EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH POPE SKINNY

Pope skinny as he is popularly known, is a Ghanaian rapper from Amanokrom in the Eastern Region of Ghana. On 18/10/09, Labanti of the Gh undagee Cypher team, managed to interact with the musician for about five minutes.

This is how the interview went.

G.U.C: Good day, Pope Skinny
P.S: Good day, man. Whats good?

G.U.C: We've heard the name Pope Skinny on radio, seen it in newspapers, on the t.v and all. Is that your real name?
P.S: (laughing)...My real name is Edwin Ohene Darko

G.U.C: So Mr. Ohene Darko, could you tell us more about yourself?
P.S: My real name as I said earlier on is Edwin Ohene Darko. I come from Amanokrom-Akwapim in the Eastern region of Ghana.

G.U.C: Pope Skinny, I want to ask.......at what age did you realise your talent?
P.S: Age???....hmmm, i can't really remember but I recall I was very young then

G.U.C: Who inspired you to do music or who was your role model as a kid?
P.S:: I didn't really have a role model. But I loved Bone thugs and Harmony

G.U.C: So, how did you become a musician?
P.S: You know as a kid, I was just rapping around. But things got really serious when I got into Senior Secondary School.

G.U.C: Before I move on? Which secondary school did you attend?:
P.S:: I was in Aggrey Memorial school in my first year, then I moved to Adonteng secondary school, where I completed.

G.U.C: Do you remember any of those you started rapping with?
P.S: Yeah, I started rapping with Abortion and King Palmer in English. Later, when i started rapping in Akuapem Twi, I was "rolling" with Shankoma, another Akuapem rapper in the Eastern region.

G.U.C: How did you do it, I mean like moving from the underground to the Ghanaian music scene?
P.S: It wasn't easy doing that at all. I remember back in 2002, when I was still in the underground, I was featured by 4x4 on their album at that time. This made me the first Akuapem rapper to hit the scene. After that, I had other artistes like Okomfo Kwadei, Buk Bak, Castro, Obrafuor and others featuring me on their albums. It was in 2005 I finally released my first album, entitled, "mmre pa"

G.U.C: Have you working on anything recently?
P.S: Of course. You know it just can't end like that. I have released some singles already. And I just finished work on my second album.

G.U.C: If i may ask, what is the name of your second album? And what should we expect on it?
P.S: The name of the album is Round 2. As for what to expect on it, you already know your boy Pope Skinny, I give nothing but the best. I have several tracks and "mugu" remix on it. Go grab it and feel the heat...(laughing)

G.U.C: So tell me, what have you achieved for yourself as a Ghanaian rapper so far?
P.S: Talking about achievements, I can't name them all, but some of them include meeting big people and you know as a young boy like me I've been able to go places I never thought was possible and all that.

G.U.C: What is your own opinion of the current state of the music industry in Ghana?
P.S: I am very happy about the way things are going, you know, the industry is growing bigger and bigger making it possible for artistes to sell their work to the world.

G.U.C: One last controversial question, rumours have it that, you have a "beef" with O.K, I mean, Okyeame Kwame. How true is it?
P.S: I am really glad you asked this question. I want to let my fans and all know that, I have no "beef" with O.K. No "beef" at all.

G.U.C: Pope Skinny thanks for your time. But before we depart, what would you want to tell all your fans?
P.S:I want to say a big thank you to all my fans for praying for me in my absence from the music scene and to all who love me.


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INTERVIEW WITH MENSA ANSAH

Mensa Ansah is a UK based Ghanaian singer, emcee and producer. He is one of Ghana's most hardworking artistes. Combining virtues, humuor and good hip hop/ hip life beats, Mensa is able to reach his fans with real entertainment. Born into a family with interest in music and acting, it comes as no surprise seeing him do what he does. Mensa's father, Mr. Tumi Ebo Ansah was a guitarist of OSIBISA, a British Afro-Pop band. He was taught to play the keyboard by his mother while he was still very young. He is one of the early pioneers of Hip Life, as Reggie Rockstone soon recognised his producing, singing and rapping potentials.

