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FM Interviews: Ghanaian Afro-Rap Artist Korsah Discusses New Music Video and How His Origins Have Affected His Music

FMHipHop recently had the pleasure of interviewing Ghanaian-based Afro-rap phenomenon Korsah about his most recent music video, origins, and more.

On April 12, 1995, Korsah was born in Atonsu, a suburb in the Kumasi Ashanti Region of Ghana, to his parents, Atta Korsah and Lydia Kunadu. After the loss of his mother in 2015, the artist was inspired to become a musician.

The struggles Korsah experienced as a child led him to seek methods of motivating and expressing himself. Due to his upbringing in a musical household, pursuing music as a career was a natural progression for him. Growing up, he grew to appreciate Ghanaian music. However, when he was given the opportunity, he decided to add a fresh perspective. Following Korsah’s decision to enter the music industry, he studied music and then determined his genre of interest. In the intervening years, he has been a figure of admiration for many people.

The Meaning Behind ‘Hater’ and Receiving Acknowledgement From Thousands

With his debut music video for his single “Hater,” the rapper broke into the U.S. hip-hop scene in November. After announcing his record deal with 610Music, Korsah released a music video depicting life’s joys while demonstrating his smooth flow, which sheds light on his thoughts regarding deceit.

According to the hip-hop blog The Word Is Bond, “As the title suggests, it is a middle finger anthem to the naysayers and detractors, and Korsah has no qualms about letting them know his candid thoughts.”

While retaining Korsah’s Ghanaian roots, the video is infused with a distinctive style that has helped him achieve more than 128,000 YouTube views. Korsah’s diverse sound blends Afrobeat, Afropop, and American hip-hop music, making him a global phenomenon with a following of more than 103,000 on Instagram. Moreover, the captivating presentation and the lyrical reflection in “Hater” demonstrate Korsah’s skill as a storyteller.

Check out the music video below:

As part of the interview, the “Show Something” rapper was asked if he would be willing to share who specifically he refers to in “Hater.”

“As I said, music is how I express myself, so the song is about people that used to be a part of my life. There was a time when I felt hopeless and relied on certain friendships to lift my spirits. “Hater” is a byproduct of experiencing betrayal at the hands of so-called friends,” Korsah replied.

Initial Reaction

Each public figure reacts differently when their content receives excellent attention. According to Korsah, he was surprised when he observed the number of views on his music video “Hater” had increased significantly.

“It was surprising but we put a lot of work into this music video. Deep down I felt people could relate to the theme of the song,” the Ghanaian rapper said. “It’s been fun watching the views grow as I strive to connect with people worldwide.”

Furthermore, an influx of attention and money accompanies popularity, but it is not without its disadvantages. Korsah, however, is one of the few rappers who has not experienced many negative aspects of his profession. “Honestly, there are no downsides. Creatively, I’m a bit of a perfectionist, so it might take longer to finish some songs. That’s about it,” Korsah explained.

Where Does Korsah Stand in the Future?

A question like “Over the next five years, where do you see yourself?” requires deep thought on the part of any individual. Korsah’s goal is to reach a wider audience. He is devoted to music and longs for it with all his heart. His music is the proper remedy for those in need of such a remedy, as he believes music has the power to heal.

Furthering his vision for the future, the rapper hopes to perform at Rolling Loud one day. However, he has performed with a few artists thus far, like Kofi Mole.

Other Artists Influence Korsah

In most cases, their origins strongly influence how an artist chooses to compose music. Korsah agrees that the circumstances of his upbringing played a significant role in making him who he is today. “Oh yeah, origins play a huge role. It made me who I am,” he says. “This is MY STORY. I think it’ll resonate with people everywhere.”

As well as his origins, his music is influenced by such artists as Michael Jackson, 50 Cent, Prince, Lil Wayne, Nas, Daddy Lumba, and Amakye Dede.

Korsah plans to release his first full-length album in 2023. Due to the rapper’s desire to keep the project a surprise, he did not reveal it’s name or concept. “Oh yeah, I’ll be dropping a few,” he said. “When everything is ready y’all will be the first to know [laughs].”

Nikiya Biggs brought the interview.

Stay up-to-date with Korsah on all music and social media platforms.

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Written by Nikiya Biggs

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Lecrae’s New Projects: Financial Planning Series and Hip-Hop Convict Contest

Lecrae has a long list of accomplishments. He’s already a rapper, producer, songwriter, music executive, philanthropist, best-selling author, actor, business owner, and entrepreneur. But he’s not done yet.

Indeed, the Grammy winner is expanding into media production. Partnering with Experian North America, a leading information services company, he has launched “Protect The Bag” . 

Financial planning with Lecrae

This six-part web series will break down the complex world of personal finance, giving viewers the skills they need improve their credit and meet their financial needs. In a recent interview, Lecrae said:

“I am on a mission to spread the word on financial education because I wasn’t educated about money and didn’t know about budgeting. I didn’t know to think about the cost of things or what to pay off first because I just didn’t have a strategy.”   

Lecrae's web series, contest
Grammy Award winning artist Lecrae on the set of “Protect The Bag”. (Photo credit: Business Wire)

With Lecrae’s own production company at the helm, 3 Strand Films, the series premiers this fall. Joining Lecrae will be a number of high-profile guests, as well as artists on his record label. Look for it on his YouTube channel soon.

Hip-hop from the big house

In addition to spreading the word of financial literacy, Lecrae is venturing into the world of incarceration. The mission: find, produce, and release music from convicts currently serving time.

Called “The Original Hip Hop Track Contest”, Lecrae and Aventiv Technologies have partnered to create a contest for aspiring artists behind bars. Contestants will get to pick from three beats to work with, produced by Lecrae and long-time collaborator Zaytoven.

In a recent press release to Blavity, Lecrae spoke on the project:

“There are very few opportunities that give those locked up a sense of hope, and even fewer that encourage and recognize the level of musical talent that sits in our prison system – this contest does both, which is why I’m proud to be involved.” 

The top twenty entries will be sent to Bernard Short and his staff of the music department at Morris Brown College in Atlanta. However, only three get to move on to the final round. Lecrae and Zaytoven will select the best of the three.

The announcement of the winner will come on October 19, 2021. From there, Lecrae and Zaytoven will record and produce the winner on site at their facility.

Any revenues earned from the project will go directly to “a  501c3 charity providing rehabilitative services for the correctional community in the winner’s state.”

 

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#FMTrends: Styles P Proves He Is The GOAT With New Project [Links]

Photo Credit: Apple Music/iTunes

Styles P Proves He Is The GOAT With New Project

Salutations FM Trendsetters and FM Hip Hop Heads! Already riding on the success of his collaboration effort with Harlem emcee Dave East,  the Ghost steps down from his owner and CEO role at his infamous Juices For Life business to come back to the booth with a new project; S.P. The GOAT: Ghost Of All Time FM Hip Hop has the track by track music review exclusive on this critically acclaimed project, released over the weekend:

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#FMTrends: Swizz Beatz Release New Album Poison [Links]

Photo Credit: Apple Music/iTunes

Swizz Beatz Release New Album Poison

Salutations FM Trendsetters!  Over the weekend the hip hop world and social media was in another musical frenzy!  Thanks to heavy promotion of the four singles released through social media, the Ruff Ryder executive behind boards, Swizz Beatz finally released the very successful and critically acclaimed project Poison.  The 10 track LP includes a slew of talented artists in the industry.  Here is the track by track album review on the epic banger known as Poison: