Ghana: Top 11 albums of 2017

Artist: Trigmatic
Album: Melodies Awakening the Inactive Conscience (M.A.T.I.C)

Trigmatic enjoyed immense success with his 2010 single 'My Life', and has received multiple awards since. A genius across genres, he has yet to attain celebrity truly fitting of his talent.

Highlights of this project, his first album in six years, include the Stonebwoy-assisted 'Gbedu', and 'Motromodwo' (featuring A.I). That last song, unapologetic highlife founded on rich percussion and horns is, without question, one of the finest Ghanaian records published in recent years. The album, his fourth solo project after Stains on a Cloth (2007), Permanent Stains (2010), and SOUL-u-TIONS (2011) also features Sarkodie, E.L, Stonebwoy, A.I, Orezi, Jupitar, Krissy O and Skales.

Get M.A.T.I.C here

Artist: Akan
Album: Onipa Akoma

A-Level rapper Akan’s Onipa Akoma album took two years to make. It is also his debut. Running over with astoundingly mature language, dexterity with Twi and compelling storytelling, this project ranks not only among the most groundbreaking bodies of work by a Ghanaian this year, but also in all of hiplife history. It has already being compared to the greatest of all hiplife albums, 1999's Pae Mu Ka by Obrafour.

Formerly going by the showbiz name Quabena Shy, Akan is among the most relevant of young voices in Ghana today, courting comparison with such hiplife elders as Okomfour Kwadee, Obrafour, Sarkodie and veteran producer Da'Hammer.

Get Onipa Akoma here

Artist: Becca
Album: Unveiling

The release of Becca's third studio album Unveiling coincided with her tenth anniversary of coming into the music industry. The beloved songstress is among Ghana's biggest female exports, securing collaborations with top names as MI, Mr. Eazi, 2Baba, M.I, Ice Prince, Bisa KDei, Uhuru, Hugh Masekela among others.

With Unveiling, Becca (Rebecca Akosua Acheampong) once again stakes a bold claim for the female constituency in a male-dominated terrain. A catalogue primarily consisting palatable love songs compiled over 13 months, Unveiling ranks among highly commercial albums of 2017, and features guest appearances from Bisa KDei, Patoranking, Mr. Eazi, Kofi Kanata, Joyce Blessing and Ice Prince. Highlights from the record include Hw3 and Beshiwo (both featuring Bisa KDei), You & I, and Na Wash (featuring Patoranking).

Buy Unveiling here

Artist: Fancy Gadam
Album: Mujahid

2017 saw Tamale-based Fancy Gadam (Ahmed Mujahid Bello) finally cement himself in mainstream Ghanaian music. With his Gadam Nation tour, the energetic singer has gone ahead to prove why he deserved to be named the VGMA's Best New Artist ahead of Medikal, Eugy, Rudebwoy Ranking and Article Wan, filling up arenas in major cities across the country, and more than impressing in high-profile shows.

The launch of Mujahid (his third album) at the Tamale Sports Stadium was witnessed by over 18 000 patrons. 'Total Cheat', off the record and featuring rap icon Sarkodie, was a bona fide 2017 hit, rubbing shoulders with efforts from Stonebwoy, Shatta Wale, KiDi, Kuami Eugene, Patapaa, and Ebony.

Buy Mujahid here

Artist: Joe Mettle
Album: God of Miracles

God of Miracles is the fourth album reigning VGMA Artist of the Year Joe Mettle has released since launching his solo career in 2007. Comprising 13 songs, the live recording features guests Nathaniel Bassey, Akesse Brempong, Ohemaa Mercy, Kingz Kid and protege Luigi Maclean.

The impact of the album, via the leading single 'Bo Noo Ni', cannot be questioned. That single has been viewed over 1 000 000 times on YouTube. It was important for Joe Mettle to have released an album of this quality in the year he won the most coveted music award in the land. If not for nothing, to silence critics, prove that he's not one to rest on his laurels, and most of all, keep Ghanaian gospel in the conversation.

