Takun J Explained

Takun J
Birth Name:Jonathan Koffa
Birth Date:14 May 1981 [1] [2]
Birth Place:Monrovia, Liberia
Genre:Hipco, hip hop
Years Active:2005–present
Label:Jazzo Entertainment

Jonathan Koffa (born May 14, 1981),[3] known professionally as Takun J, is a Liberian rapper, singer, songwriter and activist. He is regarded as one of the pioneers of hipco, a politically charged music genre.[4] The Liberian Gender Ministry designated him as one of its anti-rape ambassadors. Takun J's music addresses socio-political issues in Liberia. He is best known for the singles "Who Make You Cry", "Police Man", "Gbagba is Corruption", and "A Song for Hawa".[5] Takun J's debut studio album, The Time, was released in 2007. His second studio album, My Way, was released in December 2012. Takun J is the recipient of several accolades, including Male Artist of the Year and Hipco Artist of the Year at the 2014 Liberia Music Awards.

Life and music career

Takun J was born on May 14, 1981, in Monrovia, Liberia. He grew up with his mother and three siblings. His father relocated to the United States when he was four years old.[3] While growing up in the country's capital, he played soccer and participated in dancing and talent show competitions. He became passionate about music and decided to pursue a professional career after graduating from high school. When he was 17 years old, he joined a musical group called Magnetic. Takun J released his debut single, "We'll Spay You", in 2005. His second single, titled "You Meaning Me", was released the following year. Having lived through most of his country's 14-year civil conflict, he briefly relocated to refugee camps in Ghana and Ivory Coast with his family.

He returned to Liberia and released his debut studio album, The Time, in 2007. The album's lead single, "Police Man", is a politically charged song that exposes corruption by officers of the Liberian National Police and includes a plea to then-president Ellen Johnson Sirleaf to repress corruption.[6] The song's release prompted two police arrests and a beating. Takun J was not deterred by the incident and managed to perform on the day of his release from jail.[7] In an interview with the Liberian Listener, Takun J said he released "Police Man" in order to create awareness about police negligence.[8]

Takun J performs at the annual two-day Hipco festival in Monrovia. On July 27, 2012, he performed with Nasseman, David Mell, Nozi and Mr. Smith at the Lonestar Cell musical concert.[9] Takun J was one of the acts featured on the remix of Xpolay's critically acclaimed 2012 single "Pot Not Bolling", which was produced by Yor-EL Francis.[10] In the aforementioned interview with the Liberian Listener, Takun J said the song was well received because of its positive messages.[8] Takun J's second studio album My Way, which was released in December 2012, features high-BPM dance tracks, Liberian reggae music, and political rap songs.[4] The album was recorded at Studio 57 and Red Eyez studios; its production was handled by Stone Gray, AB Swaray, King Brian and Rawlo. The album features guest contributions from Nasseman, Santos, Soul Smiter, Bentman tha Don, Scientific, Marvalous, and Ice Princess. Takun J addresses his daily struggles on the record and said the songs on it are relatable.[8]

In February 2013, Takun J released the solemn track "A Song for Hawa", which was produced by PCI-Media Impact and addresses violence against Liberian girls and women.[8] Takun J wrote the song after visiting a home sheltering victimized young girls. He told Mae Azango that it narrates the story of a girl named Hawa, who was raped by her uncle following the death of her mother.[5] The music video for "A Song for Hawa" premiered at the UN Commission on the Status of Women. Takun J has cited Tupac Shakur, Bob Marley and Akon as his key musical influences.[3] He is part of the Hipco Accountability Network, an organization that strengthens copyright laws and establishes minimum play laws in Liberia. The network includes several musical personalities, including Nasseman, JD Donzo, Shining Man, and JB of Soul Fresh, among others.[11] [12] On December 7, 2013, Takun J performed at the second annual Liberia Music Festival, held at Slipway Sports Pitch.[13]

In March 2014, the Daily Observer newspaper reported that Takun J signed a two-year endorsement deal with Lonestar Cell. As part of the deal, he is expected to appear and perform on Lonestar Cell/MTN programs.[14] [15] On March 15, 2014, Takun J performed at the Holiday Beach Jam in Congo Town, alongside J. Martins, R2Bees, Scientific, Cypha D’King, Sweetz and F.A.[16] He works with UNICEF as an ambassador of music.[11] In 2020, Takun J collaborated with DenG, Sundaygar Dearboy, Tan Tan, Soul Smiter, Odemz, and Amaze to produce the hipco song "Sanitize". The artists released the song in order to raise awareness about Covid-19 and encourage Liberians to practice good hygiene.[17]

