A RAPPER WITH A MISSION: A BRIEF REVIEW OF STRONGMAN’S BUOKROM BOY…

Rap music is currently quite scarce in the Ghanaian music landscape; thus, it is always energizing to hear the few practitioners who have vowed to adhere to the genre’s original principles. So, when a buddy last weekend informed me that Strongman, a former Sarkodie protege, had just released an EP, I was thrilled.

My interest was sparked by the EP’s title. How come Buokrom Boy? It is obvious that the thoughtful Strongman is paying tribute to the neighbourhood in which he was raised and drawing inspiration from the illustrious past of his Asante ancestors.

The seamless merging of Asante folk music with hard-core rap in “Ekwan” reveals a reflective rapper who is aware of the current cultural onslaught on young people.

The difficult issue of cultural imperialism and assimilation is symbolized by the word “Ekwan.”

Is it possible for an indigenous culture to confront modernity and merge effortlessly, picking up the greatest aspects of both while eliminating the elements that need to be discarded?  It is refreshing to hear an artist who genuinely has something to say proving the truth of this assertion to us.

This seven-track EP’s third track, “Dreams,” which features street-level reporting, perfectly captures the project’s overall tone. Casting a sentimental eye over the rapper’s struggles. It speaks of the bleakness, increasingly dark and despairing future confronting today’s youths. It expresses the grim, melancholy, and hopeless future that today’s youth must face.

This ever-perceptive artiste challenges the young people, who would be primarily listening to this incredible record, to keep working hard at whatever endeavour they are engaged in while admonishing about the fleeting danger of selling one’s soul to obtain wealth.

“Six packs ntɔ cement 8 bags” is an interesting viewpoint from the rapper, this line immediately brought to mind the essay, “Pumping Irony: Gyming, the Kobolo, and the Cultural Economy of Free Time” by Professor Ato Quayson.

The rapper is aware that the gym culture is “heavily oriented toward the under- or unemployed” (Ato Quayson), but he also expresses concern over the “overabundance of free time” that the low and working-class gym members seem to have.

While acknowledging the aesthetics of the youths who work out, he issues a warning against overindulging at the expense of hard work (street hustle) that would help them become more economically independent. Strongman’s ability to subtly address the issue of economic anxiety as he expresses his frustrations and provides advice speaks volumes about his street philosophy credentials.

He raps “So many forces, but on my shoulders, I’m used to the weight” on the opening track of this EP, “King You Wanna Be”. This sentence, which is incredibly vivid, conveys the rapper’s current situation. While staking his claim to the rap crown as the best rapper in the business, he pokes fun at rivals and responds to critics with snappy rap lines. It is notable that Strongman spends time on this song discussing the pressures of remaining successful in the rap industry. Strongman is a sophisticated rapper with a pressing message for an audience that isn’t used to introspective music consumption.

On “Sika”, combining with the songstress, Sister Afia, Strongman wades into the contentious issue of money in relationships. This debate has existed for ages. The lyricist settles on the side of money as the bond that keeps a relationship going smoothly.

He raps “Ghana ha dating sex nkoaa, nti obaa wode odo nam a broken heart ne abortion nkoaa.”

On the subject of dating and the importance of love in a relationship, he curiously seems to imply that if a woman joins a relationship with the intention of falling in love, she will end up heartbroken after suffering multiple abortions throughout the relationship. Comparing that to another song on this EP, “Sing Your Name,” which seemed to be glorifying love as the ideal to strive for in a relationship, strikes me as a little ironic.

Strongman and Teephlow’s collaboration on the song “Wontease,” off Teephlow’s 2021 album Phlowducation 2, was the first time I really paid attention to Strongman’s lyrics. Since then, I’ve been a huge fan.

This body of work is genuinely gripping. In fact, the fact that not a single second of the EP’s running length seems unnecessary or padding out says something about how sharp Strongman is as a writer.

It is obvious Strongman has been emboldened by his longevity in the rap game. The result is unquestionably his most daring body of work and will cement his place in Ghana’s rap revival. However big his ambitions, Strongman has the talent to fulfil them.