Ghana: Listen to Kwesi Arthur’s John Wick song

The piano-led hip hop number, named after the popular American neo-noir action thriller starring actor Keanu Reeves, is released via Ground Up Chale, with production from Juicxxx. The song is accompanied by a video that was shot by Fransis JR Kojo. The record also follows Kwesi Arthur’s recent collaboration with US rapper Vic Mensa on ‘Winning’, and heralds his forthcoming debut album Son of Jacob.

Thematically, the song finds its author reflecting on his musical journey, which began with his 2017 breakout single ‘Grind Day’, a Sarkodie and Medikal-assisted remix which was released soon after.

“Breaking out of my cage/ my lifestyle be complicated/ breaking out of my maze”, Kwesi Arthur raps on ‘John Wick’. The song also finds him acknowledging the support from his family: “momma pray for me/ don’t stress for me.”

Kwesi Arthur told Music In Africa that the vision behind the record is to provide an “update about my current state of mind and how I feel about certain things I discussed on the song. I feel like I’ve starved people who listen to my music and appreciate it for a while now.”

“This is just something to keep them going,” he added. “I just hope people can relate to it and deal with certain things they are facing in their lives.”

A multiple-award-winning artist, Kwesi Arthur is up for Best Artist, Duo or Group in African Hip Hop at his year’s All Africa Music Awards slated for Lagos, Nigeria, from 19 to 21 November. He secured a nod for his contribution on Yaw TOG’s ‘Sore (Remix), which also guests British-Ghanaian rapper Stormzy. In 2018, he was nominated for Best International Act at the BET Awards, becoming the second Ghanaian rapper after Sarkodie to attain that feat.

Earlier this week, Kwesi Arthur, who is behind the Live from Nkrumah Krom (2017) and Live from Nkrumah Krom Vol II Home Run EPs, was among local celebrities engaged by Ghana’s National Lottery Authority in its fight against fraud and drive to improve the reputation of the organisation.