Sarkodie

Sarkodie (born Michael Kwesi Owusu Addo) is a Ghanaian rapper and entrepreneur from Tema.

A decade after his debut album 'Makye' released in 2009, one of African music’s biggest and best-loved hip hop artists is still in the water.

Sarkodie’s sound is a fizzing blend of hip hop and Afrobeats, which has led to sold-out shows at London’s O2 Kentish Town Forum and collaborations with an impressive array of international artists such as T-Pain, Ludacris, Busta Rhymes and R&B supernova Miguel, who he shared the stage with at the 2014 MTV Africa Awards.

Sarkodie took his raps from school to the streets, competing in rap battles that eventually led to the opportunity to perform in popular radio station Adom FM's rap competition Kasahare Level − a label deal quickly followed.

'Mayke' was a smash, as was its follow-up: 2012’s BET Award-winning 'Rapperholic'. The record doubled down on Sarkodie’s emphasis on truthful, soul-bearing and relatable raps, exploring pain, romance and real-life struggles, a philosophy he still carries with him today.

In the last decade, his wish has come true, through a combination of hard work, hustle, heartfelt storytelling and captivating flow – the kind that transcends language barriers.

As Sarkodie’s acclaim continued to grow, he found it important to give back: his charity, The Sarkodie Foundation, has transformed thousands of lives of underprivileged children in his community since its inception in 2013. As his profile has increased, with the release of celebrated albums 'Sarkology' (2014) and 'Highest' (2017), so has his commitment to helping others. The rapper has made tens of millions of album sales and over 80 awards to his name in his native Ghana.

The first ten years of Sarkodie's career have been a game-changing whirlwind of electrifying melodies and infectious Afrobeats. The next ten years promise to be even better.