It seems hip-hop stars are recognizing the Black Star Shine of Ghana & broadening their perspectve in audience, how to make money in a struggling music industry & how to stay relevant in a hip-hop world that has gone global & is not turning back. Both Talib Kweli & Roc Nation’s own Memphis Bleek will touch down on the hot burning sun of Accra city to celebrate the 54th year of Independence with a nation of Black Stars Rising. Africa is open for Business & slowly but surely Black America, African nationals living abroad & the hip-hop nation are recognizing the relevance & money earning & making power of Africa.

“Talib Kweli  in the Asabaako Music Festival, 3-day party on the spectacular Busua Beach in the Western region. The New York rapper will join Wanlov the Kubolor, Yaa Pono and many more Ghanaian artists for festival, sponsored by Vodafone.“ READ MORE

“Rapper Memphis Bleek of Jay-Z’s Roc Nation will be in Ghana tomorrow to participate in Ghana’s Ghana at 54 Independence Weekend Bash. Bleek will perform this Saturday on March 5th, 2011 at Ghana’s Citizen Kofi. Anticipated hit songs he will perform include: Is that Your chick ft. Jay Z and Missy Elliot, Round Here ft. T.I and Like that ft. Swizz Beatz.” READ MORE

From films to music, African-Americans are returning to their African roots for new opportunities & collaborations. Ghanaian filmmakers & music producers like Sam Kessie & Eric “Coptic” Matlock are holding up the Black Star flag heavy in America & taking African-Americans back to their roots with their upcoming projects & collaborations. The entire world is taking heed to the fact that the UN has declared 2011:International Year for  Descendants of Africans by investing in Africa on many levels. African-Americans seem to be slower on the push to cover & invest in Africa, but it is only a matter of education which our media outlets need to do a much better job in facilitating. After nearly two years of trying to convince The Source Magazine to do a story about the rise of hip-hop in Ghana known as Hip-Life , they finally did a brief piece on their website  last week. You can’t claim to be the bible of Hip-Hop music, culture & politics when your view is limited to America & a few other international places every now & then, when the true movement of hip-hop has been global for close to a decade now.

I will never forget how a major international network like CNN did a tremendous amount of play by play coverage showcasing the people, the nation, the cuisine, the history & foundation of Ghana when the first Black president of the United States chose as his first diplomatic mission in Africa as President, to visit Ghana, the historically credited first African nation south of the Sahara to gain Independence & the greatest hub of  the slave trade & African-American roots history; while BET barely gave much coverage. We must emancipate ourselves from the fear & mental slavery that keeps African-Americans away from Africa because non but ourselves can free our minds.

If you step on the streets of Accra you will see murals of Biggie, 2pac, Jay Z etc., but ask any African-American hip-hop lover if they know about Reggie Rockstone, who is affectionately known as the granpapa -founder of Ghana’s modern day hip-hop movement known as hip-life; yet he has made songs with artists like Snoop Dogg, Wyclef Jean, Beenie Man & many more that are known worldwide. Many more have never heard of Geydu Blay Ambolley ,who popularized hip-hop style of music in Ghana in the 70’s before it was recognized & named hip-hop in America. He is currently challenging the Guinness book of world records to recognize his contribution to hip-hop & to get the facts right accordingly. This is the year of African descendants & we must collectively work together from Africa to the Diaspora to show our global greatness & forward movement by utilizing the wind of change in Africa that brought about the Pan-African blueprint set by great leaders like W.E.B Dubois, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, Marcus Garvey, Patrice Lumumba, Sekou Toure, Jomo Kenyatta, Macolm X & so many other historical greats.

“Africa’s future is up to Africans,” U.S. President Barack Obama said when he addressed Ghana’s parliament in July 2009. “The people of Africa are ready to claim that future. And in my country, African Americans — including so many recent immigrants — have thrived in every sector of society. We’ve done so despite a difficult past, and we’ve drawn strength from our African heritage.” As Obama spoke, I couldn’t help thinking how fitting it was for the first black president of America to have chosen Ghana as the destination of his first official visit to Africa. It was a wonderful tribute to a long-standing and important relationship that has defined our mutual destinies…” READ MORE

BREAKING NEWS: THIS JUST IN:
“The Asabaako Music Festival will go on as initially planned without an appearance by US hiphop star, Talib Kweli following difficulties in bringing the rapper to Ghana, as recently advertised. For many fans of the rapper, they first heard the sad news when Talib Kweli tweeted that he was disappointed to announce that he wouldn’t be able to perform in Ghana...” READ MORE

As we approach the 54th Anniversary of  Ghana’s Independence on March 6th, America’s  self appointed Bible of Hip-Hop Music, Culture & Politics- The Source Magazine- recognizes the new sound of Ghana that blends historically renown traditional hi-life music with the new era hip-hop generation waving the flag of Ghana by showcasing the rise in music of the Black Star Nation.

“Aretha Amma, the founder of Global Fusion Productions said Ghana since independence has always had the arts and culture as a priority to showcasing our nation to the world. Ghanaians brought Hi-Life music which originally is known as Osibi to most of Africa and the world through renown artists like Osibisa and Fela Kuti (who was originally a Hi-Life artist) now hip life artists who cut across all tribal and religious lines have brought a new global resurgence to popularizing our culture throughout the world.” READ MORE

Only Africans would make a song about calling someone a prostitute (Ashawo) a club banger-LOL! From the religious fanatic to the working girl & her John -everyone seems to love this song in its nostalgia of Rex Jim Lawson’s “Baby Sawa Le” version, as well as the new modern day sound with hip-hop infusion. This old school song remixed collabo between West Africa’s fierce rival cousin nations- Ghana & Nigeria- featuring Flavour, Asem & Stone (BRADEZ) clearly shows that Black Stars & Super Eagles know how to come together for the sake of pure party & celebration! Flavour is quickly becoming the 21st century hi-life king of Naija (Nigeria)!

A.S.E.M Asem…! If There is a a heavy hitter award to be given in hip-life, it will surely go to Asem & his Lynx Entertainment crew who individually & collectively keep coming out with hit after hit getting the global Ghanaian masses & those in the know singing their praises & shouting A.S.E.M- Asem! The Black Star Nation continues to rise.

Hip-hop is not dead just experiencing a new era global evolution with many styles. Ghana & Lynx Entertainment’s first lady of hip-life is letting all the ladies know that they should be proudly & unabashedly chanting “clap for me” ( Bo wonsem ma me) whether they are big girls who like to wear skinny dresses, a hard girl that be flexing or the girls with a lot of class & a tight AAAAA! Eazzy is on Fire with a global sound!

For Anyone who knows anything about human history -it has been made scientifically evident that humanity started in Africa; therefore at the root of all global culture is Africa. There is a new global push toward Africa because humanity has lost its way & is returning back to basics, back to finding oneself , back to finding our common humanity; whether it is thru the green movement of economics or the green movement of being organic & directly of nature’s natural nurture -Africa is the beginning & the future ! Mama Africa will always welcome her children back home to learn & take from her root to recognize our fruits. Below is a brief tour of our musical roots to our fruits! Enjoy-stop,look, listen, learn & spread the fruits of your roots!

“The traditional music have some power, some fire that is good for mankind”