team Move Music
  • High Grade Family (former)
Musical artist

Martin King Arthur (born April 15, 1990), popularly known as Kofi Kinaata, is a Ghanaian musician and songwriter from Takoradi.[1][2] Known for his Fante rap and freestyle,[3] he is often referred to by the moniker of Fante Rap God (FRG).[4][5]

Early life and education

Kofi Kinaata was born on April 15, 1990, and raised in Effiakuma, a residential town in Takoradi in the Western Region of Ghana. He attended Nana Brempong Yaw School for his basic school education and Takoradi Technical Institute for his secondary level education.[6][7]

Music career

In 2008, Kofi Kinaata participated in the Melody FM (Kasahari) rap competition and emerged as first runner-up.[8] He released his first single, "Obi Ne Ba" in 2011.[9] In 2013, he became part of the High Grade Family, a music collective established by Samini, where he received mentorship and gained national prominence.[10][11][12]

In December 2015, he released a song titled "Made in Taadi" which was a jam for most Fante people due to links with their famous "Ankos" (fancy dress and Masqueraders Xmas Carnival), a festival which happens every December 24.[13]

He is noted for his unique rhyme schemes and humorous rap style.[14][15] In February 2020, Kinaata became the first-ever Artist to win the hybrid song of the year Award at the Ghana Gospel Music Awards.[16]

Kofi Kinaata has won Songwriter of the Year three times consecutively at the Ghana Music Awards .[17]In September 2023, Kinaata performed at the Ghana Football Association (GFA) Awards.[18]

In May 2024, Kinaata released his first-ever EP, titled Kofi OO Kofi.[19][20] The Album contained seven tracks including Auntie Ama, Abonsam, Saman, Effiakuma Broke, I don't Care, Take Away and Overthinking.[21]

Confession

Released in 2016, the song, Confession, became a hit and confirmed Kinaata's status as a music star. The song's lyrics were adopted by the English department of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology[22][23][24] for a Level 200 semester course (English Literature 263). In an end of semester exams, the song which is recorded in Kinaata's native Fante was translated to English with students required to study the lyrics and analyse its literary appreciation.

In his last interview before he was relieved of duties as Coach of Blackstars, Israeli Avram Grant to Bola Ray on Starr Chat that Confession was his favourite.[25]

Kinaata's "Confession" was used in 2017 as the theme song by the Minority party (NDC) as a tease to the majority in parliament (NPP) to describe the state of the nation.[26][27] Players of Ghana Blackstars further popularise the song by doing the Confession dance in goals' celebration at 2017 AFCON 2017 Tournament in Gabon.[28][29]

The song received considerable playtime, helping Kinaata to win Song Writer of the Year and Best New Artiste of the Year awards at the 2016 Ghana Music awards.[30]

Things Fall Apart

Kinaata released another single, Things Fall Apart, in 2019. The song was an instant success as it topped charts across music platforms, including iTunes Ghana Top 100, Audiomack Ghana Top 20 and Boomplay AfroBeats charts for weeks. The song, produced by TwoBars also featured on YouTube's Ghana trends with fellow celebrities such as Asamoah Gyan,[31] Michael Essien, Kwami Sefa Kai, Phillip Osei Bonsu, Sadick Adams, KiDi, Efya, Berla Mundi, Joe Beecham rating it highly.[32][33][34]

Collaborations

Kofi Kinaata has collaborated with artistes such as; Sarkodie, Shatta Wale, Samini, Stonebwoy, Kwesi Arthur, Jayso, Castro, Becca, Fancy Gadam, among others.[35][36] His works on Odo Pa by Castro and Ghana Black Stars captain Asamoah Gyan shot him into limelight. Kinaata has credited Castro for being a godfather and an inspiration who paved his smooth entry into Ghana's music industry.[37][38][39][40] Obase Aboli, a Cameroonian musician[41] in a September 2021 interview disclosed his interest to collaborate with Kinaata. In March 2024, Kinaata featured on a song called "Sika" by Okyeame Kwame.[42][43]

Management

Samini and Tony Pun signed Kofi Kinaata to the Samini Music/ High Grade Family record label in 2013.[44][45][46][47][48][49][50] Kofi Kinaata left the label in 2018 after his 5-year contract with the management ended.[51][52] He's currently an independent artiste with 'Team Move Music' which he heads as his management.[53]

Made in Taadi Concert

Kinaata's annual ‘Made in Taadi Concert’ is one of the music events that music lovers in the Western and Central Regions of Ghana aniticipates. Both Kinaata's fans and music lovers travel all over Ghana to witness the concert which is usually held in Takoradi around Christmas.[54]Over the years, the event has witnessed performances by acts such as; Stonebwoy, Sarkodie, Shatta Wale, Pappy Kojo, Joey B, Kwaw Kese, Medikal, Kidi, Edem, etc.[55] In 2019, Made in Taadi concert was listed as one of the top 100 events in Ghana by Ghana Event Awards.[56]

EPs

Kofi OO Kofi (2024)

  • Auntie Ama (Prod. by Woode)
  • Abonsam (Prod. by TwoBars)
  • Saman (Prod. by Woode)
  • Effiakuma Broken Heart (Prod. by Elorm Beatz)
  • I Don't Care (Prod. by TwoBars & Abochi)
  • Take Away (Prod. by TubhaniMuzik & Klassik Beatz)
  • Overthinking (Prod. by Abochi & Skonti)

Endorsements

Kofi Kinaata was made a brand ambassador of Good Day Energy Drink on Thursday, June 24, at Lesfam in Madina, Accra.[57] In May 2021, he was unveiled together with Diana Hamilton as the Brand Ambassadors of Enterprise Life.[58][59] He is also a Goodwill ambassador for UN's International Organization for Migration (IOM).[60]

Videography

Year Title Director Ref
2013 Odo Pa (as a featured artiste with Castro and Asamoah Gyan) Nana Kofi Asihene [61]
2014 Oh Azaay Prince Dovlo [62]
2015 Susuka Xbills Ebenezer [63]
The Crusade (with Donzy) Yaw Skyface [64]
2016 This Year ft Samini Prince Dovlo [65]
2017 Confession Yaw Skyface [66]
Last Show [67]
2018 Single and Free Snares [68]
No Place Like Home IOM Project [69]
2019 Illegal Fishing Abass [70]
Never Again ft Shatta Wale [71]
Adam & Eve Babs Direction [72]
Things Fall Apart [73]
2020 Never Again [74]

Awards and nominations

Discography

Singles

Year Title Production Ref
2014 Onnyi Chorus Oilcity Vybez [75]
Oh Azaay Dr Ray [76]
2015 Made in Taadi WillisBeatz [77]
Susuka Kin Dee [78]
The Crusade (with Donzy) Seshi [79]
2016 My Level Kin Dee [80]
Time No Dey [81]
Sweetie Pie [82]
2017 Confession [83]
Last Show WillisBeatz [84]
Single and Free [85]
Play Dr Ray [86]
2018 Action Time JMJ
No Place Like Home Beatz Nation
Malafaka Kin Dee
The Whole Show
2019 Illegal Fishing BlaqKeyz
Never Again Kin Dee
Adam and Eve Shottoh Blinqx
Things Fall Apart Two Bars
2020 Behind The Scenes [87]


References

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