Biography of Killbeatz

Joseph Kwame Addison, popularly known as KillBeatz, is a Ghanaian music producer and sound engineer. He is a member of music group R2bees and is also the CEO of Legacy Life Entertainment, which has signed the Ghanaian musician King Promise.

Life and career

KillBeatz started playing instruments for his church before he ventured into secular music. He started as a rapper and later switched to music production. He got the name KillBeatz from Ghanaian rapper Omar Sterling (Paedae) of R2Bees. He was helped by Ghanaian music producer Kaywa at the early stage of his career.

He reported to the manager of the studio and insisted he could produce his own beat as he could already play the keyboard, and all he needed was help with the setup , as he had no prior knowledge in using DAWs at the time.  The manager’s reaction after he produced …”You are better than the producer , You need to come and work ! ” , so KillBeatz started working and eventually all customers preferred him over the previous producer. He has worked with artists like Sarkodie, Efya, R2Bees, Wizkid, Ed Sheeran, and Fuse ODG, among others.

The various genres of music he produces for include highlife, hiplife, Azonto, Afrobeats, gospel and afro-pop. In 2012, KillBeatz contributed heavily to the Azonto music genre by producing beats for a lot of Azonto songs during its prime.

Killbeatz won Producer of the Year at the Vodafone Ghana Music Awards (VGMA) in 2013, 2014, and 2018. He received production credit on a song titled “Bibia Be Ye Ye” by British singer Ed Sheeran featuring UK-based Ghanaian artiste Fuse ODG. The song was part of Ed Sheeran’s ÷ (“Divide”) album, which won Best Pop Vocal Album at the 60th Grammy Awards in 2018.

Popular Songs Produced by Killbeatz

1. Fuse ODG – “Antenna” (2012): This song was a massive hit and played a pivotal role in popularizing the Azonto dance craze. Killbeatz’s production on this track helped it become an international sensation.

2. Mr. Eazi – “Bankulize” (2015): Killbeatz collaborated with Mr. Eazi on this track, which helped solidify the artist’s status in the Afrobeats scene.

3. R2Bees – “Killing Me Softly” (2013): Killbeatz has worked extensively with the Ghanaian duo R2Bees, and this song is one of their notable collaborations.

4. Ed Sheeran – “Bibia Be Ye Ye” (2017): Killbeatz worked with international pop star Ed Sheeran on this track, which features an Afrobeats influence and was part of Sheeran’s album “÷ (Divide).”

5. Burna Boy – “Soke” (2015): Killbeatz’s production on “Soke” contributed to Burna Boy’s rise in the music industry and showcased his versatility.

6. Wizkid – “Ojuelegba” (2014): Although not the primary producer, Killbeatz had an influence on the sound of this track, which became a hit and helped propel Wizkid to global recognition.