Thorsten Owusu Gyimah, also known as Yaw Tog in the entertainment industry, a rapper from Ghana, has described his first time sharing the stage with Stormzy, a rapper from the UK. He admitted that since it was his first time sharing the stage with the rapper from the UK on such a significant scale, he was initially a little uneasy. He claimed that while his first Stormzy performance was hardly a large concert, his second one had him shaking. He admitted that when he first saw how many people were there, he was in a state of disbelief, but after praying to God for a moment, he found the strength to join Stormzy on stage. He further said He continued by saying that having Stormzy take his place on stage was a little unusual for him because Stormzy has the flair to liven things up.
West African musicians frequently create music that draws inspiration from American genres. Everyone in the world can now more easily conform to the same pop cultural practices because of internet access, thus, it was only a question of when, not if, Drill would have an impact in these regions. The rap subgenre is currently gaining popularity throughout the continent, but it is undeniable that Ghana, more especially, the Kumasi scene, is at the forefront of these discussions.
Clips from Yaw Tog’s gritty music video for “Sore” went viral last year, making the song a groundbreaking Ghanaian drill success and introducing a large audience to the Asakaa movement and subgenre. Yaw Tog’s ascent was signaled by his deep husky singing of his viral hit song Sore, “Yɛbɛ soreeee, eeeeehu,” which translates to “We’ll rise up, be scared.” In just a few months, Yaw Tog went from being an underground street artist in Kumasi to becoming one of Ghana’s biggest artists and the face of drill in West Africa. The Asakaa movement, which includes a number of other well-known Drill musicians like Sean Lifer, received some much-needed attention as a result of its immediate success. The Asakaa scene, which includes a number of other well-known Drill artists like Sean Lifer, O’Kenneth, City Boy, Reggie, and Jay Bahd, received some much-needed attention as a result of this immediate success. The 17-year-old Yaw Tog is under increased scrutiny after receiving international acclaim for “Sore,” which he intends to adjust to.
After the gritty and striking video for “Sore” became popular on social media, Stormzy, a rapper from the UK, saw it and, while performing at a festival in Ghana, gave a sneak peek at the remix of the song featuring Kwesi Arthur. Yaw Tog achieved international recognition and collaborated with two of the biggest names in Rap in a few months. Yaw Tog released his first project, Time, after Sore Remix, with the remix acting as the lead single. With productions by ChrisRich, Juiczx, DG Productions, Doosis, and KhendiBeatz, who worked on Sore Remix, Time is a declaration of Yaw Tog’s feelings about it being his time, showcasing his diversity as a singer and rapper, and delivering over drill productions with afrobeat and soul in his delivery.
Time has its origins in Ghana’s Kumerica scene and tells tales of friendship and brotherhood. This theme is mentioned in most of the project’s tracks, but it stands out most in the opening track Gold Friends, where Yaw Tog is shown giving back to his friends and expressing gratitude for their love and support as he matured. Yaw Tog contributes his own distinct brand of drill to Boyz’s hesitant synth, which takes a more deliberate and reflective approach to making music. With the help of a guitar riff, Fake Ex keeps up this strategy while rapping in his native Twi. His verses transcend linguistic boundaries with their solemn melody.
Sore Remix, which features Stormzy and Kwesi Arthur, is a positive and upbeat song. Mood, which stars Sean Lifer, a significant player in Ghana’s drill industry and regarded as the Godfather of Ghanaian drill, comes next. Yaw Tog is fully embracing his rap side and showcasing his ability to keep up with fast-paced beats and create memorable, melodic rap choruses. Y33gye is similarly hard and energetic as Sore.
The gloomy contemplation of Time, which closes the project, is a quiet yet hefty composition that combines Afrobeat influences and Yaw Tog’s unadulterated emotion as he revels in his accomplishments.
For more information about Yaw Tog, click the icon below