R2Bees

Last updated

R2Bees
Origin Tema, Ghana
Genres
OccupationsSinger, songwriter
Years active2007–present
Labels
Members

R2Bees is a Ghanaian hip hop and hiplife duo from Tema, comprising two cousins, Faisal Hakeem and Rashid Mugeez. They were nominated for the 2013 BET Awards. [1] In March 2019, the duo released their third studio album, Site 15. [2]

Contents

Career

2007–2012: Da Revolution I

R2BEES's first single, "Yawa Gal", was released in August 2008. They then went on to release "I Dey Mad", which featured Unda melodies. The song topped most Ghanaian Radio Music Charts for weeks. In 2010, R2Bees released "Kiss Your Hand" as their third single.

In 2009, R2Bees released a 17-track album Da Revolution, which has already released songs; "Yawa Girl", "I dey Mad", "T.E.M.A", "Kiss Your Hand" with new songs; "Radio", "One more Chance" and "Africa" with production from KillBeatz (Joseph Addison) as well as guest appearances from Wande Coal, Sarkodie, Samini, Kwaw Kese and a host of others. [3]

2013–present: Da Revolution II: Refuse to be Broke

Their second studio album, Refuse To Be Broke – Da Revolution II, was released on 29 March 2013. The album had guest appearances from Wizkid, Sherifa Gunu, Davido, Tinchy Stryder, Nana Boroo and Voicemail. The album's production was entirely handled by KillBeatz. [4] The album's lead single "Ajeei" featuring Nana Boroo and Sarkodie was released on 20 July 2011. A remix EP was released on 13 August 2012. [5] [6] The second single, "Dance", features Wizkid, was released on 10 February 2012. [7] Da Revolution II's third single "Odo" was released on 24 July 2012. [8] [9] "Life (Walaahi)" was released as the album's fourth single, and is an introspective track about R2Bees' life and the "general state of being". [6] The album's fifth single "Bayla Trap" featuring Sarkodie was released on 2 November 2012. The music video for "Bayla Trap" was released on 29 November 2012; it was shot on location in Tema and directed by 6miludo Media. [10] It received a nomination for Hip Life/Hip Hop Song of the Year at the Vodafone Ghana Music Awards. [9] The sixth single released off the album, "It's Alright", was released on 19 March 2013. [11] The Wizkid-assisted "Slow Down" released on 8 April 2013 as the album' seventh single. Its music video, directed by Gorilla Films, released on 1 July 2013. [12] "Slow Down" was nominated for Best Collaboration of the Year and Vodafone Song of the Year at the Vodafone Ghana Music Awards. [9] R2Bees released their first official single for 2014, "Lobi". The highlife influenced song video was released on 25 September 2014.

Recognition and music style

R2Bees often sing and rap in their native language Twi and Pidgin. R2Bees is one of the top purveyors of Ghanaian hip pop subgenre hiplife, which mixes rap with sounds of highlife (African pop music) and reggae. In 2012, R2Bees was featured in the Forbes list of "African celebrities to watch in 2013". [13] R2Bees have performed on the same stage with international musicians such as American R&B singers Mario and J Holiday. [14]

Discography

Studio albums

Awards and nominations

BET Awards

YearNominee / workAwardResult
BET Awards 2013 R2BeesBest International Act: AfricaNominated [16]

Ghana Music Awards

YearNominee / workAwardResult
2015R2BeesGroup of the year [17] Nominated
LobiHighlife song of the year [17] Nominated
Killing me softlyAfro pop song of the year [17] Nominated
2014R2BeesGroup of the year [18] Won
Hiplife/ Hip Hop Artiste of the Year [19] Nominated
Artist of the year [19] Nominated
"Slow down"Best Collaboration of the Year [18] Nominated
Vodafone Song of the Year [18] Nominated
2013R2BeesArtiste of the Year [20] Won
Hiplife/ Hip Hop Artiste of the Year [20] Won
Group of the Year [20] Won
Slow downBest Collaboration of the Year [20] Won
LifeVodafone song of the Year [20] Won
"Odo"Highlife Song of the Year [20] Won
Bayla TrapHip Life/Hip Hop Song of the Year [20] Nominated
OdoMale Vocal Performance [20] Nominated
MugeezSong Writer of the Year [20] Nominated
2011Kiss your handAfro pop song of the year [21] Won
Collaboration of the year [22] Won
R2BeesHip pop/Hiplife artist of the Year [22] Nominated

