Edem (rapper)

Edem
Born Volta Region, Ghana
Genres Hip hop, Reggae / Dance Hall
Occupation(s) Rapper, executive producer, entrepreneur, singer
Instruments Vocals
Years active 2009–present
Labels Volta Regime Music Group
Associated acts Hammer of The Last Two, Kwaw Kese, Trigmatic, Sarkodie, Obrafour, Tinny, Asem, EL, Black Rob, I-20, Nuru, Ice Prince, Ice Queen, Sway, Gemini
Website Official website

Denning Edem Hotor is a Ghanaian recording artist and entertainer who performs under the name Edem.

Early life

Edem was born in Dzodze in the Volta Region of Ghana. He is the only son of his parents and has one sister, Wendy Sefakor Agbeviadey who resides in Accra. The young Edem spent most part of his toddler and teenage years in Accra and Aflao. He started his primary education at the Amazing Love School, and then continued there for his junior high school. As a product of the secondary school system in Ghana, he proceeded to Bishop Herman College for his senior high school education. He lost his mum at age 13. He was left with his dad, a lawyer, and his sister. He lost his dad at age 16. His only immediate family at the moment is his sister, whom he adores very much. He grew up surrounded by music in his locality and music from across the world ranging from hip hop to dancehall, reggae and hi life.

By the age of nine, Edem was usually caught hitting tables, empty tins and any item that could produce good rhythm. He took off with his first music group in junior high. In senior high, he formed a 6-member group called the Ringmasters. They performed at the school’s entertainment programs as well as at funfairs held in other schools. They usually did singing, rapping and dancing. After completion of senior high school, he proceeded with his quest to build a commercial career in music for himself. he recorded uncountable songs in the underground with the likes of Kokromoti, Nival, Trigmatic, Vyroz,M.O.B and Osibo .

Music

Edem's two videos were recently featured on Voice of America ,His The One video featuring sway which talks about Africa liberation story and his award winning song Koene was also featured on Music Time Africa by Heather Maxwell and Vincent Makori [1]

In 2006 he released his first radio hit single "WOTOME WOSHI" which literally translates as "we came and they run". It gained much popularity in his region and added to his underground reputation as a talent to look out for. It was in this same year that he got together officially with The Last Two Entertainment Group, headed by the hit maker Hammer of The Last Two. This record label is responsible for bringing up artists like Obrafour (an Akan artist) in 1999, Tinny (a Ga artist in 2002) and the madman Kwaw Kesse (a Fante artist) in 2005.

During his career advancement, Edem also made a lot of appearances at live shows, the major of which was as the opening act for the John Legend concert organised by Charterhouse and held at the International Conference Center in Accra in 200-- . Before his debut album, He did a lot of collaborations with other acts, the major one being with Obrafour for a TiGo telecommunications promotion. He went on a national tour with him, sponsored by TiGo. After spending two years in the studio (2006 December to 2008 December), he came up with his first single "bougez" which received a lot of airplay from radio stations across the country. He later came up with his first album which featured a lot of new as well as established acts such as Tinny, Kwaw Kesse, Sarkodie, Obour, Asem, K. k. Fosu, Tuba, Samini, Jayso, Trigmatic, El and Gemini.

Edem has appeared on major shows like Stars of the Future Season 3 Finales, Ghana Music Awards (2009) and all major university concerts. He has been a part of the University of Ghana’s Commonwealth Hall week, Akuafo Hall week, Evandy Hostel(Legon) week celebration, Pentagon Hostel week celebration, Miss WA Poly, Miss Ho Poly, KNUST’s Unity Hall week celebration and University Of Cape Coast's Kwame Nkrumah Hall Week 2013.

Debut Album: Volta Regime (2009)

His Debut Album 'The Volta regime' was released onto the Ghanaian market in January 2009.

This album is as a result of two years of recordings in the hush hush studios in Accra. All the lyrics of the songs on this album were written by Edem himself. The compositions for all the songs were produced by Hammer of The Last Two. He also doubled as the executive producer of this album.

Second Album: Mass Production (2011)

Mass Production, is going to be a transition from his first and unlike his previous album which was solely produced by producer/sound engineer, Hammer of The Last Two, the album, he said, holds a mixture of unique beats produced by various engineers including hammer. Edem says, "...It basically is a transition from me being an artiste with a first album and now trying to put music out that will be appealing to everybody that has supported me. Now the album is Mass Production because it is going to be made easily available and affordable to everybody in a sphere of life in the country. In an interview with Peacefmonline.com, Edem disclosed that his favorite song on the album is song "Kate" which is the only song produced by Hammer of The Last Two on his new album. "Anytime I hear that song it reminds me of my beginning", he said. On why he decided to drop Ayigbe from name he said "This has nothing to do with image crisis.

It has everything to do with growth of brand. The intention of ‘Volta Regime’ as an album was to make a statement for my region to be respected…this statement was to make everybody know that you can use your dialect and sell anywhere across the world and in doing that I wanted to also make sure that the people from my region take pride when they are derogatorily called Ayigbe people or anything.

