Biography of Kwesi Arthur

Emmanuel Kwesi Danso Arthur Junior (born 18 December 1994), known professionally as Kwesi Arthur, is a Ghanaian rapper, singer and songwriter from Tema, his old friend xjiga. He rose to fame in 2017 with the hit single “Grind day” which received widespread acclaim and a co-sign from rap heavyweights Sarkodie and Medikal. In 2019, his second EP Live from Nkrumah Krom Vol II garnered more than 2 million streams in the first week of its release.

Arthur has won several accolades, including Rapper of the year and Hip Hop Song of the year at the Vodafone Ghana Music Awards as well as a Viewer’s Choice Best International Act nomination at the 2018 BET Awards. He became the second Ghanaian rapper to be nominated for BET Hip Hop Awards Cypher after Sarkodie’s nomination in 2019.

Early life and education

Kwesi Arthur was born on 18th December 1994 in Tema. He was raised in Tema Community 9 and is the second of four children with a brother named Benjamin Danso Arthur who is popularly known as Dayonthetrack and is also a musician. After completing his high school education at Temasco in 2013, Kwesi’s plans of furthering his education to study Psychology and Law at the University of Ghana came to a standstill due to a lack of funds. This led the rapper to consider a job offer as a security guard in Tema. Kwesi Arthur got the security job and worked for a day(He knew it wasn’t his call) then Kwesi Arthur decided to pursue his music career at a local recording studio instead. Here, he made a deal with the owner of the recording studio to learn music production and record for free; in exchange, Arthur had to perform menial tasks around the studio like sweeping and general maintenance. In 2016, he met management from Ground Up Chale, a social media movement for young artists in West Africa, where he recorded his hit record Grind day at their studios a year later.

Music career

Kwesi Arthur was discovered by Ghanaian rapper and entrepreneur Sarkodie, who he featured on one of his hit songs called “Grind Day”, alongside Medikal.

Kwesi Arthur started writing raps after listening to Drake’s debut album, Thank Me Later.

In 2017, he released the lead single “Grind Day” from his debut EP, Live from Nkrumah Krom (2017). The record was released under his independent outfit and supported by a social movement called GroundUp Chale. He later released the remix for “Grind Day”, featuring Sarkodie and Medikal.

Kwesi Arthur has collaborated with numerous Ghanaian musician, including Sarkodie, Medikal, KiDi, Jason E LA, R2Bees, B4bonah, M3dal, M.anifest, EL, Stonebwoy, Shatta Wale and South African rapper Nasty C . He was nominated for Best International Act at the 2018 BET Awards.

Kwesi Arthur is one of the most successful artists in Ghana, with his music being internationally recognized and awarded. In 2020 his song “Live From The 233” was one of the most streamed African songs on the streaming service Apple Music.

Discography

EPs

• Live from Nkrumah Krom (2017)
• This Is Not The Tape, Sorry 4 The Wait (2019)
• Live from Nkrumah Krom Vol II Home Run (2019)
• This Is Not The Tape, Sorry 4 The Wait II (2020)
• Studio albums
• Son Of Jacob (2022)

Hit Singles

1. “Grind Day” (2017): This song was a breakthrough for Kwesi Arthur. It received massive airplay in Ghana and became an anthem for many young people. The track earned him a nomination at the Ghana Music Awards.

2. “Anthem” (2017): Another early hit by Kwesi Arthur, “Anthem” solidified his place in the Ghanaian music scene. It showcased his lyrical prowess and storytelling ability.

3. “Woara” (2018): This song earned Kwesi Arthur a nomination for Best Music Video at the 2018 Ghana Music Awards. It’s a heartfelt track that resonated with many listeners.

4. “African Girl” (2019): Featuring Shatta Wale, this song celebrated African beauty and diversity. It received positive reviews and showcased Kwesi Arthur’s versatility as an artist.

5. “Don’t Keep Me Waiting” (2018): A collaboration with Ghanaian rapper KiDi, this song also received significant attention and airplay.

Awards and Honors:

Kwesi Arthur has received several awards and honors in recognition of his contributions to the music industry. As of my last update, some of these include:

1. VGMA 2018 New Artist of the Year: Kwesi Arthur won the prestigious New Artist of the Year award at the Vodafone Ghana Music Awards in 2018.

2. BET Awards Nomination: He was nominated for the Viewers’ Choice: Best New International Act category at the 2018 BET Awards, which was a significant recognition on the international stage.

3. MTV Europe Music Awards Nomination: Kwesi Arthur also received a nomination for the Best African Act category at the 2018 MTV Europe Music Awards.

4. Ghana Music Awards UK: He has been nominated for and won several awards at the Ghana Music Awards UK, including awards like Hip-hop/Hiplife Song of the Year and Best New Artist.