Okyeame Kwame, also known as the Rap Doctor, recently shared his thoughts on the Hiplife genre’s evolution. He expressed remorse, acknowledging that artists like himself failed to preserve the genre’s essence for the younger generation in Ghana.
During a conversation with Bola Ray on Starr Chat, Okyeame Kwame admitted that Hiplife is “suffering,” contrary to those who believe it is entirely dead.
He emphasized the importance of investing in attracting the younger generation to carry the torch for Hiplife’s continuity. Okyeame Kwame revealed that he, along with other predecessors, didn’t realize the significance of passing on the genre’s legacy earlier in their careers.
“I think that for every genre to be able to stay alive, there must be a group of young people who are interested in carrying the torch to the next young generation and for hiplife we don’t have that.
“People like myself have failed the young generation completely, because when I took on the mantle of hiplife in 1996, the last thing I knew was anthropology, sociology or marketing. I didn’t know I was supposed to carry this thing upfront and give it to someone else,”he said.
He highlighted the Western model, where artists like Big Daddy Kane pass the torch to Jay Z, who then hands it over to the next generation, ensuring the genre’s vitality.
Moreover, Okyeame Kwame discussed his disloyalty to Okyeame Quophi. Despite their collaboration in the group Akyeame, he admitted to going solo and releasing songs independently. This introspective reflection sheds light on the challenges and missed opportunities in preserving and promoting Hiplife for future generations in Ghana.
