Ghanaian rapper, Ko-Jo Cue, released “Happy Endings” within his comeback EP entitled I’m Back in November of 2023. “Happy Endings” questions the purpose of giving empty platitudes to individuals who are suffering on a daily basis from a host of societal and intrapersonal issues. In addressing the role others play in failing to make life sound more fulfilling, Ko-Jo Cue reaches out to those who are stuck in a cycle of pain. On par with coming to terms that this suffering bleeds into every aspect of daily life, Ko-Jo Cue picks at the irrelevant focus of obtaining material objects in the face of pretending to be okay and staying motivated. Repeatedly, he makes the assertion that he is “tired of pretending” in response to a nonstop grind culture that does not account for individuals battling with internal and external factors.
In addition to Ko-Jo Cue’s verses that walk the listeners through a fate of sorrow, the song allows for a response to the question of achieving happiness through the songstress, Ria Boss, who emphasizes that “you can’t start again” so you must live the way that you want now. In direct contrast to Ko-Jo Cue’s emphasis on suffering, Ria Boss ends the song by insisting that life will get better after the storm (hardship) passes.
The back-and-forth nature of the song presents a dual-sided coin that captures the true essence of living within uncertainty yet still hoping for a fleeting moment of joy. When Ko-Jo Cue says there “ain’t no such thing as a happy ending” he speaks to the life of an individual facing continuous stress, worry, and hardship, only to depart into a place that we all speculate about but are devoid of truly knowing. It is the uncertain nature of this lifecycle that raises doubt within Ko-Jo Cue; but most importantly, it is the lack of peace achieved in the living world that sets up a picture of destruction.
By coming face to face with the thought of departure, Ko-Jo Cue teaches the importance of coming to terms with one’s reality before it is too late. Acting as words of vindication for the oppressed, while also providing food for thought on what it truly means to find happiness within one’s own life, “Happy Endings,” (whether intentionally or unintentionally), sets the stage for mental health advocacy.
