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:
Sarkodie ("You Go Kill Me", "Dangerous") in collaboration with krynk man
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