Despite winning the title of Best Rapper at the 2023 Telecel Ghana Music Awards (TGMAs), Lyrical Joe has voiced concerns about the lack of recognition for English-speaking rappers in Ghana’s music industry.
While Hip-Hop continues to grow in popularity, English rappers face significant challenges in gaining widespread acceptance, often being overshadowed by their counterparts who rap in local languages, particularly Twi.
In an interview with Graphic Showbiz, Lyrical Joe expressed frustration with the industry’s bias, which he believes has led to English rappers being overlooked and undervalued, despite their talent and contributions to the genre.
“One of the biggest hurdles I’ve faced is getting people to embrace fresh talent and accept the evolution of our music scene. We’re no longer limited to one style. Now, we have artistes rapping exclusively in English, others in Twi, and everyone bringing their unique flavour to the table,” he said.
He acknowledged the difficulty in gaining recognition, which has pushed some artistes to follow popular trends.
However, he remains hopeful, noting that audiences are gradually warming up to this new wave of rap music.
“Thankfully, people have finally started to accept this diversity,” he added.
ID/KA
