HipHop Africa Fest unveils headliners for inaugural edition in Accra

Promoted as “Accra’s biggest hip hop celebration,” the event aims to connect diverse cultures through the shared love of music, art, and creativity. 

HipHop Africa Fest is an initiative by the media company HipHop Africa, which was founded in 2015 to promote urban African rap music and entertainment culture.

Kwesi Arthur rose to fame in 2017 with his hit single ‘Grind Day,’ which was remixed with features from Sarkodie and Medikal. Arthur’s success continued with the release of his EP Live from Nkrumah Krom (2017), followed by Live from Nkrumah Krom Vol II (2019). He has since released Son of Jacob (2022) and several notable mixtapes, including the This Is Not The Tape series. Throughout his career, Arthur has collaborated with top artists across Africa and won several awards, including the 2018 Ghana Music Awards’ Hip Hop Song of the Year, and the 2021 International Collaboration of the Year, while also receiving multiple nominations, such as for Hiplife/Hip Hop Artiste of the Year in 2018 and 2021. In 2018, he was nominated for Best International Act at the 2018 BET Awards.

PsychoYP, a member of the Apex Village collective, gained recognition with his 2018 mixtape YPSZN and its follow-up YPSZN2. Known for blending Afrobeats, hip hop, trap, and R&B, PsychoYP has released several collaborative EPs and his debut solo EP, Euphoria (2021). Throughout his career, he too, has worked with numerous artists across genres.

“We are thrilled to launch HipHop Africa Fest 2024 as a platform that celebrates and empowers African hip hop talent,” said HipHop Africa founder Muumba, emphasising that the event will give Africa’s hip hop stars a chance to shine on a global stage. “This festival is about building a community that honours African artists and provides them with an arena to connect with fans and fellow creatives in the truest sense of the genre.”

Highlights of HipHop Africa Fest 2024 will include live performances, exclusive pop-up activities featuring streetwear designers and cultural innovators, as well as youth culture engagement, uniting communities representing fashion, skateboarding, art, and more. 

Organisers have described the event as “a transformative experience,” offering attendees a full-spectrum festival that captures the raw, unfiltered essence of hip hop.