Gambian music gets new recording studio

Ras Askia, CEO of Hardcore Production, said the studio was trying to bring new talents to the limelight. “We are working on extended plays (EPs) and albums for some artists to enable them penetrate the market for recognition in the country,” he said.

Askia said the studio was planning to sell music across the borders of the Gambia by working with other artists. “We are doing all kinds of music to reach out to the wider audience across the globe, as we are trying to work on their lyrics to bring the best out of them. We want to bring out the real talent out of them."

Masta CD, producer at Hardcore Production, recalls meeting Ras Askia some years ago. At the time the studio was called Ghetto Link Production. He said that when he met Askia, he told him that he wanted to learn more about music production, so the pair teamed up. They have now set up the Hardcore Production studio. “We are currently working with three artists, namely Idealistic, D Bro, Antou and Ghass," he said, "so we record some songs for them and we are working on EPs and albums for them."

Ras Askia, real name Muhammad Jobarteh, is based in Austria. While he is better known as a performing act, Ras Askia is also a producer.