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Kwesi Arthur

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Kwesi Arthur
Kwesi Arthur performing at Alliance Francais.
Background information
Birth nameEmmanuel Kwesi Danso Arthur Junior
Also known asKing Arthur, Diidaday, Heavy Hitta, Young Arthur
Born (1994-12-18) 18 December 1994 (age 29)
Tema, Ghana
OriginGhana
GenresHip hop, Afrobeats
OccupationRapper
Years active2017–present
LabelsGroundUp

Emmanuel Kwesi Danso Arthur (born 18 December 1994), known professionally as Kwesi Arthur, is a Ghanaian rapper, singer and songwriter from Tema. He rose to fame in 2017 with the hit single "Grind Day", which received widespread acclaim, a co-sign and a chart-topping remix from rap heavyweights Sarkodie and Medikal.[1][2] In 2019, his second EP, Live from Nkrumah Krom Vol II, garnered more than 2 million streams in the first week of its release.[3]

Arthur has won several accolades, including Rapper of the year and Hip Hop Song of the year at the Vodafone Ghana Music Awards as well as a Viewer's Choice Best International Act nomination at the 2018 BET Awards. He became the second Ghanaian rapper to be nominated for BET Hip Hop Awards Cypher after Sarkodie's nomination in 2019.[4]

Early life and education

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Kwesi Arthur was born on 18 December 1998 in Tema. He was raised in Tema Community 9 and is the second of four children with a brother named Benjamin Danso Arthur, who is popularly known as Dayonthetrack and is also a musician. After completing his high school education at Temasco[5] in 2013, Kwesi's plans of furthering his education to study psychology and law at the University of Ghana came to a standstill due to a lack of funds. This led the rapper to consider a job offer as a security guard in Tema.[6] Kwesi Arthur got the security job and worked for a day (he knew it wasn’t his calling) then decided to pursue his music career at a local recording studio instead. Here, he made a deal with the owner of the recording studio to learn music production and record for free; in exchange, Arthur had to perform menial tasks around the studio like sweeping and general maintenance. In 2016, he met management from Ground Up Chale, a social media movement for young artists in West Africa, Ghana. Where he recorded his hit record "Grind Day" at their studios a year later.[7]

Music career

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Kwesi Arthur was discovered by Ghanaian rapper and entrepreneur Sarkodie, whom he featured on one of his hit songs called "Grind Day", alongside Medikal.[8]

Kwesi Arthur started writing raps after listening to Drake's debut album, Thank Me Later.[9]

In 2017, he released the lead single "Grind Day" from his debut EP, Live from Nkrumah Krom (2017). The record was released under his independent outfit and supported by a social movement called GroundUp Chale. He later released the remix for "Grind Day", featuring Sarkodie and Medikal.[10]

Kwesi Arthur has collaborated with numerous Ghanaian musicians, including Sarkodie, Medikal, KiDi, Jason E LA, R2Bees, B4bonah, M3dal, M.anifest, EL, Stonebwoy, Shatta Wale and South African rapper Nasty C . He was nominated for Best International Act at the 2018 BET Awards.[1][2]

Kwesi Arthur is one of the most successful artists in Ghana, with his music being internationally recognized and awarded. In 2020 his song "Live From The 233" was one of the most streamed African songs on the streaming service Apple Music.

Discography

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EPs

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  • Live from Nkrumah Krom (2017)[11]
  • This Is Not The Tape, Sorry 4 The Wait (2019)
  • Live from Nkrumah Krom Vol II Home Run (2019)[12]
  • This Is Not The Tape, Sorry 4 The Wait II (2020)
  • This Is Not The Tape III (2024)[13]

Studio albums

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  • Son Of Jacob (2022)[14]