Two years along the line after executing ‘Volta Regime’, I know a lot of people who take pride in the name now", he explained. He said the purpose of using Ayigbe has been fulfilled hence his decision to stick to only Edem which is still an Ewe name." [2] Check out Edem's twitter handle @iamedem he has mindblowing videos like Delaila ft M.I, The One remix ft Sway , Only in Ghana, Wicked and Bad ft Coded (4x4) , Koene, Over Again remix and Not on my level (heyba) which featured on BET 106 &Park, ChannelOTV and TraceTv, Not on My Level has reached 49th position on Reflexfm Urban top100 chart in Netherlands, Edem worked with Grammy Award winner and producer JAZZWAD on which couldn't make it to his recently released album BOOKS & RHYMES

Awards and Honors

Edem has won the Best International Act-Africa at 2015 Black Canadian Awards. The ‘Koene’ hit singer beat Mafikizolo (South Africa), Yemi Alade (Nigeria), Davido (Nigeria), Eddy Kenzo (Uganda), Oritse Femi (Nigeria), and Teeyah (Ivory Coast) to win the award. The rapper thanked God and Ghanaians for their support which he said helped him emerge victorious at the event.[3]

Edem wins big in 2015 Vodafone Ghana Music Awards : He won Album of the Year with his most talked about Books and Rhymes Album, Afropop song of the year with his Koene Song and Video of the Year with his The One video featuring SwayUk [4]

Edem topped the 2014 4syte TV Music Video Awards with 3 awards for Best Directed, Best Photography and Most Outstanding Video for "The One" featuring SwayUK directed by Gyo Gyimah of Phamous Philms.[5]

When the nominations list for the 2010 Ghana Music Awards was released, Edem's maiden album had clocked seven nominations. His record must have made it to some other categories under the "industry awards". this will increase his number of nominations.[6][7]

Philanthropic work

Before he became this popular, Edem promised himself and God that should he make it, he will make it a point to help those in need. In his own small way, he has done a number of philanthropic works and is fast gaining ground as one artist in Ghana with a passion for charity.

Following this passion, on Monday 7 September 2009, he made a donation of various items and a cash amount of ------ to the maternity ward of the Mamobi Polyclinic in Accra.

After hearing Father Campbell, the priest in charge of the Weija Leprosarium calling for help, Edem went to the Weija Leprosarium on 10 October 2009 and in the spirit of charity, he donated ---------items and a cash amount of ------. In a short speech at the presentation, he told Father Campbel that he felt responsible enough to help them in his own small way. In an interview with Myjoyonline, Edem also said "I was touched by what I saw on the TV some weeks ago where Father Campbell spoke about the plight of the Leprosarium...."my priority is making people who need help get help. People do not have to be rich before they can donate and help the needy in society."[8]

While watching and listening to the prime time news on TV3, he sympathized with the parents of Michelle Koranteng, a 4 month old baby who was suffering from a congenital brain disorder. The poor girls’ condition touched him enough to make yet another donation to aid her medical bills and surgery. This was on 3 December 2009. On the same day, he travelled to Hohoe in the Volta Region and made yet another donation to the maternity ward of the Hohoe General Hospital.

He also has expressed his displeasure over government’s inability of providing adequate malaria health care to the many Ghanaians.[9]

As of 2011, Edem has plans to start a Volta Regime Foundation which will be a full-time charity organization.

Personal life

Edem's uniqueness is in three-fold: language, rhythmic quality and depth of lyrics. He is currently a student of the meridian pre university. In February 2011, the rapper became a father after the birth of his daughter and claims to be in a committed relationship with plans to get married.[10]

Discography

References

  1. ↑ https://web.archive.org/20150713045631/http://pulse.com.gh/music/watch-edem-featured-on-voas-music-time-africa-id3705102.html. Archived from the original on July 13, 2015. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  2. ↑ Archived March 10, 2011, at the Wayback Machine.
  3. ↑ "Ghana News - Edem wins Best International Act Africa at 2015 Black Canadian Awards". myjoyonline.com. Retrieved 13 June 2015.
  4. ↑ [http:// www.amalarbieafrica.com/edem-wins-3-awards-2015-vgma/ http:// www.amalarbieafrica.com/edem-wins-3-awards-2015-vgma/] Check |url= value (help). Missing or empty |title= (help)
  5. ↑ Mawuli, David. "Full List Of Winners MTN 4syte Music Video Awards, 2014 - Music". Pulse. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  6. ↑ "Ghana Music•com™ • Sarkodie, Ayigbe Edem, Wutah & 4x4 dominate GMA 2010 • TOP STORIES • NEWS". Ghanamusic.com. 2010-02-27. Retrieved 2012-10-14.
  7. ↑ "Nominations For This Year's Ghana Music Awards Ready | Entertainment 2010-02-22". Ghanaweb.com. 2010-02-22. Retrieved 2012-10-14.
  8. ↑ https://web.archive.org/20101106094358/http://news.myjoyonline.com:80/entertainment/200910/37121.asp. Archived from the original on November 6, 2010. Retrieved January 4, 2013. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  9. ↑ https://web.archive.org/20110204004641/http://news.myjoyonline.com:80/entertainment/201101/60349.asp. Archived from the original on February 4, 2011. Retrieved January 4, 2013. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  10. ↑ "Ayigbe Edem Is A Dad | Entertainment 2011-03-10". Ghanaweb.com. 2011-03-10. Retrieved 2012-10-14.

External links

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