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HIPLIFEINSTITUTE

The genre

What is Hiplife?

A Ghanaian genre blending hip hop with highlife and other influences such as reggae and dancehall — performed largely in Akan/Twi and other Ghanaian languages.

Overview

Hiplife emerged in Ghana in the early 1990s. It blends hip hop with highlife, alongside other influences such as reggae and dancehall, and is performed largely in Akan/Twi and other Ghanaian languages. Since then, the genre has spread across West Africa and the diaspora.

Roots before hiplife

Ghanaian rap goes back further than hiplife itself — for example, Gyedu-Blay Ambolley’s 1973 recording “Simigwado”.

Who started it? An open debate

Reggie Rockstone is widely called the “Godfather of Hiplife”. However, who originated the genre is debated. Ata Kak’s 1994 album “Obaa Sima” is also cited as an early Twi rap record. We present both perspectives and welcome sourced contributions to the record.

Shaping the sound

Producer Hammer of The Last Two shaped the hiplife sound from the late 1990s. In 2006, Samini won a MOBO Award.

Timeline

  1. 1973

    Gyedu-Blay Ambolley releases “Simigwado” — an example of Ghanaian rap predating hiplife.

  2. Early 1990s

    Hiplife emerges in Ghana.

  3. 1994

    Ata Kak’s album “Obaa Sima”, often cited as an early Twi rap record.

  4. Late 1990s

    Producer Hammer of The Last Two shapes the hiplife sound.

  5. 2006

    Samini wins a MOBO Award.