MUSIC LEGEND
G
hana was living under the rule of
JJ Rawlings, cut off from the hap-
penings of the outside world, and
economically unremarkable. It was a
return that he described as ‘by default’, and one
that emphasizes what he says about the domino
effect in his life. ‘I was backstage at a venue with
the legendary Jungle Brothers, rappin’ a taste,
when one of them said, “We goin’ to Africa.”
This had me ask, ‘Where in Africa?’ “Ghana!
They got us booked for a gig called Panafest!”
I was excited. I had not been home for a really
long time, and was happy and a bit surprised
that hip-hop was in my motherland. If the
Jungle Brothers were gonna go to Ghana, then
I also wanted to be there. Called my pops, and
boom! We were on a metal bird home; a time I
“
wish I could relive. Coming home! I was in my
element! All came together and I knew I was
sent home by Jah. Next was, “What you gonna
do?” Nothing about my vibes said to go back to
the west.’ And so the beginning of the musical
genre dubbed hip-life began.
From there came the hits ‘Makaa Maka’, ‘Night-
life in Accra’, ‘Sweetie Sweetie’, a debut album
and an independent record label called Kassa
Records. This new genre reached Ghanaians
across four continents, uniting them in a new
African sound with a modern twist. Eminently
dance-worthy, Rockstone’s music demands to
be played in large spaces with speakers capable
of capturing the dense beats rhythms that seem
to take in a whole world of musical influences,
from dancehall to disco.
Modern tech has brought it all fast forward to-
day; YouTube and all. Kids got studios in their
houses, and phones, today. Not complaining,
no. Young folks do as young folks do.’
Looking back on his life, the highlights are
many, and he is a man grateful for having
experienced so much, and that his good luck
is still ongoing. Reggie Rockstone has talked
about his times with Beenie Man, Wyclef
and superstar actor Idris Elba, his excite-
ment with his current musical group VVIP,
which he refers to as a supergroup, and his
involvement in the documentary Living The
Hip Life by New York filmmaker Jesse Ship-
ley. His inspirations reach far and wide, and
are about taking in all that is inspirational:
music, art and ‘Mother Africa’.
R
ockstone recognizes that the domino
effect that got him where he is today
would be rather less possible in these
modern times, but says that a new
frontier in the musical world has been breached.
‘‘Modern tech has brought it all fast forward
today; YouTube and all. Kids got studios in their
houses, and phones, today. Not complaining, no.
Young folks do as young folks do.’’ And not that
he thinks all of it is particularly inspiring. ‘Not
all the styles get my attention, but I definitely
respect all, and get it. Mumble rap gets on my
African nerves, but I get it.’
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