Singles

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Year Title Production credit Ref
2017 Grind Day Kayso [15]
Grind Day Remix feat Medikal and Sarkodie (rapper) [16]
2018 Anthem Barking by Ramz
2018 Woara (meaning - It Is You) Shotto Blinkz [17]
2018 Don't Keep Me Waiting feat Kidi NytWulf [18]
2019 Zombie TwoBars [19]
2020 Turn On The Lights Yung D3mz
2020 Live from 233 Juiczxx
2020 Baajo feat Joeboy Yung D3mz
2021 Winning feat Vic Mensa Juiczxx
2022 Nirvana fet Kofi Mole Juiczxx [20]

Awards and nominations

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Ghana Music Awards

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Year Recipient/Nominated work Award Result Ref
2018 Himself Hip Hop Song of the Year Won[21] [22]
Hiplife/Hip Hop Artiste of the Year Nominated
New Artiste of the Year Nominated
2021 Himself Hiplife/HipHop Artist of the Year Nominated [23]
Himself International Collaboration of the Year Won [23]

BET Awards

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Year Recipient/Nominated work Award Result Ref
2018 Himself Viewers Choice Best International Act Nominated [24]

3 Music Awards

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Year Recipient/Nominated work Award Result Ref
2019 Himself Hip Hop Song of the Year Nominated [25]
Hiplife/Hip Hop Artiste of the Year Nominated
Hiplife/Hip Hop Act of the Year Nominated
Song of The Year Nominated
Music Man of The Year Nominated
Breakthrough Act Nominated
Digital Act of the Year Nominated
Hiplife Song of the year Nominated
Best Collaboration Won

Videography

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Year Title Director Ref
2017 Grind Day[26] Mickey Johnson [27]
2017 Grind Day Remix[28] Lex Maccarthy [29]
2018 Anthem Akwaada Nyame [30]
2018 Woara Yaw Skyface [31]
2018 Don't Keep Me Waiting feat Kidi Andy Madjitey [32]
2018 Fever feat Rayf RocxNoir [33]
2019 Nobody feat Mr Eazi Yaw Skyface [34]

