EL (rapper)

Last updated

E.L
EL performs at Alliance Francais-1.jpg
Background information
Birth nameElom Adablah
Born (1989-06-28) 28 June 1989 (age 35) [1]
Dansoman, Accra, Ghana
Genres Afrobeats, Hip-Hop, Hiplife, Azonto, Afropop
Occupation(s)Musician, rapper, singer, producer
Instrument(s)Keyboard, sampler
Years active2008–present
LabelsSkillions Records, BBnZ Live

Elom Adablah (born 28 June 1989), [1] better known by his stage name E.L, is a Ghanaian Afrobeats musician, rapper, singer and producer. [2]

Contents

E.L's singles include "Obuu Mo", "Kaalu", "One Ghana", "Auntie Martha", [3] "Shelele", "Mi Naa Bo Po", "Koko" and "KaaBuAme", "See me Sometime", "Abaa" and "Pay Like a Boss". His debut album was Something Else (2012). [4] E.L released a mixtape he calls The BAR (Best African Rapper) and in 2017, he released the fourth one called BAR IV.

He won Artiste of the Year and Hiplife/Hip-Hop Artiste of the Year at the 2015/2016 Vodafone Ghana Music Awards. [5]

Early life

E.L grew up in Dansoman, a suburb of Accra. He first attended St. Martin De Porres School in Dansoman and later transferred to Jack and Jill School in Roman Ridge where he completed his Junior Secondary School education. He then gained admission into Presbyterian Boys Secondary School (PRESEC) Legon, where he discovered music. After secondary school, he pursued a degree in economics and political science at the University of Ghana, Legon. [6] [7] [8]


Personal life

E.L. is currently single and has no children. His networth is estimated to be $700,000. [9]

Music career

2008: Music beginnings

During his first year in the university, E.L. signed to Jayso's Skillions Records [10] and helped Jayso co-produce the Skillionaires Demotape. However, after graduating from university, the Skillions broke up and E.L. became a solo artist. He acquired a studio in Asylum Down and began working on a new mixtape. He went as far as releasing a single, "Chale (So Fli)", with Jay Foley, Wolf and Kwaku T (remix). However, the mixtape was never released. E.L. relocated to a better studio in Osu, and invested all his available funds in acquiring equipment. [11]

2009–2012: Something Else

EL got signed to BBnZ Live [12] His debut double album, Something Else, was released on 1st June 2012 by Akwaaba Music, and is a blend of different varieties of music inspired from various sources.

2014: The B.A.R Mixtape

E.L. released The Best African Rapper album, shortened as The B.A.R on 20th May 2014. It featured Ayigbe Edem, Sarkodie, Joey B, C-Real, Gemini, Telvin, Frozen, Lil Shaker, Stargo, P. K. and Dex Kwasi. [13] [14]

2015: B.A.R 2

E.L. announced he was working on B.A.R 2, releasing the cover art and later releasing three songs "All Black", "State of the Nation" and "King Without A Crown". [15] On 29 August 2015, he followed up with the B.A.R 2 Concert featuring Wanlov, Ko-Jo Cue, DJ Mic Smith and more. [16] [17]

2016: Elom

E.L. released his second studio album entitled Elom (Everybody loves original music). The album included singles "Mi Naa Bo Po", "Watch The Way You Dey Waka" and "Nkrumah Pt. 2" featuring Obrafour. [18]

On 15 April 2016 Lauryn Hill headlined a concert dubbed Ms. Lauryn Hill Presents Diaspora Calling! in association with Tidal at Kings Theater, the concert was intended to celebrate the rich tapestry of artists from African Diaspora and included E.L and Stonebwoy [19] from Ghana, also Wondaboy and Mr. Eazi from Nigeria.

2017: B.A.R 4

The success of the previous installment of the B.A.R franchise saw the birth of another mixtape. This featured established rappers and also included rising rappers such as Teephlow, Kojo-Cue, and Medikal. One notable track on the album is "Nina", which is a song about a psychopathic groupie. Other hard core rap songs as "Change", "Superstar", and "Lalafalama" were also lauded; as was "Bars". [20]

2018: B.A.R V

E.L. released his fifth studio album titled BAR V (stylised as BVR), a 15 track album. It included rap singles like "Nobody", "The Greatest", and "Thinkin'." E.L. featured Nigerian artiste, Falz, and Ghanaian acts Akan and Bryan The Mensah.

2019: The Linkop - E.L. & AI

This was a joint album with another Ghanaian musician, Ayisi - AI. This was the first time E.L. released a joint album. However, this was the second notable joint album to be released in Ghana, with Sarkodie (rapper) and Jayso's TMG being the first. TheLinkop album came to be after the excellent chemistry generated from their collaboration on the "Adwuma" song. This album has seven tracks ranging from Afrobeats to Dancehall and Reggae fusion. One track which seems to appeal to the masses is "For 2". [21]

2020: Songs For Girls 3 EP

This featured seven songs of different genres. The award-winning rapper took the new decade in a whole different mode. [22]

2020: Leaks1

The beginning of the new decade saw E.L. drop a series of projects – few singles and two different tapes; the first of which was Leaks1. This featured talented rappers even as they were not well-known. One of such rappers is Yung Pabi whom he featured on the song titled Respect. This album had three songs. [23]

2020: Leaks2

Just as the previous tape before this, it had three tracks. Interesting tracks as they are, some industry pundits/critics labelled as masterpieces. Most prominent track was Track 3 - J.J. Rawlings which featured friend and frequent collaborator Gemini Orleans. [24]

