Few other years have witnessed the overpowering influence of youngsters on GH radio and dance space than this year. And while usual suspects Shatta Wale, Stonebwoy, Sarkodie and Sarkodie continue to be rightful fixtures on charts in this town, it was really–in an ecosystem perceived to be unfavorable to emerging voices–the season for the new crop.
Led by artists who trade by showbiz names starting with the letter “K”, these musicians (0ften KiDi, Kuami Eugene, Kwesi Arthur, and King Promise), demonstrating a charming psychic connection with practitioners several generations before them in an updated Afrobeats iteration that harks back to the primal cultural pulse that is highlife, but also an indubitably forceful grasp on coming years, ran heart-mospheres as much as they powered boogie impulses.
A perennially difficult index to compile, and in no particular order, here, this year in music via the hundred most impactful records:
1. CCTV – King Promise ft. Sarkodie & Mugeez
2. Confusion – Kuami Eugene
3. Wish Me Well – Kuami Eugene
4. Thunder – KiDi
5. Adiepena – KiDi
6. Uber Driver – Wendy Shay
7. My Level – Shatta Wale
8. Akwaaba – Guilty Beatz ft. Mr. Eazi & Patapaa
9. Come and See My Moda – MzVee ft. Yemi Alade
10. How Much – Medikal ft. Kwesi Arthur & Ahtitude
11. Woara – Kwesi Arthur
12. That Thing – Article Wan ft. Patapaa
13. Do the Dance – Eddie Khae
14. Anthem – Kwesi Arthur
15. Bobolebobo – Evangelist IK Aning
16. Moesha – Obrafour ft. Sarkodie
17. Top Skanka – Stonebwoy
18. Boys Kasa – R2Bees ft. King Promise, Kwesi Arthur, Darkovibes, Rjz, Spacely, Humble Dis, Medikal, & B4bonah
19. Only You – Kobla Jnr. ft. Efya
20. Obiaa Wɔ Ne Master –Yaa Pono ft. Stonebwoy
21. Kupe Dance – A-Star
22. Thunder Fire – Shatta Wale ft. Addi Self, Captan & Joint 77
23. Astalavista –Wendy Shay
24. Gringo – Shatta Wale
25. One Love – FlowKing Stone ft. Adina
26. Vovome (Ewe Praise Medley) – Bethel Revival Choir ft. Joe Mettle
27. Mensah – Kofi Mole ft. Kwesi Arthur
28. Hosanna – KODA
29. My Everything – Joe Mettle
30. Mo Ne Yo – Diana Hamilton
31. eShun – Akyia
32. Tomorrow – Stonebwoy
33. Eish – DopeNation
34. Take Your Somtin – Twitch x Kwesi Arthur
35. Abena – King Promise
36. Stables – Joey B ft. La Même Gang
37. Hammer – Bisa KDei
38. Ahye Me – Obibini ft. KiDi
39. Never Carry Last – DJVyrusky ft. Kuami Eugene & Mayorkun
40. Stay Woke – Darkovibes ft. Stonebwoy
41. Mamee — Efya ft. Mr Eazi
42. Can’t Let You Go – Sarkodie ft. King Promise
43. Pene MaMe – TIC ft. KiDi
44. Kwani Kwani (Pt. 2) –TIC ft. Kuami Eugene
45. Betweener – Kumi Guitar
46. Fie Fuor – Edem
47. Wo (Remix) Ras Kuuku ft. Kofi Kinaata
48. Do Something (Remix) Eno Barony ft. Wendy Shay
49. Obaa – Samini
50. Killing Me Softly – Adina ft. Kuami Eugene
51. Afrobeat – Kelvyn Boy
52. Forgive – Teephlow ft. Adina
53. WatABamBum – BAM All Stars ft. Kelvyn Boy
54. Sumtin Legge – AK Songstress
55. Sofo Moko – B4bonah ft. Sarkodie
56. Trumpet – Kurl Songx
57. Masakra – Wendy Shay ft. Ray James
58. Malafaka – Kofi Kinaata
59. I Swerve – Joyce Blessing
60. Proud F*ck Boys – Tulenkey ft. Eddie Khae
61. Biibiba – Sarkodie ft. LJ, Tulenkey, Frequency, K. Mole, ToyBoi, Yeyo, Amerado, 2Fyngers, OBkay & CJ
62. Ayekoo – Medikal ft. King Promise
63. Bangers – Darko Vibes ft. AYAT
64. We dey Vibe – R2Bees
65. Kokonsa Police – Ebony
66. Don’t Keep Me Waiting – Kwesi Arthur ft. KiDi
67. Baby Girl – Strongman ft. Kuami Eugene
68. Blow my Mind – Flowking Stone ft. Akwaboah
69. I don’t Know – Mzvee
70. Slay Queen – Sister Afia
71. Nsa – Joey B
72. Bra Fie – FUSE ODG ft. Damian Marley
73. Kakalika Love – Sister Deborah ft. Efo Chameleon
74. Adwee Ba – Medikal
75. Amount – Shatta Wale
76. Nana – Becca ft. Sarkodie
77. Psalm 35 – Wendy Shay ft. Sarkodie, Kuami Eugene
78. Could this be love – R2Bees ft. Efya
79. Made in Ghana – Okyeame Kwame ft. KiDi
80. Small thing – Bright (Buk Bak)
81. Dirty Enemies – Stonebwoy ft. Asamoah Gyan
82. Basaa – Maccasio ft. Article Wan
83. Wa sue me – Obaapa Christy
84. Dream – Feli Nuna
85. Forget – Akwaboah ft. Strongman
86. Trap House – Kwaw Kese ft. Kwesi Arthur
87. Fa ma me (Remix) – Jetey ft. Sarkodie
88. Yebewu Nti – Dada Hafco
89. Obaa Gbemi – Eazzy
90. Okay – M.anifest ft. Worlasi
91. Skinny Dude – Worlasi
92. Hurricane – Edem ft. Jojo Abot, TeePhlow & Dark Suburb
93. Hold Me Down – Akwaboah ft. Efya & TXT
94. Tokyo- King Promise ft. Wizkid
95. Mama Yie – Ko-Jo Cue & Shake
96. Advice – Sarkodie
97. Kempinstik – DJ Breezy ft. Medikal & Dhalin Gage
98. Amina – Akhan
99. Chang Gbai – Praye
100. Kpookɛkɛ – Stonebwoy ft. Medikal, DarkoVibes, Kwesi Arthur & Kelvyn Boy