Kiddblack, Ghanaian Lyricist and Progressive Rapper Shakes Up Africa’s Hip-Hop Sound
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Kiddblack, Ghanaian Lyricist and Progressive Rapper Shakes Up Africa’s Hip-Hop Sound
NEW YORK, NY (December 2, 2020) - Dennis Dorcoo, popularly known as Kiddblack, is a Ghanaian lyricist and progressive rapper whose unique voice and musical dexterity have established him as a forerunner of the next generation of African rap. Born in Accra, with roots from Mafi Kumasi of the Volta Region in Ghana, this 25-year-old musician is part of a new school of artists shifting the African music industry’s musical landscape. As a member of La Même Gang, a collective of individual independent artists similar to ASAP Mob, who are shaping the new wave of urban music in Ghana, Kiddblack’s lyricism is shaking up the African rap space.
This Friday, Kiddblack is set to premier SPARRING 5, a visual freestyle Series created to respond to his fans’ demand for more of his music during this Covid-19 era. Due to the shift in event planning during the pandemic, Sparring serves as an opening avenue to release music at his own timing, his style, and capability. “They’re pretty much light jabs for people who are fans of bars,” Kiddblack says. “I wanted to rap more and communicate with my fans in my way. With Sparring, there's no schedule; it drops when I have something to say.” This premiere is in anticipation of releasing his newest project, For What It’s Worth, scheduled to be available on all platforms on December 17th, with Pre-orders available from December 10th.
About Kiddblack
Kiddblack’s introduction to American hip-hop and R&B was the music videos and songs his older sister used to listen to in their home growing up. Artists like Jay-Z, Shad Moss, a.k.a Bow Wow, 50 Cent, Ashanti, and Ja Rule were among the artists that marked his interest in the genre. Kiddblack began his musical journey as a choir singer in primary and secondary school, where he sang alto and bass. This training, mixed with Western music’s influence, led him to want to create something of his own. Knowing how powerful words are, he knew that music was going to be his outlet.
Making music was always the plan, but it wasn’t until 2009 when a chance meeting with fellow music enthusiast, Drilix (now Ntelabi) on a basketball court set him on the journey of music-making. In 2017, Kiddblack, along with Darkovibes, RJZ, $pacely, Nxwrth & Kwaku BS, formed the urban collective known as La Même Gang. Together, they made a name for themselves as the new age of Ghanaian music and culture; they dubbed a new genre that’s a cross between Hip hop, Afropop, Afrobeats, and Afro-Trap. They have graced the stages of Skepta's Homecoming Concert (Nigeria, 2019), Afrochella (Ghana, 2017 & 2018), Mr. Eazi's Detty Rave (Ghana, 2018), Sarkodie's Rapperholic Concert (2018) & Boiler Boom x Ballantine's BR Showcase (Accra, 2019); along with having success on two well-received mixtapes, which earned them 5 Vodafone Ghana Music Award nominations. They’ve also collaborated on songs with award-winning acts such as E.L, Sarkodie, Joey B, Efya, and Medikal. Kiddblack and La Meme Gang set to make their international debut this year at SXSW; however, due to the global pandemic, there’s been a shift to this launch.
The Rare Art Company
In 2019, Kiddblack, Kingsley Assibey, and Emmanuel Boye, known as Boye ‘The Genius’, came together to form The Rare Art Company. Their passion for music and the industry’s business side led them to create an independent label and platform for creatives built for the modern age. The trio’s organic chemistry, vision for diversity, artistry, and the creation of timeless art is at the core of Rare Arts’s mission.
For more information, please visit https://www.therareartcompany.com/.