Notable productions

EL has produced songs for many hip hop, hiplife and R&B performers, such as:

Discography

Studio Albums
Mixtapes
Others

Singles

Videography

2017Mi Naa Bo PoPhamous Philms
2016LalafalamaPascal AKA
YearTitleDirector
2016FefeefeXBILLZ
YearTitleDirector
2017See Me SometimeN/A
YearTitleDirector
2017Mi Naa Bo PoPhamous Philms
YearTitleDirector
2017AbaaPhamous Philms
YearTitleDirector
2017See Me SometimeWOWA

Awards and nominations

Video awards

Nominations

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References

  1. 1 2 "A wonderful birthday to Elom Adablah!". ghanacelebrations.com. Retrieved 9 July 2024.
  2. ↑ Owusu, Clifford (18 August 2011). "E.LBiography". Ghanamusic. Archived from the original on 23 September 2014. Retrieved 15 November 2014.
  3. ↑ "E.L – Auntie Martha (Audio) | REWIND". Bongo Exclusive. 8 March 2018. Archived from the original on 8 March 2018. Retrieved 8 March 2018.
  4. ↑ "Audio: E.L. 'Something ELse'". Okayafrica. 1 June 2012. Retrieved 14 September 2017.
  5. ↑ Adogla-Bessa, Delali (8 May 2016). "#VGMAs2016: EL wins Artiste of the Year". Citifmonline. Retrieved 14 September 2017.
  6. ↑ "13 Successful Ghanaians Who Went To Presec – Legon". OMGGhana. Retrieved 27 November 2015.
  7. ↑ "E.L, Others To Rock Torch And Bonfire Night @ PRESEC – Daily Guide Ghana". DailyGuideGhana. Archived from the original on 8 December 2015. Retrieved 27 November 2015.
  8. ↑ "E.L Makes Legon Student Go Crazy On Stage". OMGGhana. Retrieved 27 November 2015.
  9. ↑ "E.L".
  10. ↑ "All You Need To Know About Jayso And Skillions Record". OMGGhana. Retrieved 27 November 2015.
  11. ↑ "Get Familiar: Skillions Records then and now!!!". AmeyawDebrah. Retrieved 27 November 2015.
  12. ↑ "BBnZ Live EL page" . Retrieved 3 October 2012.
  13. ↑ "E.L - BAR Mixtape - Urbanroll". Archived from the original on 12 July 2015. Retrieved 11 July 2015.
  14. ↑ "E.L. Presents B.A.R. (Best African Rapper) Mixtape". Loud Sound Ghana. Archived from the original on 8 December 2015. Retrieved 27 November 2015.
  15. ↑ "EnterGhana – Everything Ghanaian and more". EnterGhana. Archived from the original on 12 July 2015. Retrieved 19 December 2017.
  16. ↑ ""B.A.R 2": E.L reveals track list for upcoming mixtape – Music – Pulse". Pulse Ghana. 6 August 2015. Retrieved 27 November 2015.
  17. ↑ "E.L. – BAR 2 | Urbanroll". Urbanroll. Archived from the original on 8 December 2015. Retrieved 27 November 2015.
  18. ↑ "E.L Set To Release New Album "ELOM"". DisturbingGH. Retrieved 27 November 2015.
  19. ↑ "Stonebwoy – Loyalty (Prod. By Prinxonthebeat)". Vibehubs. 31 January 2018. Retrieved 12 February 2018.
  20. ↑ "E.L - Bar 4". DCLeakers. 15 November 2017. Retrieved 15 November 2017.
  21. ↑ "E.L x A.I - the Linkop (Full Album)". DCLeakers. 16 August 2019. Retrieved 16 August 2019.
  22. ↑ "Songs For Girls". DCLeakers. Retrieved 28 June 2020.
  23. ↑ "E.L. - Leaks 1 (Full Album)". DCLeakers. 28 June 2020. Retrieved 28 June 2020.
  24. ↑ "Full Album". DCLeakers. Retrieved 29 June 2020.
  25. ↑ Lebrave, Benjamin. "Lungu Lungu: E.L.'s Azonto Beats are Crazy Chale!". The Fader. Retrieved 15 November 2014.
  26. ↑ Iwin, Benjamin. "Joey B – Wow ft E.L (Prod By B2)". Ghxclusive. Retrieved 14 September 2017.
  27. ↑ "E.L Ft. DopeNation – Ayeyi (Prod. By PeeOnTheBeatz) | Ghpop.com". Ghpop.com. 11 January 2018. Retrieved 20 February 2018.
  28. ↑ "E.L – Vim Yaazo (Prod. by E.L) | Ghpop.com". Ghpop. 30 January 2018. Retrieved 20 February 2018.
  29. ↑ "E.L – Joy (Prod. by Kuzie x E.L) | Ghpop.com". Ghpop. 16 February 2018. Retrieved 20 February 2018.
  30. ↑ "E.L - BAR Mixtape - Urbanroll". Archived from the original on 12 July 2015. Retrieved 11 July 2015.
  31. ↑ Agyei, Fredrick (12 February 2021). "E.L Release a New Song titled "Baba Dey"". Motion Blogger. Retrieved 7 March 2021.
  32. ↑ Ghana Music Awards Official website Retrieved 26 September 2012
  33. ↑ "Channel O Music Video Awards". Archived from the original on 10 September 2012.
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