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Hi everyone, I posted a new episode to my podcast, Teddy Abrokwas Podcast.

Please click the link below to view it.

http://thisisteddy.podOmatic.com/entry/2009-11-04T04_00_44-08_00

See you there!

- Teddy

TEDDY ABROKWA – HOT DIGITAL RADIO: SATURDAY 03-10-09 7pm

TEDDY ABROKWA – HOT DIGITAL RADIO: SATURDAY 03-10-09 7pm 

Another legendary moment on Saturday with a jam packed show. Big hits from Pitbull, Kwaadee, Ruky and many more. Qweci formally Ded Buddy was on the line live from New York talking about the early 90’s and how the game has changed since. 

Qweci aka Ded Buddy

Part 2 is a tribute to the Legendary Radio Dj / Personality Mr Magic who passed away this week. Not only is he the first to play Hip Hop or Rap on mainstream radio, he’s also the reason why we get the chance to do what we do everyday on the radio. 

R.I.P - Mr Magic

Sit back and enjoy the show by listening again: 

PART 1 – INTERVIEW WITH QWECI aka Ded Buddy Live from New York:

Listen Again or Download:

http://www.zshare.net/audio/66493879e42ff715/]Teddy Abrokwa Sat 3-10-09 pt 1 Int. wiv Qweci.mp3 – 77.67MB

PART 2 – 80’s & 90’s HIP HOP TRIBUTE TO MR MAGIC:

Listen Again or Download:

http://www.zshare.net/audio/66494887cd408212/]Teddy Abrokwa Sat 3-10-09 pt 2 90_s _ 9.mp3 – 51.97MB

A WEEKEND WITH SOUL SERVED BY DAVID MENSAH

It was business as usual with David Mensah – UK’s Soul Singer / Writer was in the studio with his manager Wayne, a legendary producer who’s worked and played with some of the best of the musical generations from Earth, Wind and Fire to David himself.

David born to a British mum and a Ghanaian Dad in London has travelled wide and performed in different countries but never been to Ghana. He’s keen to visit Ghana very soon and enjoys banku with peanut soup (ground nut soup or nkatie nkwan as in Gh).

Teddy and David on Hot digital radio

David stopped by on my Saturday Show on Hot digital Radio, London to play to us the brand new album – ‘Music is the Food of Love’ out on downloads only via Amazon.com, iTunes.com etc. David selected some of his inspiring tracks for us and trust me he has a good taste in music to match his great vocals.

It was Sway’s birthday so had to show him some love with some back to backs and errr I picked up an award in London for ‘Entertainment Excellence and the Promotion of African Music’ from M&M Stars Magazine – a Nigerian / International Magazine.  The awards ceremony and talent hunt final was attended by the top shots of the Nigerian Music, Movie and Showbiz Industry such as Ben Tv, Nollywood Tv, OBE Tv, Planet Nollywood, The Mayor of Waltham Forest who happens to be a Nigerian – Councillor Anna Mbachu. I owe it all to you guys, I appreciate the support, the criticisms, encouragements. The game can only get better.

I was a bit star stricken receiving the award from ‘Osofia’. Trust me he’s just as in his movies. More details coming but will like to say a big thanks to God, M&M, my colleagues at Hot Digital Radio, Swizzlebeats, my rapper/secret producer Zinga, affiliate websites and to my family, friends and Maa!!!. The tilapia has not been in vain ha ha ha!

Listen again to the show by downloading the link below. The first 15mins was not captured as per technical difficulties. Enjoy all the same.

Download or Listen Again to Saturdays Show:

http://www.zshare.net/download/6515373481ec9ccc/

Follow your boy on Twitter.com/teddyabrokwa

THE URBAN NATION – A Year to bring the good music back?

What a difference a year or two can make in the expectations of a hard core music fanatic. About 15 months ago (June 10, 2008), Lil’ Wayne did the almost ‘impossible’ – selling a million copies in the first week of release of his ‘Carter 3′ album which had hit singles ‘A Milli’, ‘Lollipop’ and ‘Ms. Officer’ dominating radio airplay globally. When the ‘impossible’ is made possible, what follows might make it look an easy routine.

