Awesome Tapes from Africa

Alhaji K. Frimpong - "Kyenkyen Bi Adi Mawu" from Kyenkyen Bi Adi Mawu

This song is essential. It was only a matter of time before I posted this song. "Kyenkyen Bi Adi Mawu" is unquestionably one of the most vital and funky of Ghanaian songs from the highlife era.

"Kyenkyen" was versioned for two major hiplife hits. Both rappers, Reggie Rockstone and Omanhene Pozoh, employed Frimpong's groove to drive their respective anthems, "Keep Your Eyes on the Road" and "Kyenkyen Bi Edi Me Ewu." The latter features a guest vocal performance by K. Frimpong (and a different spelling of the song title). Comparing the original and hiplife versions of "Kyenkyen" demonstrates the complex relationship between highlife and hipife today. The elder musicians often find themselves at odds with the younger ones coming up. Lyrically, stylistically, and commercially, the two camps have plenty to argue about.

K. Frimpong's original is an afro-funk classic that's been well-documented on recent UK and US compilations. In the years since it's release circa 2001, Omanhene Pozoh's rendition hasn't aged that well in commercial hiplife terms. But as for me, I'll take old school hiplife over most of the current stuff any time!

Highlife is no longer the music of the youth. Today's youth sounds more like "Kyenkyen Bi Edi Me Ewu", Omanhene Pozoh's hiplife version.



Well, actually, hiplife these days really sounds more like VIP's "Ahomka Womu."

For more on hiplife, stop by my other blog.