Humanitarian work

Anti-child rape campaign

Takun J became an ambassador for the Liberian Gender Ministry's anti-rape campaign, and was responsible for highlighting rape issues in the country. In order to galvanize communities to take action against violence towards children, UNICEF and PCI-Media Impact organized a series of six concerts, which was part of an expansive campaign to halt the abuse and exploitation of children in Liberia. On June 14, 2014, Takun J headlined the first concert held in the capital of Grand Bassa County; the concert featured additional performances from Peaches, Nasseman and comedian Kpakala Kpokolo, as well as a moving video highlighting the issue of child rape.[18] [19]

Anti-corruption campaign

On May 19, 2014, Takun J released "Gbagba is Corruption", a conscious song that is based on the children's book Gbagba (2013). The book was written by Robtel Neajai Pailey, a former doctoral student at SOAS, University of London. Pailey was inspired to write the book in order to give children the verbal tools to question the ethical and moral values of adults around them. The book received critical acclaim and has been adopted as an anti-corruption children's primer by the Liberian Ministry of Education.[20]

Physical altercation with Edwin Snowe

On June 17, 2013, Takun J had an encounter with Edwin Snowe after narrowly escaping a head-on collision with Snowe's vehicle. The incident between the two individuals occurred near the Mamba Point diplomatic community. Takun J said Snowe pulled him out of his car and punched him several times. Snowe confirmed the occurrence of the incident and admitted to punching Takun J. After the incident had died down, Takun J wrote a formal complaint to the House of Representatives of Liberia about the punches he received from Snowe.[21]

Discography

Studio albums

Singles (partial)

YearTitleAlbum
2005"We'll Spay You" (with Magnetic)rowspan="2"
2006"You Meaning Me"
2007"Police Man"The Time
"Who Made You Cry"
"Six Jue"
2013"Song for Hawa"rowspan="2"
2014"Gbagba is Corruption"

Guest appearances

Title! scope="col" style="width:3em;"
YearOther artist(s)Album
"Down in Africa"[22] 2012NassemanRedemption Time
"Pro Poor Agenda"[23] 2018Bucky RawCs2
"Come Down"[24] 2021KpantoSound from the Xtreetz
"White Man Say"[25] 2020Eric GesoNew Sound

Awards and nominations

YearEventPrizeRecipientResultRef
2014Liberia Music AwardsArtist of the YearHimself[26]
Male Artist of the Year[27]
Hipco Artist of the Year
Artist of the Year - Africa
Video of the Year"Song for Hawa"
Video of the Year Africa
Liberian Entertainment AwardsBest ArtistHimself[28]
Best Hipco Artist[29]
2015Honesty OscarsBest Activist Anthem"Gbagba is Corruption"[30]
Liberian Entertainment AwardsBest Hipco ArtistHimself[31]
Liberia Music AwardsHipco Artist of the Year[32]
2016Hipco Song of the Year"They Lie"[33]
2019Tunes Liberia Music AwardsLegendary AwardsHimself[34]

