| O'Kenneth | |||||
| Birth Name: | Kenneth Opoku | ||||
| Birth Date: | 13 August 1993 | ||||
| Birth Place: | Kumasi | ||||
| Nationality: | Ghanaian | ||||
| Education: | Tepa Senior High School | ||||
| Occupation: | Rapper, singer, songwriter | ||||
| Years Active: | 2016–present | ||||
| Organization: | Life Living Records | ||||
| Notable Works: | Yaw Tog – Sore ft O'Kenneth & Asakaa | ||||
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Kenneth Opoku (born August 13, 1993), known professionally as YGA O'Kenneth, is a rapper, singer, drill artist, and a songwriter from Ghana.[1] He is regarded as one of the most influential hip hop artists from Kumasi due to his progressive musical styles and socially conscious songwriting. Born and raised in Kumasi, Ashanti Region, O'Kenneth began his musical career in 2016 in Kumasi, Ashanti region, and quickly gained local attention, which led to him signing a recording contract with Life Living Records in 2019. O'Kenneth rose to prominence in 2020 with his verses on the songs "Sore" and "Akatafoc," both of which featured Yaw Tog and Kawabanga.[2]
In 2021 he released "Until It's All Said and Done," a conscious drill record, as his debut studio album. The album received positive reviews and featured singles such as "Loosing Grace Ft Reggie", "Gimme Dat" and "Hopez Ft Jay Bahd, Skyface SDW and Chicogod".[3] In 2022, he released his second studio album "Straight Outta Kumerica 2" with Reggie under the aegis of Life Living Records. The album, which featured the singles "Pa!", "Loading," and "Timing" and was heavily influenced by Drill and gangsta rap, received widespread critical acclaim.[4]
O'Kennth is one of the pioneers who brought the Asakaa genre of music to light as a member of the group (Asakaa Boys) that started the Kumerican movement.[5] Asakaa thus refers to the group's ability to speak and use street slang on each track.[6] [7]
Kenneth Opoku was born on August 13, 1993, in Santasi, Ashanti Region, to Ghanaian parents. He grew up in Santasi with his parents and siblings. Although he was not a member of a gang, he grew up around street gang members, which he claimed in an interview was the source of his musical language.[8] While still a teenager, he was admitted to Tepa Senior High School in Bechem, Ashanti Region, where he studied General science. At Tepa Senior High School, he began his musical career. He has been a working musician since 2016. He admitted that American rapper Kendrick Lamar served as his inspiration and that he initially began by freestyling. O'Kenneth revealed during an interview on The Delay Show with Deloris Frimpong Manso that he comes from a happy home and that his parents had wanted him to pursue a formal career and further his education. His parents did not, however, support his decision to pursue a career in entertainment because they believed it might not be a good fit for him and that he should instead pursue something else.[9]
He is a member of Asakaa, a drill music group in Kumasi that was established as a result of random men stopping by to record at the "Trap House," which is where the "Life Living" home studio in Kumasi, run by Sean Lifer and Rabby Jones, is located.[10] With his verses on songs by Asakaa members like Sean Life's "Ma drip" and Jay Bahd's "condemn," O'Kenneth rose to prominence in the Ghanaian music scene in 2020.[11] Later, he was a featured artist on Yaw Tog's "Sore" and Kawabanga's "Akatafoc" songs, which helped Asakaa become well known in Ghana and other nations.[12] In addition to his numerous songs, YGA has three External Play albums: "Until It's All Said and Done," a solo EP; "Straight Outta Kumerica" and "Straight Outta Kumerica 2," joint EPs with Reggie.[13] He's also known for his single "Agyeiwaa", "Obaa Hemaa ", and "Cinderella" where he collaborated with Skyface SDW, Beeztrap KOTM and the Asakaa Boys.[14]
| Black Star Line festival | Accra, Ghana | 2023 | [15] | |
| Afrochella | Accra, Ghana | 2020 | [16] | |
| Mozama Disco concert | The La Palm Royal beachAccra, Ghana | 2022 | [17] | |
| Made in Kumerica Concert | Kumasi | 2022 | [18] | |
| "Wizkid Live" Concert | Accra Sports Stadium, Ghana | 2022 | [19] |