References

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  1. ^ a b "BET Awards: Kwesi Arthur gets nomination in Viewers' Choice category". Citi Newsroom. 5 June 2018. Retrieved 7 November 2018.
  2. ^ a b "My mum wanted me to do gospel music—Kwesi Arthur". 6 November 2018. Retrieved 6 March 2019.
  3. ^ "REVIEW: Kwesi Arthur's "Live From Nkrumah Krom Vol. II: Home Run"". 26 April 2019.
  4. ^ "Kwesi Arthur Reps Ghana at 2020 BET Hip Hop Awards Cypher". GhanaNotes.com. 20 October 2020. Archived from the original on 13 January 2021. Retrieved 20 October 2020.
  5. ^ "VIDEO: I still owe fees at Temasco - Kwesi Arthur shares heartbreaking story on his journey to success". The Ghana Guardian News.
  6. ^ "Kwesi Arthur reveals how he almost ended up as a security guard". GhanaWeb. 11 August 2018.
  7. ^ Mawuli, David (6 May 2020). "Kwesi Arthur's breakdown of "Grind Day" leaves M.anifest in shock". Pulse Ghana.
  8. ^ "Latest Ghanaian Music News & New Songs". Pulse Ghana. Retrieved 27 April 2023.
  9. ^ "Video: I slept in a kiosk with my parents, siblings – Kwesi Arthur". Retrieved 5 November 2018.
  10. ^ Mawuli, David. "10 things you didn't know about Kwesi Arthur". Retrieved 5 November 2018.
  11. ^ "Listen UP: Kwesi Arthur Drops Debut EP 'Live From Nkrumah Krom' | AmeyawDebrah.com". 30 April 2017. Retrieved 27 March 2024.
  12. ^ "Fans go wild for Kwesi Arthur's new album 'LFNKII – Home Run'". myjoyonline.com. Retrieved 9 May 2019.
  13. ^ "Kwesi Arthur partners Tieme Music on new project 'This is not the Tape III' - MyJoyOnline". www.myjoyonline.com. 19 February 2024. Retrieved 27 March 2024.
  14. ^ "Kwesi Arthur releases much-anticipated 'Son of Jacob' album - MyJoyOnline.com". www.myjoyonline.com. 22 April 2022. Retrieved 30 April 2022.
  15. ^ Zurek, Kweku. "VIDEO: Meet "Grind Day" hitmaker Kwesi Arthur". Graphic Online. Retrieved 6 November 2018.
  16. ^ "Kwesi Arthur features Sarkodie, Medikal on 'Grind Day' remix". ghanaweb.com. 29 December 2017. Retrieved 6 November 2018.
  17. ^ "Kwesi Arthur – Woara (God Engineering) (Prod. by Shotto Blingx)". ghanamotion.com. Retrieved 6 November 2018.
  18. ^ Mawuli, David. "Kwesi Arthur drops "Don't Keep Me Waiting" feat KiDi". Archived from the original on 7 November 2018. Retrieved 6 November 2018.
  19. ^ "Kwesi Arthur – Zombie (Prod. by TwoBars)". afrosages.com. 21 October 2019. Archived from the original on 25 October 2019. Retrieved 2 November 2019.
  20. ^ "Kwesi Arthur releases new track 'Nirvana' - MyJoyOnline.com". www.myjoyonline.com. 21 July 2022. Retrieved 12 November 2022.
  21. ^ "Full list of winners at 2018 Vodafone Ghana Music Awards". Retrieved 7 November 2018.
  22. ^ Anno-Kumi, Kwaku. "Hearts of Oak congratulate Kwesi Arthur on VGMA nominations". Retrieved 7 November 2018.
  23. ^ a b "Full List: Here are the nominees for the 2021 Ghana Music Awards". Pulse Ghana. 4 April 2021. Retrieved 8 October 2022.
  24. ^ "Rap artiste get Ghana first 2018 BET nomination". BBC News Pidgin. 6 June 2018. Retrieved 5 November 2018.
  25. ^ "3Music Awards 2019: Shatta Wale, Stonebwoy, Kwesi Arthur top nomination list". myjoyonline.com. Retrieved 10 May 2019.
  26. ^ "Kwesi Arthur – Grind Day (Prod. by KaySo) • urbanroll". urbanroll.com.gh. Retrieved 6 November 2018.
  27. ^ "Kwesi Arthur – Grind Day (Official Video)". ghanamotion.com. Retrieved 6 November 2018.
  28. ^ Pulse. "Video: Kwesi Arthur – Grind Day Remix feat. Sarkodie & Medikal". pulse.com.gh. Archived from the original on 6 November 2018. Retrieved 6 November 2018.
  29. ^ "VIDEO: Kwesi Arthur Ft. Sarkodie x Medikal – Grind Day (Remix) | 360Nobs.com". www.360nobs.com. Retrieved 6 November 2018.
  30. ^ "VIDEO: The Anthem – Kwesi Arthur – Proudly Ghanaian! | EnewsGH". Proudly Ghanaian! | EnewsGH. 31 January 2018. Retrieved 6 November 2018.
  31. ^ Mawuli, David. "Music Video: Kwesi Arthur – Woara (God Engineering)". Retrieved 6 November 2018.
  32. ^ "Kwesi Arthur x Kidi – Don't Keep Me Waiting (Official Video) • urbanroll". urbanroll.com.gh. Retrieved 6 November 2018.
  33. ^ dcleakers (2 November 2018). "Rayf & Kwesi Arthur – Fever (Official Video) | DCLeakers". www.dcleakers.com. Retrieved 6 November 2018.
  34. ^ Mensah, Jeffrey (29 April 2019). "Kwesi Arthur wipes Efia Odo's Junior US shame with his Nobody music video". Yen.com.gh – Ghana news. Retrieved 10 May 2019.
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