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M3NSA’s ‘Eyes But No Eyes’
Mensa Ansah, known as M3NSA, is a Ghanaian producer, composer, rapper, singer, and filmmaker born in Accra, Ghana. M3NSA comes from quite the artistic family: his father, Tumi Ebo Ansah, was a member of the Afro pop group Osibisa; his uncles include Kwaw Ansah, the film director, and Kofi Ansah, the fashion designer; his cousinRead…
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143 M3nsa
Boundaries are meant to be pushed. Boundaries are usually created out of false norms and restrictive rules. Hip Hop oftentimes finds itself stuck in a box that set the boundaries as grimy, hardcore, sexual content, when Hip Hop can be so much more. Hip Hop is a genre borne from rebels who set out toRead…
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A review on M3nsa’s ” No one Knows”
In M3nsa’s song, “No one knows tomorrow”, he basically discusses the uncertainty of life. The message of the song is no one knows tomorrow. He promotes positivity in this song, stating that we should cherish what we have while we have it. He briefly points out that people are different and that the slightest thingsRead…
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M3nsa
Mensa Ansah otherwise known as M3nsa, was born in Accra, Ghana and grew up along side his now common musical partner Wanlov the Kubalor. He worked with Reggie Rockstone early on in his carreer taking sounds from Hip life, Afro-beat and other styles to eventually carve his own place in the hip hop world. MuchRead…
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MIXTAPE TOWARDS A NEW CONSCIOUSNESS: Exploring Asakaa, Alt Hip Hop, & Trap Politics
This mixtape explores the social and political themes of songs from Ghana’s trap, drill (Asakaa), and alternative hip hop subgenres to find “conscious” hip hop is not its own genre, but rather a thematic standard that can exist in all kinds of rap. Featured songs in order: Snakes by La Même Gang; Wasteman by BlackRead…
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HHAP Ep 79: Hip-Hop culture as a space where Black identities are negotiated and presented
The first episode of 2023 is a special episode on hip-hop as a cultural space where Black identities can be negotiated and presented. The research project was part of a larger seminar project with the University of Maryland College Park on African/Black Diaspora Studies. The larger project was funded by a grant from the Andrew…
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HHAP Ep76: FOKN Bois on Satire and Music as Social Commentary
Ghanaian hip hop duo FOKN Bois use satire to convey important social commentary on religion, politics, and sexuality. In this episode, they share their experiences and the thoughts that have gone into music and the messages they deliver. The duo talks about their decision to rap and write in Pidgin English, which they say stems…
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Fokn Bois and Social Commentary?
Ghanaian music group, Fokn Bois, comprising of Emmanuel Owusu- Bonsu who is better known as Wanlov the Kubolor and M3nsa also known as Bondie Mensa Ansah are an unusual match to say the least. This vivacious duo is known for putting out rather controversial songs and their hit Gimmie Pinch did not disappoint. While bothRead…
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Dialects of Hip-Hop
The song BRKN LNGWJZ by FOKN Bois is a song that really embodies the discussion revolving around the use of different languages in social settings. FOKN Bois is a Ghanaian rap group that consists of Wanlov the Kubolor and M3nsa. In this song, Wanlov and M3nsa talk about what makes them who they are andRead…