Kobi Onyame (born Kwame Barfour-Osei)[1] is an independent recording hip-hop artist, producer and songwriter based in the United Kingdom.[2] His albums Gold and Don't Drink the Poison were shortlisted for the Scottish Album of the Year Award in 2018 and 2022 respectively.[3][4]
Kobi Onyame | |
|---|---|
 Onyame onstage in 2014 | |
| Born | Kyame Barfour-Osei 3 July 1982 Ghana |
| Alma mater | University of Strathclyde |
| Style | Hip hop |
Biography
editOnyame was born in Ghana[5] and grew up in Accra.[1][6] He then moved to the UK, living in London, later moving to Glasgow to study for his master's degree at the University of Strathclyde.[7] His mother died in 2008.[1] His work draws on his Ghanaian heritage, mixed with contemporary hip-hop.[8] Early in his career, he released work under the name Jae P.[9]
Career
editOnyame's fourth album Gold was nominated for the Scottish Album of the Year in 2018,[10] where it was described as "an almost wistful echo of a yearning for home and originality that somehow has its roots in the past and present simultaneously."[11] Following this nomination, he was the recipient of funding from the PRS Foundation, to support the recording of his next album.[8] Along with C Duncan, Modern Studies, and Rod Jones, Onyame performed at the Live at the Longlist event where the 2019 Scottish Album of the Year award winner were announced.[2]
In 2019, Onyame was one of 10 Scottish acts supported by Creative Scotland to perform at The Great Escape.[12]
In 2021, Onyame released his fifth studio, Don't Drink the Poison. The ten-track album is self produced, with two tracks co-produced by Ghanaian musician Jayso and by Scottish musician Nathan Somevi. Don't Drink the Poison features guest appearances from new African artists including George Kalukusha from Malawi, SheSaidSo from South Africa and rapper Worlasi from Ghana.[13] The album was shortlisted for the 2022 Scottish Album of the Year Award.
Select discography
editReferences
edit- ^ a b c "The Quietus | Features | Escape Velocity | Gold Standard: Kobi Onyame Interviewed". The Quietus. Retrieved 29 January 2021.
- ^ a b "The SAY Award 2019: Celebrating Scotland's musical output". HeraldScotland. Retrieved 3 February 2021.
- ^ "Why hip-hop artist Kobi Onyame finds Glasgow the perfect city for independent musicians". BBC. Retrieved 29 January 2021.
- ^ Crae, Ross (6 October 2022). "Shortlist for 2022 Scottish Album of the Year Award announced". The Sunday Post. Retrieved 18 October 2022.
- ^ "Kobi Onyame 'The Real part 2'". OkayAfrica. 15 May 2013. Retrieved 3 February 2021.
- ^ "The Great Escape provides a 'unique opportunity for artists to reach industry experts and audiences'". The List. 3 May 2019. Retrieved 29 January 2021.
- ^ "Kobi Onyame on GOLD and being independent - The Skinny". www.theskinny.co.uk. Retrieved 29 January 2021.
- ^ a b "Kobi Onyame: Momentum". PRS for Music Foundation. Retrieved 29 January 2021.
- ^ a b "Kobi Onyame - Green Green Grasses". The List. 25 April 2011. Retrieved 29 January 2021.
- ^ "Scottish Album of the Year: Mogwai and Young Fathers among nominees". the Guardian. 1 August 2018. Retrieved 3 February 2021.
- ^ "Kobi Onyame - Gold". SAY Award.
- ^ "The Great Escape". www.creativescotland.com. Retrieved 3 February 2021.
- ^ "Kobi Onyame warns us on 'Don't Drink The Poison'". EARMILK. 1 December 2021. Retrieved 29 January 2022.
- ^ "Jae P :: Unsigned and Hungry Vol. 1 :: Haatsville Records". www.rapreviews.com. Retrieved 29 January 2022.
- ^ "Kobi Onyame". Discogs. Retrieved 3 February 2021.
- ^ "Kobi Onyame – Gold". The List. 30 August 2017. Retrieved 29 January 2022.
- ^ Taylor, Patrick. "Kobi Onyame :: Don't Drink the Poison – RapReviews". Retrieved 29 January 2022.