Commercially, Singing is Better than Rapping – Kofi Kinaata

Renowned Ghanaian musician Kofi Kinaata has shared valuable advice with upcoming artistes, urging them to explore both rap and singing. During an appearance on Opemsuo Radio’s Oseikrom Kwanso with Mac De President, he emphasized the importance of versatility in music, drawing from his own experiences.

Kinaata noted that while rap is like a poem, people can relate more with singing. He encouraged new artistes to learn and practice singing, even if it seems challenging at first.

“I haven’t stopped rapping. Everyone knows singing commercials is more than rap, because rap is more like a poem. If I rap in Hausa, the way you respond won’t be like Hausa singing, even if you don’t understand. You’ll get an upper hand in singing.”

“New artistes, they have to learn. At a point, you’ll think singing isn’t nice, but the more you know, the more you’ll realize you don’t know. … It’s not easy to sing; it’s not everyone that can sing, so some rappers can’t sing, that’s why they only rap. But if you know you can rap and sing, don’t hide the singing. Don’t say, ‘For me, when I rap and I have to even sing, I won’t sing, I’ll only rap, because they say I’m a rapper’.”

The award-winning musician cited Obrafour as an inspiration, highlighting how the legendary artist successfully transitioned from rap to singing. Kinaata believes that music is a journey, and exploring different genres can lead to growth

The artiste has won several awards, including the Best Reggae/Dancehall Song of the year for “Effiakuma Love” at the 2024 Telecel Ghana Music Awards.

His music is known for its storytelling, social commentary, and inspirational themes, earning him a loyal fan base and critical acclaim.

Story by Adwoa S. Danso