The Real Reason People Listen to Black Sherif – a detailed probe penned by Abdulai Isshak

Without a doubt, Black Sherif is the breakout artist of this past year. His album tackled themes of drugs, death, mental health and his new found fame.

Referencing how he handled his transition from his old management to his new management, he sung on his global smash hit Kweku the traveller.

Kweku killa don’t lie, when I say I did it, It did it. Big stacks, big cash my way – but still I fumble it, Under 1 minute, still I can believe, But I cant blame myself for this shhh, knew man was born for this shhh,  of course i F-d UP, who never f’d up hands in air, no hands, still i cant believe, you know what i mean, i was young what do you expect from me, it is what it is.. But i keep going on more like a roll stone because i have no stopping time, can’t nobody stop a man.

This is a direct response to all the chatter that followed after he left his label Wayne Chavis Entertainment to join Empire Distribution. Black Sheriff is the most sought after rising star from Africa who is not making music about love, raving or dancing. He was the most Shazamed artist in the world in April 2022 partly due to his groundbreaking single Kweku The Traveller.

I go dey run my race, i’m gonna keep my pace, because i have no one to blame, when i fall again, I can’t stand this pain, i cant watch me fail so anytime you pray, remember my name, remember you know a traveller…

He appeals to his teaming fans around the globe to always remember him in their prayers.

He was 17 when he started music, he got some upkeep money from his guardian, paid for Distrokid (a music distribution platform artists use to distribute their music to channels including Apple Music, Spotify, Amazon and more.

It’s not common for an indie artist to find success in the African music scene but then again Black Sherif affectionately called Blacko is not a common artist.

He painted himself as one of the leaders of the new eclectic African sound. His music is a fusion of highlife from Ghana and drill music from the UK. His music is partly Afrobeats, Highlife, Drill and Rap bound together by his commanding and piercing voice and punk aesthetic.

Snap Chavis Wayne, a Ghanaian businessman was quick to notice his talent and helped the Konongo native born Mohammed Isamil Sherif take  his brand to the next level after the success of his First Sermon.

Roll it tight and I’m dazing, Wo di mi ka come and pay cos life on the streets be so crazy, it dey get me high on the daily, Nyom a miy3 nu efor dey pay me, I kno no what dey delay me… for the fame, i fit wait I’m not crazy… Mun fa mi sikan mame mi I have been waiting…

Blacko made his intentions known right out the gate. Coming like a raging storm, do or die, he is not going to fail. As he is rolling a few things tight to clear his head, he expects his debtors to roll his money and hand it over because he believes fame can wait when it comes to the legal tender.

First Sermon was a cry for all his debtors to settle him because his life on the street was a sacrifice he was making for what they were holding on to. “Been a couple of years in Accra, Obia nim sena I take survive…”

Black Sherif followed with the Second Sermon to drum home the points he made in the First by boldly confronting one of his debtors who was not heeding to his cries and pleas in the first sermon.

Boys in the trap, mpe plenty talking, I swear to god. Transaction deim Sika be ye sei Chairman etia block nu su. Nti Ya pulli up woni hor.Yeni boy bey3 twelve

And while all these were going on… Blacko was preparing fans around the world for his ever eminent tape which was going to lay bare all the demons he was dealing with from his years in Konongo to the streets of Accra to blowing up on the continent to going inter continental.

Kweku Frimpong di asem ba oh asem beba oh asem beba loosely translated to Kweku Frimpong will bring problems – which if you think about it – he was suing this figuratively and literally… because news about his Empire distribution deal hit the news after this and it was messy.

It was so messy, details of his new contract was leaked online but Blacko like he always does, forged forward gathering the lessons that came with the moment.  His music stands out among other artists thanks to his willingness to give fans a glimpse into the World of Blacko.

Blacko is not afraid of any theme as far as his writing and compositions go – if it’s on his mind, he will put it on record. And the fans love him for just that. You ever seen a bad man rolling so soft… Blakie is no pagan.. Cant be so soft…

Because he is giving his uncensored life stories without fear of being judged or shunned. He treats his music like therapy and his studio is his safe space to offload all the issues that are weighing heavy on his mind. It’s clear his handlers are not interfering with his creative vision and free will. So he exercises that muscle with all the freedom an artist of his calibre needs.