Buy God of Miracles here

Artist: Sarkodie
Album: Highest

Sarkodie’s fifth album after Makye (2009), Rapperholic (2012), Sarkology (2014), and Mary (2015) has the rapper proclaim himself as the foremost name in Ghanaian music. As much a rap album as it is melodic (something made possible by the layered approach of a typical Jayso production), Highest engages deeply personal themes and explores new creative terrain by recruiting unlikely collaborators as Victoria Kimani, Moelogo, Praiz, Korede Bello, Jesse Jagz and Bobii Lewis among others.

There may not be a “massive hit” on the album, at least judging by the standard of the rapper who made such songs as 'You Go Kill Me', 'Pon The Ting' and 'Adonai', but all songs on there require repeated play to fully engage with and properly appreciate –which is how albums should be consumed anyway.

Buy Highest here

Artist: Ebony Reigns
Album: BONYFIED

Just 20, sultry Dancehall/Afropop singer Ebony Reigns has had a tremendous 2017, netting a fine percentage of hits last year saw, as well as mounting nearly all major concert platforms over the period.

Ebony's debut album BONYFIED consists 16 songs, and bears her main hits of 2017: 'Poison', 'Sponsor', 'Date Your Fada', 'Hustle', and 'Maame Hwɛ', as well as old gold like 'Dancefloor', 'Kupe', and 'Turn on the Light'. She is widely tipped to win Artist of the Year at next year’s Vodafone Ghana Music Awards.

Artist: Stonebwoy
Album: Epistles of Mama (EOM)

BET winner Stonebwoy looks to reach new frontiers with Epistles of Mama, his recently-released 4th project. His ambition is evident in the collaborations he secured for the album: Sean Paul, Chronixx, Sarkodie, Pressure, I Octane, Efya, Vanessa Bling, Joey B, Kabaka Pyramid, etc.

Released in honour of his late mother Catherine Satekla, the double-album, but for two songs referencing his mum, is hardly related to motherhood. EOM is a strategy to establish himself as a proper international brand. The album is unsurprisingly great, dripping with infectious choruses and melody. It was highly-anticipated throughout the year, and was well worth the wait.

Buy Epistles of Mama here

Artist: Kwabena Kwabena
Album: Ahyese

Sonically, ace highlife musician and trusted love doctor Kwabena Kwabena still reigns in Ghana. Even if his own love story has been characterized with successive failures, his songs have served as nectar to many. Ahyese goes back to the very beginning, which is what the album translates to from Twi.

At a tidy 9 songs, the project brings his solo albums to five. The album was led with 3 well-received singles: 'Tuamudaa', 'Siwagedem', and 'Adansie' (ft. rapper M.anifest).

Artist: Blakk Rasta
Album: Kuchoko Revolution

Blakk Rasta's Kuchoko Revolution was considered for the 60th Grammy Awards. That's how important the firebrand reggae musician/ radio man's project is.

The 13-track album follows Rasta Shrine (2000), More Fyah (2002), Ganja Minister (2004), Natty Bongo (2006), Naked Wire (2008), Voice of the Afrikan Rebel (2009) and Born Dread (2011). It is crafted over indigenous instruments as the Kologo, xylophone, talking drums (dondo), jimbe, Africa Foot percussion, jinbe, cow horns etc, and rendered over 6 different languages: English, Dagbani, Hausa, Arabic, Ndebele and Jamaican Patois.

Kuchoko Revolution navigates religion, history, love, and his special brand of reggae, Kuchoko.

Buy Kuchoko Revolution here

Artist: MzVee
Album: DaaVee

The third album from two-time BET honouree MzVee (Vera Hamenoo-Kpeda), DaaVee makes the beloved chanteuse one of Ghana's most consistent modern performers. A class act across genres, the singer serves a a potpourri of Afropop, hiplife, R& B, and dancehall on the record.

DaaVee consists 12 songs, and features collaboration from Black Prophet, Article Wan, Kuami Eugene, Ko-jo Cue, and Lyrical. Aside being a decent commercial effort, it also proved a mighty springboard for Kuami Eugene, who has since his appearance on 'Rewind', grown into his own hit-dispatching man. MzVee, 25, has released two other albums, 2014's Re-Vee-Lation and 2015's Verified.

Get DaaVee here