Ghana: Ko-Jo Cue drops Free Throw single ahead of new EP

Produced by Fortune Dane, the record is a celebration of victories in the face of fierce opposition. The release marks the return of the rapper to music after a two-year hiatus.

“‘Free Throw’ is about celebrating wins, no matter how they come,” Ko-Jo Cue said. “It’s about acknowledging the opposition and still pushing forward. It’s about the joy of the game.”

Born Linford Kennedy Amankwaa, Ko-Jo Cue’s style, a fusion of hip hop, hiplife, highlife and Afrobeats, weaves tales of African life through a lens both introspective and socially aware.

In 2014, he joined Accra-based label BBnZ Live on which he dropped his mixtape The Shining. Three years later, he collaborated with fellow rapper Shaker on the Pen & Paper album, which earned them praise and caught the attention of American rapper Lauryn Hill, leading to an opening slot on her tour.

His 2019 debut solo LP For My Brothers was released to critical acclaim, securing him multiple awards, including the Adinkra Poetry Prize and an artlink grant to repurpose the project into a radio show in Europe. He is also behind the 2021 EP 21 Memory Lane.

The artist, who also taught at the University of Ghana’s Music Department, is now an independent artist and works as a senior consultant/country manager for ARTSPLIT Ghana.

Meanwhile, I’m Back, a seven-track collection is set for release in October.