Flo-Rida (don’t panic Alexandre Burke) also sold what’s rumoured to be a million in his first week this year, Jadakiss did his best solo numbers if not the best from his D-Block camp with the release of his current album – The Last Kiss. Fabolous and Maino have all shifted extremely heavy figures with Fab’ landing the number one album slot not long ago with his alter-ego titled album ‘Loso’s Way’. One can only imagine how many Drake would shift should his album drop. He’s arguably Hip Hop’s hottest property at the minute. He only has a mix tape that’s more like an album to his credit and without an ‘official’ record label he featured for a line up of A-Listers already including Jay Z and Mary J Blige.

In the UK, particularly the last two years has witnessed a massive urban success with chart domination and headlining of major shows. We’ve seen Dizzee Raskal land 3 successive No.1 singles; Tinchy Stryder’s done it twice with the help of N-Dubz and Amelle from the Sugar Babes. JLS bagged one with their first single off the back of their X-Factor success.

Generally, Urban Music this side of the Atlantic has been on the rise with loads of home grown talents selling out shows at arenas and festivals not only at home but across Europe – It all boils down to the support the UK radio, tv and media are giving to home grown artists. This is something desperately lacking in Ghana and until we make some changes, we’ll be lurking in the dark for a very long time to come. Let’s get more of our music on our radio and tv stations and see where things would be in a few years. It’s natural for one to get used to what you hear all the time on the radio and if you are to buy a cd? Well the answer is what we see in the charts every week.

All these sales and buzz are riding on the back of a period where free internet downloads, piracy, bootlegging, credit crunch etc are the easiest things that come to mind quicker than you could remember your own name. To sell 500,000 copies is not only a satisfying achievement but a certification that you have indeed ‘sold’ a million. The majority in the urban genre might not be selling but times are on the up compared to 2 or 3 years ago – August remains the worst sales month compared to same times in 2007 and 08 as per Billboard’s Nielson SoundScan sales data.

Internationally some good albums have come out this year and just as one of my favourite radio presenter’s – Giles Bossman acknowledged, ‘album wise, it’s been great both local and internationally’. Is the ‘ring tone music’ era behind us? Has Jay Z killed the auto tune craze with his DOA track? Is Hip Hop back to its good form after a few years of dipping low? You can make your own analysis or debate.

The days where a single hit track led an album of about 5 ‘almost useless’ tracks with instrumentals making it 10 are quickly getting behind us. Reggie did it back then with enough hit tracks on an album. Obrafour did put out complete albums, Buk Bak and Akyeame did it, Tinny has been doing it, so are Tic Tac and Obour. Asem, Richie, Sarkodie, R2Bees and the rest of the new generation are maintaining the trend and even going extra urban with complete albums.

I hope to see the ‘singles’ culture improved in GH as part of the promotion to help the artists stay fresh until at least their next album is released. Videos are up to scratch now and I must admit that ‘Breathe’ video with D-Black and Kwaku T ft. Jay So starring Eddy Blay shot by the Phamous People is absolutely breathless. That’s a ‘muuvie’ and I jus hope they scoop an award at the Chanel O Awards with ‘Move’ – another monster.

The mix tape game is on the high with Gh Rappers jumping on internationally dominating tracks notably is my ‘hommie’ J-Town, Scientific, Lil C and the rest of the emcees doing their thing out there. Refreshingly a host of talented new artists are coming through particularly from the States, Canada, UK and back home in the GH. As per usual, the healthy competition will only help bring out the best talents available. The weakest will be exposed and easily done away with.

As I wrote in a previous blog, these artists are fortunate now to be spoilt with choice for producers. There are a lot of them these days – young, hip enough with enormous talent and versatility backed by the hunger and mark for quality exhibited by producers such as Dr Dre, J-Dilla, Dj Premier etc in their early days.

