Savanna Music
Stammerer to Virtuoso Rapper – The Unparalleled Odyssey of Rappersania
Ladies and gentlemen I present to you RappErSaniA, the young man who went from being a stammerer to an amazing rapper.
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Finding Rappersania
Sometimes I struggle to pick a genre of music that I can say is swell, not because I am confused but because I came to the realization that no matter the genre, an artistic person’s ability to manipulate the rhythms with lyrics that exude superiority on all facets of producing music is what amounts to the eclectic feel that gives the swell notion.
As such, my constant quest to hear new material that will not just move my feet but set my mind on a spiralling journey in the savanna led me to a young and energetic man who is out to douce the minds of those enslaved by trends and trash music.
Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you RappErSaniA, the young man who went from being a stammerer to an amazing rapper.
Who is Rappersania?
A Gonja, born in Tamale on the 3rd of December 1992, Mumuni Mohammed Nazir now known by the stage name RappErSaniA spent almost all his life in in the Northern region where he went to Kalpohin Junior High School and eventually became the senior school prefect.
“Even though I was born a stammerer, I was determined to improve on my speaking ability because it sometimes took me several minutes to express myself with just a sentence. So, becoming the senior school prefect was a perfect situation that I could use to improve my speech.” He spoke.
Upon completing Junior high school he gained admission at the Tamale Senior High School to study general arts. This is where his love for rap as a teenager took a pivotal position in his life.
Growing up in a neighbourhood where Hip Hop had taken centre stage, it was regular to find youngsters slug it out in a couple of verses, and as the guy who represented his school in almost every rap competition and won, the urge to further prove superiority in the game amongst his peers pushed him to dig up the true meaning of hip-hop by paying closer attention to A-list hip-hop acts like Nas, and watching pro-hip hop videos, movies and subsequently choosing Nas as a Number one inspiration both in lyrics and his commitment to keeping hip-hop sane.
Honing the craft – Rappersania
Knowing the importance attached to the genre, he took to a regular routine of practicing, writing and re-writing his lyrics till he had what he refers to as “Flawless Rap Flow” something that influenced his journey into mainstream hip hop.
“I like to write about the society and its issues, so religion is not an exception. I’ll talk about it if I think there is the need for that”…. RappErSaniA
With a good number of unreleased original songs, he has done countless covers of amazing songs including “Beyond Practice” and “All of Me”, a cover of Jon Legend’s “All of Me” which he did for his female fans. When I asked him about why he puts so much lyricism on covers when he could do them as his own songs he had simply smiled and spoke.
“It is a sign of respect to the producer and artiste, and also just telling the world I could do fine like Nas. Besides covers have played instrumental roles in the careers of several chart-topping artistes. We all know how Kendrick Lemar rode on a Jay Z instrumental to become the new kid on the block. It’s not a requirement in hip-hop but its tool one can explore in a quest to attain global dominance”.
With the release of the aforementioned covers he decided to release “Mean Love” and “Nyura” featuring Kawastone, serving as teasers to his debut album.
To think that this gentleman would still be buried in stacks of hip hop albums is far from true because even though he reveres Nas, he listens to more Soul Music because he finds it soothing when he isn’t in his hip hop elements; and he has a soft spot for Asa, Sade, Adele and young Jhene Aiko.
“I’ve got a thing for Soul music you know, and I love Jazz too, my favourite is Fela Kuti. His skilful use of the saxophone endears him to me, and I admire his confidence considering the nature of politics in his time.”…He said.
The Future of Rappersania
On his future he had this to say.
“I have loads of tracks online and a full album waiting to be released. I’m also working on a ten-track Afro-Beats album. I thought of recording that album so people can see the versatility in skill when I switch between languages and rhythms.
Most of the tracks on the Afro-Beats album have me delivering mind blowing Dagbani verses interspersed with my regular flow in the queen’s language. Having shared stages with some of Ghana’s finest acts like Sarkodie, R2bees, 4×4 and rocked almost every major show that has happened in Tamale within the last few years, I feel I’m ready to fully grace the music scene with my art. This was re-enforced when Paedae “Omar Sterling” endorsed my art by saying “You are one hell of a writer”.
I’m relatively young but I think I’m ready for this journey. As an independent artiste the support from my team iRap, a group of talented youngsters in Tamale with an impeccable flow like me, the sky is just a helipad. Expect my first video in the next couple of weeks”.
RappErSaniA is currently studying Laboratory Science at the Advanced Global College in Tamale, he is poised to build a career that will make his stay in hip-hop relevant and impactful.
Checkout Rappersania’s EP “The Origin” on SPotify
iRap to the world.
