Black Sherif
Mohammed Ismail Sherif [1] (born 9 January 2002),[2] professionally known as Black Sherif, formerly Blacko,[3] is a Ghanaian singer and rapper. He initially gained popularity in 2021 with his song "First Sermon," which he released that May. This was followed up with the "Second Sermon" in July.[4]
Black Sherif | |
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Black Sherif in Virginia | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Mohammed Ismail Sherif Kwaku Frimpong |
| Also known as | Blacko, Kwaku Frimpong, Kwaku Killa |
| Born | 9 January 2002 Konongo, Ghana |
| Genres | |
| Occupation(s) |
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| Years active | 2019–present |
| Labels |
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His breakthrough came in March 2022 with his hit single "Kwaku the Traveller," which reached Number 1 on the Ghanaian and Nigerian Apple Music charts.[5] (Its music video has been viewed 17 million times.) He then released his debut album, The Villain I Never Was, on October 5, 2022.[6]
Early life and education edit
Mohammed Ismail Sherif was born and raised in Konongo-Zongo, in the Ashanti Region of Ghana. As both his parents worked mostly overseas,[6] he started living with his aunt and other extended family members at the age of 10. His nomadic lifestyle exposed him to multiple influences and different cultures at a very early age.[7]
Sherif attended his basic education at Konongo Zongo Islamic Basic School and later at Pinamang Educational Complex, where he graduated junior high school. He then later completed his secondary education at Kumasi Academy, where he picked up an interest in music and dancing.[8]
A former student of the University of Professional Studies (UPSA), he was studying at the University of Ghana as of October 2022.[9]
Career edit
Black Sherif began his career in 2019 with the release of his song "Cry for Me" on YouTube. His debut single "Money" was released on May 25, 2020, along with a music video. In May 2021, his single "First Sermon" was released, further increasing his audience. The song's sequel, "Second Sermon," was released in July and received a remix with fellow African artist Burna Boy.
Black Sherif breakthrough came in March 2022 with his single "Kwaku the Traveller," which reached Number 1 on the Ghanaian and Nigerian Apple Music charts and became his most popular song. He released his debut album, The Villain I Never Was, in October, supported by the singles "45" and "Soja".[6]
Black Sherif have worked on songs by Sarkodie, Stormzy, Amerado, DJ Breezy, Larry Gaaga and others.[10]
Black Sherif performed at the 25th anniversary of the Music of Black Origin (MOBO) Awards, which took place at the OVO Arena in Wembley, London.[11] In December 2022, he hosted his debut concert, the "Mozama Disco Concert," in Accra. [12]
On 20 February 2023, Black Sherif won the Best Hip Hop award at the Soundcity MVP Awards, which were held at the Eko Convention Centre in Lagos.[13] He played the Palladium Times Square in New York City on May 20.[14]
Since March 2023 Black Sherif has performed at the Wireless Festival in Abu Dhabi,[15] Something In The Water Festival in Virginia Beach[16] and Afronation Miami.[17] He is the first Ghanaian to perform at the Wireless Festival in the UK.[18][19]
Artistry edit
Black Sherif's music is a blend of highlife, reggae, and hip-hop, specifically UK drill, a subgenre of drill music and road rap, borrowing from the U.S. Chicago styles that originated in Brixton, London, from 2012 onwards that are often about violent and hedonistic criminal lifestyles. Many of his lyrics are in an Akan dialect, Twi, his native tongue. He has stated his musical influences are rappers Kanye West, Travis Scott, Saint Jhn, Dave, Stormzy, J Hus, and Ghanaian artists Mugeez and Sarkodie.[1]
Lawsuit edit
On 11 April 2022, Shadrach Agyei Owusua, the CEO of Waynes Chavis Consult, filed a lawsuit against Black Sherif for breach of contract. Owusa alleged that he had invested in Black Sherif's career and that Black Sherif had signed a distribution agreement with a company named Empire. Owusa sought injunctive relief prohibiting Black Sherif from performing without Owusa's authorization.[20][21] The Accra High Court dismissed the suit on 26 July 2022.[22]
Discography edit
Albums
- The Villain I Never Was (2022)
Awards and nominations edit
| Year | Event | Prize | Work | Result | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | BET Hip Hop Awards | Best International Flow | Himself | Won | [23] |
| Soundcity MVP Awards | Best Hip Hop | Himself | Won | [24] | |
| Ghana Music Awards USA | Hip Hop/Hiplife Artist of the Year | Himself | Won | ||
| The Headies | West African Artiste of The Year | Himself | Won | [25] | |
| Vodafone Ghana Music Awards | Artist of The Year | Himself | Won | [26] | |
| Best Hiphop Song of the Year | Himself | Won | |||
| Best Music Video | Konongo Zongo | Won | |||
| Most Popular Song of the Year | Kweku The Traveller | Won | |||
| Best Collaboraton of the Year | Country Side (with Sarkodie) | Won | |||
| 2022 | Entertainment Achievement Awards | Entertainment Personality of the Year | Himself | Won | [27] |
| 3Music Awards | Hip hop song of The Year | Second Sermon | Won | [28][29] | |
| Breakthrough Act of The Year | Himself | Won | |||
| Hip life/Hip hop Artiste of The Year | Himself | Won | |||
| Song of the Year | Second Sermon | Won | |||
| Artiste of the Year | Himself | Nominated | |||
| Ghana Music Awards | Artiste of the Year | Himself | Nominated | [30] | |
| Vodafone Most Popular Song | Second Sermon | Nominated | |||
| Best New Artiste | Himself | Won | |||
| Best Hip life/Hip pop Artiste | Himself | Nominated | |||
| Best Hip pop Song | Second Sermon | Won | |||
| International Collaboration of the Year | Second Sermon Remix (ft. Burna Boy) | Nominated | |||
| Male Vocal Performance of the Year | Gold Digga | Nominated | |||
| 2022 | Ghana Music Awards UK | Artiste of the Year | Himself | Won | [31] |
Personal life edit
Black Sherif is a muslim.[1]
References edit
- ^ a b c "Getting To Know Black Sherif, Ghana's New Street Preacher". Complex. from the original on 30 November 2022. Retrieved 30 November 2022.