It seems no one is trying to guide him on what an African super star who has a teaming youth following should be addressing with his music. And so he continues to express himself as he sees fit. It’s telling on his Kweku The Traveller record where he sounds out a warning that he is on his journey and he hopes to be remembered after it all.  Remember you know a traveller, the name is Kwaku te hustler, he far away chasing gwalala, he will be back again

He confirms the pureness of his messages with a guest verses on Assignment with KiddBlack where he reminds fans on cross checking everything he says on his music.

“Me ma mu assignment mun ko bisa Panyin nsu mu entie…” This same Panyin is the gentleman he asked fans to check with about his history on First Sermon when he sung [Obiara nim s3 mi trappi ny3 n3, ko na ko bisa Payin s3 mi history ni sein?]

The accompanying music videos are made to grab your attention and it’s evident he is making music that has wide appeal and captures the attention of first time listeners who are intrigued enough to check his back catalogue.

He is loved by fans, music executives, the young, old and celebrities who are themselves accomplished global superstars making it seem he is everywhere all at once.

“Got a call for Blacko, everyone know he is my man though OOO” Grammy award winner Burna Boy singing on the second sermon remix.  His singles have been very strong but it was his debut album in October that proved his buzzworthy.

“The Villain I Never Was” is packed with consistent and cohesive and self aware songs. A full blown piece of art with songs that serves one another as the album progresses.

One of the most loved albums and touted album of the year already by music fanatics and superstars [Sarkodie speaking to Ghanaian Podcast show Stay By Plan after his Jamz album tipped it as Album of the Year] the album debuted 14 on the UK’s Official Afrobeats Charts and 23 on the Billboard’s Afrobeats chart.

His music has been streamed over 100 million times on Boomplay alone.  He has won 2 Ghana Music Awards plus five 3 Music awards. He has missed out on winning six others that he was nominated for.

From Samsney’s Gold digger, Amerado’s Patience, Darko’s Always and Kidblacks Assignment – everything he has touched has been notable and impactful in those artistes catalogue.

He headlined the Koko Camdem with famed UK’s DJ Semtex and brought out Burna Boy this November. To understand what’s so special about Blacko and his music, let’s analyse his biggest hit to date.

Auntie Meri nnim s3 this be the life I i dey live for here – things i have seen with my eyes me kakyere mabrewa na she go stress…so i keep it all to myself…Obia nsuma gangster y3… mia mi choice ey3 firm…

First Sermon subverts the leading African genres, music form, narrative, perspective, and even the use of force. It hardly sounds like your typical radio hit.

Most of his songs on records touch on themes most African parents will consider too sensitive to be discussed publicly… not to talk of being championed by a person in his early 20s.

The Second Sermon is no different.  It’s a drill beat with a hi hat, a beautiful sounding 808 and hard hitting kick – a chord progression, and a soft atmosphere sound in the back.

At a BPM of 140 – and sprinkle of base, and reverse symbols and crushes – and then of course some epic drums to accent it….

Since Black sheriff has a strong voice, Black Stallion who produced both the first and second sermons revealed Both beats were made a week apart….  and Sheriff didn’t even have plans for it till he was hit with a burst of inspiration after a random studio session…

Black Stallion as a producer has mastered the art of mixing drill music with African sounds and it’s evident how catchy they sound to a point where even a Grammy award winning act… Burna Boy couldn’t tune out of it.

It’s been a while since a musician consistently pulled the curtains back so fans can see what’s happening in his life, head and more. He is flying that flag high now and the media, fans, venues and industry executives are loving that rawness and no holding back approach.

Being that street boy with that atheistic brings a new and exciting angle to the music landscape. Emo Drill and Rap has become less about materialistic concerns and hardness and bravado and more about existential ones.

The world is going through it right now and people need soundtracks to this moment. A lot is happening to people and people are bottling up a lot of things. Blacko’s response to the norms of what an African youth should say or do… is to make it into art.

Blacko’s music is like a reassuring hug to the youth, telling them I know how you are feeling, and you’re not alone. He champions the strange, the misfits, and the rejects and misunderstood. He comes across as a candid and honest young man, not a brand produced by some marketing team.

He is real, and his fans adore him for it. You might not understand him but he embraces it and quite frankly, he probably doesn’t give a damn. Blacko is here to stay – breaking the rules and creating new narratives.

(Contributor/Writer: Abdulai Isshak)