Kwesi Arthur | |
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![]() Kwesi Arthur performing at Alliance Francais. | |
Background information | |
Birth name | Emmanuel Kwesi Danso Arthur Junior |
Also known as | King Arthur, Diidaday, Heavy Hitta, Young Arthur |
Born | Tema, Ghana | 18 December 1994
Origin | Ghana |
Genres | Hip hop, Afrobeats |
Occupation(s) | Rapper |
Years active | 2017–present |
Labels | Independent |
Emmanuel Kwesi Danso Arthur (born 18 December 1994), known professionally as Kwesi Arthur, is a Ghanaian rapper, singer and songwriter from Tema. He rose to fame in 2017 with the hit single "Grind day" which received widespread acclaim and a co-sign from rap heavyweights Sarkodie and Medikal. [1] [2] In 2019, his second EP Live from Nkrumah Krom Vol II garnered more than 2 million streams in the first week of its release. [3]
Arthur has won several accolades, including Rapper of the year and Hip Hop Song of the year at the Vodafone Ghana Music Awards as well as a Viewer's Choice Best International Act nomination at the 2018 BET Awards. He became the second Ghanaian rapper to be nominated for BET Hip Hop Awards Cypher after Sarkodie's nomination in 2019. [4]
Kwesi Arthur was born on 18th December 1998 in Tema. He was raised in Tema Community 9 and is the second of four children with a brother named Benjamin Danso Arthur who is popularly known as Dayonthetrack and is also a musician. After completing his high school education at Temasco [5] in 2013, Kwesi's plans of furthering his education to study Psychology and Law at the University of Ghana came to a standstill due to a lack of funds. This led the rapper to consider a job offer as a security guard in Tema. [6] Kwesi Arthur got the security job and worked for a day(He knew it wasn’t his call) then Kwesi Arthur decided to pursue his music career at a local recording studio instead. Here, he made a deal with the owner of the recording studio to learn music production and record for free; in exchange, Arthur had to perform menial tasks around the studio like sweeping and general maintenance. In 2016, he met management from Ground Up Chale, a social media movement for young artists in West Africa, where he recorded his hit record Grind day at their studios a year later. [7]
Kwesi Arthur was discovered by Ghanaian rapper and entrepreneur Sarkodie, who he featured on one of his hit songs called "Grind Day", alongside Medikal. [8]
Kwesi Arthur started writing raps after listening to Drake's debut album, Thank Me Later . [9]
In 2017, he released the lead single "Grind Day" from his debut EP, Live from Nkrumah Krom (2017). The record was released under his independent outfit and supported by a social movement called GroundUp Chale. He later released the remix for "Grind Day", featuring Sarkodie and Medikal. [10]
Kwesi Arthur has collaborated with numerous Ghanaian musicians, including Sarkodie, Medikal, KiDi, Jason E LA, R2Bees, B4bonah, M3dal, M.anifest, EL, Stonebwoy, Shatta Wale and South African rapper Nasty C . He was nominated for Best International Act at the 2018 BET Awards. [1] [2]
Kwesi Arthur is one of the most successful artists in Ghana, with his music being internationally recognized and awarded. In 2020 his song "Live From The 233" was one of the most streamed African songs on the streaming service Apple Music.
Year | Title | Production credit | Ref |
---|---|---|---|
2017 | Grind Day | Kayso | [15] |
Grind Day Remix feat Medikal and Sarkodie (rapper) | [16] | ||
2018 | Anthem | Barking by Ramz | |
2018 | Woara (meaning - It Is You) | Shotto Blinkz | [17] |
2018 | Don't Keep Me Waiting feat Kidi | NytWulf | [18] |
2019 | Zombie | TwoBars | [19] |
2020 | Turn On The Lights | Yung D3mz | |
2020 | Live from 233 | Juiczxx | |
2020 | Baajo feat Joeboy | Yung D3mz | |
2021 | Winning feat Vic Mensa | Juiczxx | |
2022 | Nirvana fet Kofi Mole | Juiczxx | [20] |
Year | Recipient/Nominated work | Award | Result | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|
2018 | Himself | Hip Hop Song of the Year | Won [21] | [22] |
Hiplife/Hip Hop Artiste of the Year | Nominated | |||
New Artiste of the Year | Nominated | |||
2021 | Himself | Hiplife/HipHop Artist of the Year | Nominated | [23] |
Himself | International Collaboration of the Year | Won | [23] | |
Year | Recipient/Nominated work | Award | Result | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|
2018 | Himself | Viewers Choice Best International Act | Nominated | [24] |
Year | Recipient/Nominated work | Award | Result | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|
2019 | Himself | Hip Hop Song of the Year | Nominated | [25] |
Hiplife/Hip Hop Artiste of the Year | Nominated | |||
Hiplife/Hip Hop Act of the Year | Nominated | |||
Song of The Year | Nominated | |||
Music Man of The Year | Nominated | |||
Breakthrough Act | Nominated | |||
Digital Act of the Year | Nominated | |||
Hiplife Song of the year | Nominated | |||
Best Collaboration | Won | |||
Year | Title | Director | Ref |
---|---|---|---|
2017 | Grind Day [26] | Mickey Johnson | [27] |
2017 | Grind Day Remix [28] | Lex Maccarthy | [29] |
2018 | Anthem | Akwaada Nyame | [30] |
2018 | Woara | Yaw Skyface | [31] |
2018 | Don't Keep Me Waiting feat Kidi | Andy Madjitey | [32] |
2018 | Fever feat Rayf | RocxNoir | [33] |
2019 | Nobody feat Mr Eazi | Yaw Skyface | [34] |
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