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Ataman Nikita is Ready with Still Here
“Still Here” is the final decision by Richard Azunre, aka Ataman Nikita, to pursue music professionally. It is not the first song he has made, but #thesavannaonline can authoritatively say that this is the start of the musical journey to bring an alternative voice that soothes Ghana Music.
Ataman Nikita is a lecturer and a Systems Administrator at the Bolgatanga Technical University. Even though he has been dabbling in music most of his life, he appears to be finally deciding to pursue music as a profession. People familiar with Dr Pushkin’s music will recognize a familiar voice in many song hooks and choruses: Richard Azunre’s voice, aka Ataman Nikita. He is also Dr Pushkin’s brother.
The Story of “Still Here”
“Still Here” is the story of persistence, consistency, and staying true to oneself. It reminds us of a story we are all familiar with: slander, unbelief, and broken promises by people who would rather see us in squalor.
What is music if it cannot ignite an emotion?
This amazing piece of music created by Ataman Nikita, Strongman, and Dr Pushkin is a great tune and a song that speaks to each soul. Being scathed by commentary from haters is a choice. A person is indeed capable of damning such comments and charges.
This collaboration was birthed by Dr Pushkin’s desire to collaborate with other artists who appreciate his craft and are willing to do joint songs to complement their respective talents.
Strongman won the Best Rap Performance category at the 2024 Telecel Ghana Music Awards with his song “Rap God”. Interestingly, that win was not surprising. However, the time it took to win such a prestigious award is the surprise element for a peerless career that started in 2010. Strongman has been a major force to reckon with since he burst into the limelight after winning “Focus Fm Freestyle Friday” in 2010. Then he won Kfm Freestyle Saturday in 2011 and “Tha Next Big Thang in GH Hip-Hop sometime in 2012.
He eventually joined Sarkodie’s Sarkcess Music, working with several other artists to drop hit after hit. When his contract ended, and he chose to start his label, Strong Empire, fans felt uncomfortable due to the tough nature of Ghana Music. To prove everyone wrong, he has released monster hit songs with an impressive catalogue of rap songs. He has also been able to navigate through the music scene despite being independent. Many have attempted to swipe at him through music and slanderous commentary, but he has always slayed. The last major lyrical swipe came from Medikal, and everyone knows how the Mayanka boy did back2back he unleashed rap bars that Medikal could not fathom.
Dr Pushkin’s 2024 thus far
Working with Strongman was inevitable for an artist like Dr Pushkin as he stayed true to his beliefs. Many rappers have turned singers. However, Strongman has found a way to stay relevant and on point with his highly dense Rap songs. This feature was, therefore, another instance of “real recognize real”.
Still, Here is the Dr Pushkin’s 6th single for 2024.
The revered Dr Pushkin is in Ghana for a conference on Khaya, a language recognition and translation App. He is also here for a Ted Talk at Kumasi’s Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology. As part of the visit to Kumasi, Dr Pushkin visited his alma mater, Opoku Ware Secondary School, to mentor students. All of the above is due to his second hat, which carries the name Paul Azure. Dr Pushkin is also known as Paul Azunre in Tech circles; he is often regarded as the GOAT of Ghana’s Brilliant Science and Maths Quiz program, where he helped Opoku Ware SHS win the title in 2002.
Dr Pushkin is a fast-growing person of interest due to his unique combination of music and his role as a top developer of the Khaya language recognition and translation app.
“Still Here” basically says that when the odds stack up against you, remaining firm and resolute, albeit ingenious, is paramount.
The song is currently available on all digital platforms.
Ataman Nikita is currently working an album set to be an explosion of Talent. We will keep you informed on this amazing singers journey. Way to go Ataman Nikita
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Afara’nga is here.
Kundivi Mahama, formerly Zazzy, has released yet another beautiful composition. The song, Afara’nga, furthers his agenda to dominate as a live performer with an enviable repertoire. Afara’nga is currently available to stream across all digital music platforms.
The song is off his yet-to-be-released album, scheduled for late 2024.
Kundivi Mahama’s Stature
Kundivi Mahama, who resides and operates from the Upper East Regional capital, Bolgatanga, is one of the top five vocalists in the region. His stature is undoubtedly high. His dexterity as a lyricist, vocalist, and live band performer remains peerless. His consistency as a stellar musician remains his call to fame.
In the last few months, he has been on a streak; he released songs that offer fans an idea of what to expect on his album. The songs released have so far exhibited the characteristics of a world star in the leagues of the Youssou N’dours, Angelique Kidjos, and Wiyaalas.
Songs from his Album Released so far
Afara’nga follows Yineme, featuring Soorebia, Sheiwuna, and Taafama, which have solidified his rise. Other songs like Pon Dem Case and Echanga also make listening unforgettable.