Could all these trigger a massive sale in GH? With some basic but important changes made in the industry I do not see why not. At least it could relate to our 20 million plus population. Well, there are claims the Nigerian artists have been selling millions of records. It’s easier because they have the numbers and a heavily invested music industry. Imagine 2% of the over 200 million Nigerian population cops your album….. You will surely be in the Lil’ Wayne sales range. Let’s hope the sales keep improving particularly for the local game in the GH.

With Jay Z set to release the Blue Print 3 on Friday 9/11, I reckon another million or more would be shifted off the shelves regardless of the album being leaked worldwide on the web.

JAYSOLUTIONS ON BET: THE NEXT LEVEL FOR GH-RAP

BET Cypher in Ghana? Yup let the freestyle begin. Could this have happened 10 or 15 years ago? Absolutely yes! But the right foundations were not laid as most of the emcees at the time were rapping either for ‘fans’ or neighbourhood fame with no quest for career or commercial success. Thanks to my personal favourite, Mr. Rockstone once again for putting the rap business on wax (CD) – That’s not to say he brought Rap to Ghana ooo!.  

The new era of artists like Asem, Ayigbe Edem, Sarkodie just to mention a few have re-energised the likes of Reggie, Tic Tac, VIP, Okyeame Kwame and the bunch to up their game and be hungry again. Only God know’s what Obrafour will be coming out with in the near future.  

For the better part of the last three years, the game in Ghana has seen major improvements, talk of quality beat production, lyrics, music videos and more refreshingly the clothing line culture of some of our artists. There are lots to improve particularly in the business side of the game, artist management, promotions and well organised tours.  

JAYSO

I caught up with Ghana’s Producer/Rapper extra-ordinaire, JaySo, a product of Presec on my late Thursday night show on London’s Hot Digital Radio – his first UK radio interview. A straight to the point conversation with one of Ghana’s finest young producers. For once we are spoilt for choice with the creative youngsters like JaySo, Richie, Kaywa, Ashes, Killbeats etc who are building on the foundations laid by Uncle Zapp, Hammer, Jay Q, Appeatus and the rest.                                                                                         

Not only is JaySo a talented beat maker, he also hold his own on the mic and as a record label kingpin; Skillions Records. Skillions as he mentioned means ‘Skills in millions’. A movement which started back in 1998/99 at secondary School, Presec – Accra has moved on to become a household name particularly in the Hip Hop circles of Ghana.

SKILLIONS THE MOVEMENT

 Notably in the group are JaySo himself, EL, Lil’ Shaker, Kilmatic, J-Town (who is now signed to the Killa-One-West Rec) and a million more all contributing in various areas of production, marketing etc. Like the old adage, there is power in numbers and honestly the Skillions just as the Peer Pressure crew can easily battle it out with the Wu Tang Clan in terms of numbers. They are like two sets of football teams all playing with one vision.  

With production credits for the likes of Sarkodie (Lay Away ft. Sway, Borga), Kwaku T and D Black (Breathe, Rhythms, Move), Reggie Rockstone, Wyclef, 2face, JaySo maintains that ‘lyrical skills, pure talent, discipline’ are the most important things he looks out for before jumping in the studio with an artist and not just the money. That’s the hall mark of a producer who upholds quality over quantity. With all these crack artists he’s worked with, Wyclef remains the favourite of JaySo. He is ‘simply down to earth’ he said of Clef. Well Jay, I bet you’ve heard the saying ‘empty barrels makes the most noise’.  

You don’t buy chicken at the restaurant and expect it to taste like beef, with opportunities like working with Wyclef, having the chance to feature in an international documentary, to perform outside your national shores, the gateway to super stardom is halfway open with the rest hinging on your hard work, quality and a bit of luck.