The Headies

YearNominee / workAwardResult
2013 R2BeesBest African Artiste [23] —
2014 Nominated

Nigeria Entertainment Awards

YearNominee / workAwardResult
2013 R2BeesWestern African Artist or Group of the YearNominated
2014 African Artist of the Year (Non-Nigerian)Nominated

Selected videography

YearTitleDirectorRef
2015GbozaFeaturing Davido Justin Campos of Gorilla Films [24]
2016TonightFeaturing Wizkid Sesan Ogunro [25]
2017Plantain ChipsThisIsbutta [26]

References

  1. ↑ "R2bees nominated for BET awards". 14 May 2013. Retrieved 14 May 2013.
  2. ↑ "3rd studio album, Site 15" . Retrieved 16 March 2019.
  3. ↑ "R2Bees debut album". 22 August 2009. Retrieved 22 August 2009.
  4. ↑ "R2Bees debut album". 29 March 2013. Retrieved 31 March 2013.
  5. ↑ Ovie O (20 July 2011). "R2Bees - Ajei ft Sarkodie & Nana Boroo". Notjustok . Retrieved 19 May 2025.
  6. 1 2 Killakam (14 August 2012). "Video: R2Bees 'Life (Walaahi)' + 'Agyeiii' Remixes". OkayAfrica . Retrieved 19 May 2025.
  7. ↑ DonBoye (10 February 2012). "R2Bees – Dance ft Wizkid". tooXclusive . Archived from the original on 22 August 2014. Retrieved 19 May 2025.
  8. ↑ Demola Ogundele (24 July 2012). "R2Bees – Odo". Notjustok . Archived from the original on 18 April 2015. Retrieved 19 May 2025.
  9. 1 2 3 "New Video: "Bayla Trap" By R2Bees Featuring Sarkodie". GhanaWeb . 29 November 2012. Retrieved 19 May 2025.
  10. ↑ "New Video: "Bayla Trap" By R2Bees Featuring Sarkodie". GhanaWeb . 29 November 2012. Retrieved 19 May 2025.
  11. ↑ Ovie O (19 March 2013). "R2Bees – It's Alright (Prod by Killbeatz)". Notjustok . Archived from the original on 1 February 2015. Retrieved 19 May 2025.
  12. ↑ Tobi_tx (1 July 2013). "VIDEO: R2bees – Slow Down ft. Wizkid". tooXclusive . Retrieved 19 May 2025.
  13. ↑ "Sarkodie & R2Bees makes forbes' list of African Celebrities to watch in 2013" . Retrieved 1 January 2013.
  14. ↑ "R2Bees for Mario & j holiday concert". 29 June 2011. Retrieved 30 June 2011.
  15. ↑ "R2Bees - Back 2 Basics (Full Album)". DCLeakers. Archived from the original on 25 November 2021. Retrieved 26 November 2021.
  16. ↑ "BET Awards 2013: Complete list of winners". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 30 October 2013.
  17. 1 2 3 "Winners at the 2015 Ghana music awards". 11 April 2015. Archived from the original on 10 July 2015. Retrieved 12 April 2015.
  18. 1 2 3 "Vodafone Ghana Music Awards 2014 Nominees List Out – Check It Now". Ghana News Report. 2 March 2014. Archived from the original on 7 March 2014. Retrieved 6 March 2014.
  19. 1 2 Victor, Adebayo Adeyemi (4 May 2014). "List of winners at the Vodafone Ghana Music Awards 2014". Ghana Web. Retrieved 4 May 2014.
  20. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "Vodafone Ghana Music Awards winners". Ghana News Report. 19 May 2014. Retrieved 19 May 2013.
  21. ↑ "2011 Ghana Music Awards winners". 9 April 2011. Retrieved 10 April 2011.
  22. 1 2 "GMA nomination out". 26 February 2011. Retrieved 26 February 2011.
  23. ↑ "Olamide wins big @ Headies 2013 + full list of winners". Vanguard. 27 December 2013. Retrieved 27 January 2014.
  24. ↑ "Music Video R2Bees – Gboza feat. Davido". Pulse Ghana. Archived from the original on 20 February 2016. Retrieved 17 February 2016.
  25. ↑ "R2Bees – Tonight ft. Wizkid (Official Video)". Hitz Ghana. Archived from the original on 17 October 2017. Retrieved 13 October 2017.
  26. ↑ "[Video Download]: R2bees – Plantain Chips (Official Video)". Ndwom fie Ghana. Retrieved 13 October 2017.[ permanent dead link ]
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