Mensa's works have been recognised by many; CHANNEL O,KORA, MOBO AWARDS, GHANA MUSIC AWARDS (GMA) etc. He was once listed in the TOP 50 GHANAIANS TO BE WATCHED by the BBC.

LABANTI of the G.U.C caught up with him recently and had a little chat with him.



WHAT KINDA OF MUSIC DO YOU DO? HIPLIFE OR HIP HOP??

M3NSA: The truth is that I make all kinds of music that I find interesting or appeals to me, anything I can vibe to, I might dip my finger into it...So to speak, but, Hip-hop is a big influence for everything that I do. I don't mind too much what people call my music, so long as they are feeling it, and I can keep enjoying making it!

EJUMA IS PROBABLY YOUR LATEST HIT SINGLE. WHAT INSPIRED IT??

M3NSA: Well ''ADJUMA'' was something that I never really took seriously, initially I was just messing around with a concept in my head one morning, and by the end of the day I had the whole first verse in my head. So I sat down one day and produced a beat and recorded the vocals for it all at one go, it initially came to me cos I was contemplating on a subject matter that EVERYONE can relate... and Work/Hustle/ Occupation is something that everyone must do, but the whole idea was to make it more fun, instead of a depressing song, and that's how ''ADJUMA'' came by


I HEAR YOU ARE WORKING ON A PROJECT WITH YOUR PAL, WANLOV. COULD YOU PLEASE TELL US WHAT IT IS ABOUT AND WHEN TO EXPECT IT??

M3NSA: A few years ago Wanlov and I met in New Jersey and decided to do an album together, but we wanted to do something different from the average "collabo" between two seasoned musicians, so for a period discussing ideas, we developed a concept of doing the world's first pidgin musical, and in that process made it into a short feature called ''COZ OV MONI'' so its a very well produced film, but with all the dialogue/conversation in music... a funny yet introspective take on the lives of two good friends living in Accra.

WHAT ARE YOUR DREAMS AS AN ARTISTE?

M3NSA:I just hope that in 30 years to come, my music will still be relevant and be blessed to make even more music...

BEING A UK BASED GHANAIAN ARTISTE, HOW DO YOU MANAGE TO PROMOTE YOUR MUSIC DOWN HERE?

M3NSA:Well there are a few creative ways of promoting music these days, I try and maintain a big online presence, giving away free music, being active on social networks that connect to my music, and just putting out good material all the time, I also have a few videos floating about on the internet and on TV in Ghana. Though nothing beats being in Ghana and making all the necessary moves to stay on the minds of the people.

TALKING ABOUT YOUR MUSIC, WHICH GROUP OF PEOPLE DO YOU TARGET?
M3NSA:I target people who enjoy good music, people who want more than just a pop song that is going to fade away in 3 months, I try and add a lot of afrobeat, highlife, jazz and old school hip hop in my music, so if you're a fan of any of these genres then there is something in there for you! ''NO.1 MANGO STREET'' my new album coming out in the next month is a perfect example, its the most fun album I've ever made to date!

IN YOUR OWN OPINION, HOW DO PEOPLE RECEIVE YOUR MUSIC???

M3NSA: People always have something good to say about my music. I mean you can't please everyone all time, but so long as I am still enjoying what I do, and I get to play loads of gigs, then it means I'm doing something right. The most complaint I've had is that they can't get enough of my music!

WHAT IS YOUR OPINION ABOUT THE RECENT CHANGE IN THE PHASE OF GHANAIAN MUSIC???

M3NSA: Change is good! But change without direction can be disastrous! there's a lot of buzz with the current Ghanaian ''industry'', There was a stage when the music seemed stagnant and not very creative, with all the so called payola business. Now things seem to be picking up, we have some very talented young musicians and Ghanaians seem to be taking the arts more seriously, there's more room for growth but we're getting there!

INTERVIEW BY LABANTI

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