- ^ "Black Sherif, Biography". www.ghanaweb.com. Retrieved 17 August 2023.
- ^ Ochefu, Christine. "Black Sherif is the message". Fader.
- ^ "Audiomack | Free Music Sharing and Discovery". audiomack.com. from the original on 16 August 2022. Retrieved 16 August 2022.
- ^ "I didn't know the Sermons will be hits – Black Sherif". My Joy Online. from the original on 1 August 2021. Retrieved 1 August 2021.
- ^ a b c "Black Sherif drops debut album The Villain I Never Was". The FADER. from the original on 30 November 2022. Retrieved 30 November 2022.
- ^ "Audiomack | Free Music Sharing and Discovery". audiomack.com. from the original on 16 August 2022. Retrieved 16 August 2022.
- ^ Falola, Ifeoluwa (15 August 2022). "Black Sherif The Hypnotic Voice Of Freedom". GRM Daily. from the original on 16 August 2022. Retrieved 16 August 2022.
- ^ "Black Sherif, Biography". www.ghanaweb.com. from the original on 5 October 2022. Retrieved 16 August 2022.
- ^ "The Blacko-collabo hottest picks".
- ^ "Black Sherif performs at 25th MOBO Awards in the UK". from the original on 11 January 2023. Retrieved 11 January 2023.
- ^ Awotwe Darko, Kenneth. "Black Sherif: A once homeless 'KK' finds a home in over thousands of hearts at Mozama Disco". from the original on 11 January 2023. Retrieved 11 January 2023.
- ^ "Burnaboy, Black Sherif, Win At The Soundcity MVP Awards 2023 (FULL WINNERS LIST)". African Folder. from the original on 12 February 2023. Retrieved 12 February 2023.
- ^ https://www.jambase.com/venue/palladium-times-square
- ^ "Black Sherif pays tribute to Christian Atsu at Wireless Festival - MyJoyOnline.com". www.myjoyonline.com. 12 March 2023. Retrieved 31 May 2023.
- ^ Tollo, Nathan (15 March 2023). "Black Sherif billed to perform at Pharrell Williams' 2023 Something in the Water music Festival". 3News.com. Retrieved 31 May 2023.
- ^ "Black Sherif overwhelmed by Miami; says the city feels like a video game". Pulse Ghana. 30 May 2023. Retrieved 31 May 2023.
- ^ "Black Sherif becomes first Ghanaian to perform at Wireless Festival UK". www.myjoyonline.com. Retrieved 11 July 2023.
- ^ "Black Sherif becomes first Ghanaian act to perform at the Wireless Festival in the UK". GhanaWeb. 10 July 2023. Retrieved 11 July 2023.
- ^ "Black Sherif sued over alleged breach of contract". Ghana News Online. from the original on 12 April 2022. Retrieved 12 April 2022.
- ^ Inusah, Murtala (11 April 2022). "Black Sherif sued over contract termination". Starrfm Online. from the original on 12 April 2022. Retrieved 12 April 2022.
- ^ Music, Emmanuel Ghansah, Ghana (26 July 2022). "Black Sherif wins court case with former manager; makes it into YouTube Foundry class of 2022 as only Ghanaian artiste!". Ghana Music. from the original on 16 August 2022. Retrieved 16 August 2022.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ "2023 BET Hip Hop Awards: Black Sherif wins 'Best International Flow'". Citinewsroom - Comprehensive News in Ghana. 4 October 2023. Retrieved 20 October 2023.
- ^ "Burnaboy, Black Sherif, Win At The Soundcity MVP Awards 2023 (FULL WINNERS LIST)". African Folder. from the original on 12 February 2023. Retrieved 12 February 2023.
- ^ Agambila, Dorcas (4 September 2023). "Black Sherif wins 'West African Artiste of The Year' at Headies Awards 2023". Pulse Ghana. Retrieved 7 September 2023.
- ^ "Piesie Esther loses AOTY to Black Sherif". theaccratimes.com. Retrieved 14 September 2023.
- ^ Ntsie, Berlinda (27 February 2022). "Black Sherif Wins eaas entertainment personality of year". from the original on 21 March 2022. Retrieved 27 February 2022.
- ^ "Kidi wins big at 2022 3music awards,Black Sherif graps first major award". 27 March 2022. from the original on 4 April 2022. Retrieved 6 April 2022.
- ^ Kotey, Nii (27 March 2022). "3Music News: 3Music Awards '22: Here are all the winners". 3Music TV. from the original on 1 April 2022. Retrieved 27 March 2022.
- ^ Hansen, Gabriel Myers (21 March 2022). "Vodafone Ghana Music Awards 2022: All the nominees". Music In Africa. from the original on 2 June 2022. Retrieved 12 April 2022.
- ^ "Black Sherif wins Artiste of the Year Award at GMA UK 2022". Ghanabusinessnews.com. 30 October 2022. from the original on 11 January 2023. Retrieved 11 January 2023.
External links edit
- Official Instagram account
- All new updates from Black Sherif