 I expect JaySo together with Tiffany, Ayigbe Edem and the rest of the guys featuring on the BET Cypher to go all out on Saturday (22^nd August 2009) to affirm Gh. Rap on the Hip Hop map. The likes of K’Naan, Sway, Dizzee Raskal, Giggs, Saigon, Styles P just to mention a few have all graced the famous Cypher and its impact on their careers is up there for all to see. BET Cypher airs later this year.  

Download JaySo’s latest production, Facebook Boy and Girl featuring Tifanny & Jane vs. Lil Shaker & Killmatic. DOWNLOAD LINK: http://www.zshare.net/audio/63522290fe76e14d

Ps. If you are UK / US based artist and needs a ‘JaySolution’ for your album, holler at me teddyabrokwa@gmail.com or call 07903146959. You can also get in touch with ‘JaySo Skillions’ on the facebook.

PERFECT 10 FOR TIC TAC – The Most Wanted!

I respect you when you are 5 years deep in the game but when it’s 10 clear years, it’s nothing but salutes and if you add consistency averaging an album every year and a half or two then you are definitely up there on my priority list. 

It’s not just about the years and the number of albums; quality work, professionalism and HEAVY HITS are the main ingredients that cook up the great taste of an all round great artist. This is the reason I got that perfect 10 fingers up in the sky for my man TIC TAC. Not only has he remained one of the finest of the game, tic’s made it appealing to fans beyond the four corners of Ghana.

Tic Tac out on the '10th Day'

From Philomena (An absolute Classic) to Boswe, Tic has really ticked the years with an amazing 10 years in the Game of Hip Life. If nothing at all his consistency and hunger is what has made Tic Tac relevant to the game. 

As a SALUTE to Tic Tac, I am giving you 2 hot joints off his current album ‘10^th Day’ which is out now and available in all Melcom Stores, The Silverbird Media Store – Accra Mall, TN Records Music Store Dansoman-Accra. For bulk purchases contact TN RECORDS Dansoman, Sahara Tel:+233 21311973.

Congrats Tic, TN Records; we will definitely pop that bubbly when you touch down in London!

Catch Tic Tac now in the US on tour with the likes of Nana NYC, Kwaw Kesse and 2Toff.

DOWNLOAD LINKS:

Tic Tac ft. Tinny & Okyeame Kwame – Boswe Remix

http://www.zshare.net/audio/64206672c5448ced/

 Tic Tac ft. Sarkodie – This Girl (New)

http://www.zshare.net/audio/64206631f42af82d/

 

Yours in music, 

SoundBoyT!

http://www.twitter.com/teddyabrokwa

http://www.youtube.com/teddyabrokwa

QWECI formally Ded Buddy out with ‘Favourate Girl’

DOWNLOAD LINK .: http://www.zshare.net/audio/63585273d3d69b15

In the early 90′s all one had to was to be at a show and you are certainly set to see Ded Buddy perform. From the School ‘Fricks’ to the Beach Jam, National Theartre or where Hip Hop & R’n'B was the toast there was the presence of Buddy.  As a pioneer of R&B in Ghana, Ded Buddy in 1990 sang Boyz II Men’s ’I'll make love to You’ in Twi (Ghanaian dialect), setting the trend for today’s urban Ghanaian singers blending R&B harmonies with lyrics from the local dialects.

QWECY formally Ded Buddy

 

Buddy Tunez (his own label) is set to warm back into the hearts of fans  and if you remember hits like ‘yebesa’, ‘sansa akroma’ then be prepared to be thrilled by the man who is now known in showbiz as Qweci - which goes for a male born on sunda, Kwasi. Currently based in New York, Qweci is set to take on the world again and from his current track ‘Favourate girl’ the ladies should expect more than just smiling to the lyrics of the track. You will be dancing as well.

With a more matured Qweci, I am looking forward to seeing him live on stage again and what a lovely re-union it will be if we are to have the likes of NFL, Black Prophet, Nananom,  Kwa-C, Cy-Lover, Sammy B, Reggie Rockstone etc all teaming up for another classic moment.