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Takun J - About. A Together Liberia Project. 25 August 2014. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20140902042759/http://takunj.com/about-takun-j-hip-co-libeira. 2 September 2014.
  2. Web site: Sandy. Yewa. Takun J: B-Day Celebration Will Be "Different". Daily Observer. 26 August 2014. 22 May 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140903120329/http://www.liberianobserver.com/lib-life-entertainment/takun-j-b-day-celebration-will-be-%E2%80%9Cdifferent%E2%80%9D. 3 September 2014. live.
  3. Web site: Browne. Raymond. UNICEF Ambassador,Takun J Rapper from Liberia is bitter that Liberian djs are not appreciating and promoting music from Liberian artistes. iGroove Radio. 26 August 2014. 20 June 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140827141311/http://www.igrooveradio.com/unicef-ambassadortakun-j-rapper-from-liberia-is-bitter-that-liberian-djs-are-not-appreciating-and-promoting-music-from-liberian-artistes/. 27 August 2014. live.
  4. Web site: Ashoka. 'Hipco' is the Soundtrack of Monrovia's Post-War Youth. Vice. 28 August 2014. 31 March 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140903081821/http://www.vice.com/en_uk/read/hipco-liberia. 3 September 2014. live.
  5. Web site: Liberia: 'Song for Hawa' - Hip Co King Takun J Tackles Sex Abuse in Powerful Single. allAfrica.com. 26 August 2014. 22 March 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20140827163317/http://allafrica.com/stories/201303220715.html?viewall=1. 27 August 2014. live.
  6. Web site: Liberia Recovers From War. Slate. 27 August 2014. 4 May 2007. https://web.archive.org/web/20140903103327/http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/dispatches/features/2007/liberia_recovers_from_war/liberias_starving_rappers.html. 3 September 2014. live.
  7. Web site: Hicks. Jonathan. A Liberian Rapper and a Singer Also Serve as Ambassadors. Bet.com. 25 August 2014. 4 April 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140903015659/http://www.bet.com/news/global/2014/04/08/a-liberian-rapper-and-a-singer-also-serve-as-ambassadors.html. 3 September 2014. live.
  8. Web site: 11 Questions: Takun J, Hipco Artist. Liberian Listener. 26 August 2014. 19 June 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20140903012449/http://www.liberianlistener.com/2013/06/19/11-questions-takun-j-hipco-artist/. 3 September 2014. live.
  9. Web site: LoneStar Cell MTN Holds "Fantastic Week" Draw, Musical Concert. Heritage Newspaper. 26 August 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20170203163846/http://www.news.heritageliberia.net/index.php/inside-heritage/business-finance/323-lonestar-cell-mtn-holds-fantastic-week-draw-musical-concert. 3 February 2017. live.
  10. Web site: Rahimian. Nora. Liberian street hit stirs the political pot. The Guardian. 26 August 2014. 9 January 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20140903053359/http://www.theguardian.com/music/2013/jan/09/liberia-music-pot-boiling. 3 September 2014. live.
  11. Web site: Glencorse. Blair. Hip Co Festival: How Liberia’s music industry is building accountability. One. 26 August 2014. 9 January 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140827165338/http://www.one.org/us/2014/01/09/hip-co-festival-how-liberias-music-industry-is-building-accountability/. 27 August 2014. live.
  12. Web site: Battle hymns. The Economist. 27 August 2014. 14 January 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140820182548/http://www.economist.com/blogs/baobab/2014/01/protest-music-liberia. 20 August 2014. live.
  13. Web site: Ode to Hipco - Takun J. & Crew Set to Rock Second Annual Liberia Music Festival. Interactive Intelligence. 27 August 2014. 6 December 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20140903011820/http://callcenterinfo.tmcnet.com/news/2013/12/06/7582154.htm. 3 September 2014. live.
  14. Web site: Genoway Jr.. Edwin G. ‘Takun J’, Lonestar Cell MTN sign agreement. The New Dawn. 26 August 2014. 10 March 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20170203164526/http://www.thenewdawnliberia.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=11093:takun-j-lonestar-cell-mtn-sign-agreement&catid=36:investment&Itemid=62. 3 February 2017. live.
  15. Web site: Takun J Inks 2-year Partnership Agreement with Mobile Operator. Daily Observer. 26 August 2014. 14 March 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140903123007/http://www.liberianobserver.com/entertainment/takun-j-inks-2-year-partnership-agreement-mobile-operator. 3 September 2014. live.
  16. Web site: Kamara. Makanfi. Lonestar Cell, Sound City to Host Holiday Beach Jam. Daily Observer. 26 August 2014. 8 March 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140903110633/http://www.liberianobserver.com/lib-life-entertainment/lonestar-cell-sound-city-host-holiday-beach-jam. 3 September 2014. live.
