Tag: Wanlov the Kubolor
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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 from needing to “express more of self” to reach their own people. For them, rapping and writing in Pidgin English “brought a new sense of freedom and originality”. Wanlov and M3nsa also discuss their reputations for being rebellious and the need to incorporate humor into their conscious rhymes; and how they sneak “difficult conversations” into their comedic rhyme schemes to reduce resistance to the message that they come to deliver to their people. As Wanlov the Kubolor exclaims: “It’s extremely cathartic to be able to turn your problems into laughter”. Additionally, in responding to student questions, FOKN Bois share with the students their creative process and influences, and the things that keep them going. FOKN Bois are online on Twitter and Soundcloud @foknbois
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Focus on Ghana: LGBT+ Allyship as Queer Work
We have featured the work of several queer artists in Africa, as well as the increasing number of artists who are allies. This video is of a panel discussion at that took place at Howard University this month, which brought together Ghanaian activists and allies of the LGBT+ community in Ghana in light of the
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The Gold Coast
Gold Coast is a music video that was released three years ago featuring Wanlov on ELi’s song. ELi is a Ghanaian Hip Hop artist and in the video, he’s in his home country. The first few clips of the video feature Labadi beach located in Accra, Ghana. The video’s message is clear early on as
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The Trotro: A Ghanian Hip-hop artist’s take on the most important mode of transport in Ghana
Wanlov the Kubolor is a Ghanian-Romanian hip-hop /Afro-pop artist and film director. In Ghana and the larger diaspora, Wanlov the Kubolor is known for his independent style and revolutionary artistry. He is also no stranger to making social issues the center of his music. As noted in Msia Kibona Clark’s book Hip-Hop in Africa, his
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Trotro or Metro..a Universal Struggle
Emmanuel Owusu-Bonsu better known as Wanlov the Kubolor (@wanlov on Instagram and Twitter) is arguably one of Ghana’s most unique hip-hop voices. He has made a career as a musician, film director, and influencer. He’s experienced great success and acclaim since the release of his debut album “Green Card” in 2007 which solidified his place
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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 and
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Wanlov The Kubolor Addresses Colorism through Personal Experience in “My Skin”
Ghanaian artist Wanlov The Kubolor speaks on the effects of colorism on people in Africa and his personal experience with it in 2008 with song My Skin. The video for this song is not professionally shot, but rather just him and his camera in the comfort of his own home, so it seems. There are
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HHAP Episode 16: Wanlov the Kubolor
This month we’re featuring a conversation with Ghanaian artist Wanlov the Kubolor. In the interview we talk about Wanlov the Kubolor’s experiences, his music, the controversies, and his evolution into Wanlov the Kubolor, the African Gypsy. Wanlov the Kubolor is a smart, introspective artist who is very much aware of the social relevance of his music. He often makes social commentary, whether via his music or social media, and infuses that social commentary with humor. Wanlov’s humor (and he’s genuinely funny) often has fans laughing before realizing that there is a message in the madness. Wanlov has detractors, people who take issue with his music or behavior. But, agree or disagree with his views, Wanlov the Kubolor is not afraid of expressing himself in unconventional ways. Wanlov’ the Kubolor’s music reflects his diverse background and experiences. It is difficult to put Wanlov the Kubolor into one category of music. He is an MC, but he also blends several different sounds and styles in his music. He’s a versatile artists who has crafted a career as a successful, internationally known artist. His solo albums are Green Card, Yellow Card, Brown Card: African Gypsy, and Orange Card: Fruitopian Raps Wanlov is also one half of the group Fokn Bois (his partner is M3nsa), which has released two films film Coz ov Moni and Coz ov Moni 2. They also released the soundtracks to Coz ov Moni and Coz ov Moni 2. The groups also released FOKN Wit Ewe and FOKN Ode to Ghana. Wanlov has also released several EPs. Wanlov the Kubolor’s music can be found on iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/wanlov-the-kubolor/id455218010 He’s also on social media Twitter: @wanlov and Facebook: Wanlov the Kubolor Episode Playlist :40 “In Ghana” 2:53 Episode Intro 6:48 “Sometimes” 8:00 “Brkn Lngwjz” 10:00 “Mek We Rap” 11:58 “Trotro Blues” 13:25 “No Borders” 14:58 Interview with Wanlov the Kubolor
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Different Country, Same Attitude
There’s two types of people in this world: those who conform to the rules set by society and those who rebel against it. In their collaborative hp hop song “Gentleman”, rappers M.anifest and Wanlov the Kubolor come together to tell you that they’re the ladder and not ashamed of where they’ve come from. For today’s
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The Diaspora as depicted in Wanlov the Kubolor’s “Smallest Time”
Emmanuel Owusu-Bonsu, also known as Wanlov the Kubolor, was born into a Ghanaian-Romanian family in Ghana. After years of living in Ghana, he moved to the United States to study Computer Science and Business Administration at the University of Mary Hardin Baylor. Two years later, in 2002, he dropped out in order to become fully