The Above songs marked his journey when he rebranded from Zazzy to Kundivi Mahama. The new persona came with his desire to bring back the sound and rhythms of Uppers International Band, which reigned in Ghana from the late 1960s to the early 2000s. He pursues this feat with the touch of an original self; thus, fans get a feel of two worlds.
According to Kundivi Mahama, Afara’nga is a tribute to the Uppers International Band.
A more detailed profile about the life and music of Kundivi Mahama is coming soon.
CHECK SAFE WAYS TO TRAVEL AROUND NORTHERN GHANA HERE
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What Wyldthang brought to ‘Winning’?
There are rappers whose daily objective is to impress. However, there exist others who focus on being the best. But we know that seeking to impress calls for swaying to trends and what’s in vogue. However, perfecting your craft remains the standout factor. Such is the case of Wyldthang, the Houston rapper featured on the Remix of Dr Pushkin and Budukusu’s Winning.
He prides himself in “being Willie Good”; the phrase is about an Austin – Texas legend Willie Nelson. He is an American country singer, guitarist, songwriter, and activist. He has remained peerless in skill and style to the extent that at age 91, he’s still performing to fans. His kind of perfection is what guides his pursuit of music as a career. As a street poet, his lyrics usually reflect his emotions juxtaposed with a unique worldview. In the process, he has become a lyrical dynamo with a penchant for releasing awe-inspiring lyrics.
In a short interaction about discovering his talent, here’s what he said.
“Like everyone else, I’ve loved music all my life. On this journey, I believe everybody lives out their own story. Stories become songs. I tell my story through my songs.”
How he Met Dr Pushkin.
His relationship with Dr Pushkin started when the latter performed at SXSW 2022. He was awed by the performance. When Winning was later performed, Thang went wild with love for the song.
In a classic case of “real recognize real” the two artists, got a conversation going. The result of that conversation is a remix of Winning.
Previous Works
He is a lover of motorcycles. His passion for Bikes led to him making an entire album titled Motorcycle Music in 2021. The Album featured nine songs.
He also released another album titled RIZE.
The incredible rapper is gearing up to release another album, Graffiti City. If you loved his flow on Winning, you will be awed by his next project. The rapper has also teamed up with Vox Machina to form The 6th Street Rebelz. The 6th Street Rebelz is currently gracing all stages across the Austin-Texas area. He also has several singles out there.
The Story Behind Winning
Before this remix, Winning rode the tides of encouragement for all in pursuit of success. People are often scared to try or continue. A situation that stems from tying their gains to others. However, while the people around you can play roles in your life, knowing your ability is paramount. “Winning” thus encourages all to avoid self-inflicted doubt.
The ever-enigmatic Budukusu complimented Dr Pushkin’s resounding words of wisdom on the first version of the song. However, with this new performance on the song, Winning has been given a new feel that encapsulates two different cultures and worldviews. Call it the Americanised version of Winning, and you’ve got it right. While Budukusu combines dancehall/reggae vibes with the song, Dr Pushkin goes philosophical. Wyldthang then brings an impressive flow of uplifting words capable of winning American rap fans.
Winning was mixed and mastered by Lloyd Osei Baffour Peewezel-cue with Esi Hooper on the choir
Dr Pushkin and Collaborations
This song is Dr Pushkin’s second feature of an artist from the Austin Area. His first song was with Aggie, an artist from Austin. The song is titled Forgive Them and was released with a stellar music video resonating with the song’s quality and value.
Dr Pushkin known in academia as Paul Azunre is expected to speak at the Ghana Natural Language Processing launch of an AI Conference series later in June this year. The event is dubbed “nhyAImu”, a Twi word which means “a gathering”. However, the “AI” in the word stands for Artificial Intelligence. nhyAImu is a collaboration between Academic City University College and NLP-Ghana. Khaya Language App, Africa’s leading speech recognition and language translation AI tool will be the focus of this event.
Themed “Unveiling the future of African Languages with Khaya AI”, the focus areas of the conference include the following:
- Introduction to Ghana NLP and its mission
- Overview of engineering pipelines emphasising MLOps
- Detailed demo and guidelines on using Khaya AI’s APIs
There will also be an interactive Q & A session.
nhyAImu will take place on the campus of Academic City University College in Accra, on 12th June 2024. Time is 10am – 12pm.
Despite working tirelessly on his Khaya App, he’s gained a reputation for featuring artists worthy of the tag “artist”, and not necessarily trending artists.
Dr Pushkin is in the meantime readying a monster rap song featuring Kumasi’s finest rapper.
2024 has been a busy year for Dr Pushkin. Check out his releases for 2024 below.
Ataman Nikita, readies his sound with Still here
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