  17. Web site: Liberian Hipco Stars Fight COVID-19 Through Music . Accountability Lab . 17 February 2023 . May 13, 2020 . 6 December 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221206012045/https://accountabilitylab.org/liberian-hipco-stars-fight-covid-19-through-music/ . live .
  18. Web site: Music for social change: UNICEF teams up with Liberian artists to protect children from violence. Unicef. 27 August 2014. 14 June 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140827153023/http://www.unicef.org/liberia/media_8234.html. 27 August 2014. live.
  19. Web site: Dennis. Edwood N.. Takun-J Embarks On Rape Campaign. Daily Palava Hut. 27 August 2014. dead. https://archive.today/20140827020808/http://dailypalaverhut.com/index.php/politics/headlines/372-takun-j-embarks-on-rape-campaign. 27 August 2014.
  20. Web site: Liberian Hip-Co artist releases song for SOAS student’s anti-corruption primer for children. SOAS, University of London. 27 August 2014. 22 May 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140903130110/http://www.soas.ac.uk/news/newsitem93151.html. 3 September 2014. live.
  21. Web site: Snowe Beats Up Takun J.. en.africatime.com. The New Dawn. 27 August 2014. 19 June 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20140827153020/http://en.africatime.com/mali/articles/snowe-beats-takun-j. 27 August 2014. live.
  22. Web site: Giamo. Christopher. Takun J – Hip-Co in Liberia. Together Liberia. 26 August 2014. 24 June 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20141023001022/http://togetherliberia.org/takun-j-hip-co-liberia/. 23 October 2014. live.
  23. Web site: Cs2 by Bucky Raw . iTunes . 20 March 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190328164731/https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/cs2/1434973706 . 28 March 2019 . live .
  24. Web site: Sound From the Xtreetz by Kpanto . Apple Music . 18 March 2023 . May 16, 2021 . 20 March 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230320231852/https://music.apple.com/us/album/sound-from-the-xtreetz/1568159660 . live .
  25. Web site: New Sound by Eric Geso . Apple Music . 30 March 2024 . October 15, 2021.
  26. Web site: Sandy. Yewa. Liberian Music Awards: And The Nominees Are...!. Daily Observer. 26 August 2014. 13 June 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140903114118/http://www.liberianobserver.com/lib-life-entertainment/liberian-music-awards-and-nominees-are. 3 September 2014. live.
  27. Web site: Takun J, Pot-Bilers, Herald Liberia Music Award Winners. Front Page Africa. 26 August 2014. 17 June 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140903071949/http://www.frontpageafricaonline.com/index.php/news/92-lifestyle/1966-takun-j-pot-boilers-herald-liberia-music-award-winners. 3 September 2014. live.
  28. Web site: Sandy. Yewa. Multiple Liberian based artists nominated for 2014 Liberian Entertainment Awards. Daily Observer. 26 August 2014. 10 January 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140303021608/http://www.liberianobserver.com/lib-life-entertainment/multiple-liberian-based-artists-nominated-2014-liberian-entertainment-awards. 3 March 2014. live.
  29. Web site: Liberian Entertainment Award Winners!. Daily Observer. 26 August 2014. 28 February 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140605051203/http://www.liberianobserver.com/entertainment/liberian-entertainment-award-winners. 5 June 2014. live.
  30. Web site: Walker. Emily. Honesty Oscars 2015: Best Activist Anthem. One. 22 February 2015. 19 February 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150222152051/http://www.one.org/us/2015/02/19/honesty-oscars-2015-best-activist-anthem/. 22 February 2015. live.
  31. Web site: King. Jefferson. Liberian Entertainment Awards 2015 Nominees. Bush Chicken. 22 February 2015. 20 February 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150222045539/http://www.bushchicken.com/liberian-entertainment-awards-2015-nominees/. 22 February 2015. live.
  32. Web site: 2nd Annual Liberian Music Award Review/Winners/Photos . LSV Magazine . 17 April 2023 . July 5, 2015 . 4 April 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230404032744/https://augustinakoumonpleh.wordpress.com/2015/07/05/2nd-annual-liberian-music-award-reviewwinnersphotos/ . live .
  33. Web site: 2016 Liberia Music Awards Complete Winners List . Liberian Stars View . 17 April 2023 . June 5, 2016 . 14 March 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230314031052/https://liberianstarsviews.com/celebrities-gossip/2016-liberia-music-awards-complete-winners-list/ . live .
  34. Web site: The Complete List of TunesLiberia Awards 2019 Winners . Liberian Stars Views . 17 April 2023 . February 24, 2019 . 31 December 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221231032147/https://liberianstarsviews.com/entertainment/the-complete-list-of-tunesliberia-awards-2019-winners/ . live .

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