Controversial may pass for the middle name of hiplife artiste A Pluz, he is the only artiste who has dared into a no go area when he announced his presence with ?Freedom Of Speech Volume 1 ? Politics.

The twenty some-thing young man from Saltpond in the Central now says his colleagues are only noise makers because their music hardly goes beyond the boundaries of Ghana.

?Instead of putting in all the necessary stuff needed to make our music sell world-wide, my colleagues are satisfied with the publicity they get when their music is played continuously on radio,? A Pluz told this reporter at the offices of Showbiz yesterday.

He did not end it there, A Pluz added that DJs in the country do not have variety so they are forced to play what they have over and over again, making some songs very popular, ?the listeners choice is limited,? he said.

What is A Pluz doing to ensure that his own works sell beyond the shores of Ghana? ?I am using a lot of live instruments like the guitar, saxophone and live drums to appeal to music lovers all over the world.?

In spite of this, there are a couple of hiplife artistes that A Pluz believes are doing very well like Reggie Rockstone, Obrafour, Tic Tac, VIP and Sidney the latter who is as controversial as himself.

A Pluz?s second album ?Freedom Of Speech Volume 2? is currently receiving appreciable airplay. According to him, he has received compliments from people from all walks of life, ?on an Adom FM programme recently, Honourable Ama Benyiwaa Doe and Baby Ansaba both said it was a good and balanced song?

He said he has also received compliments from Kwesi Pratt Jnr, Randy Abbey, Kwaku Sintim-Misa (KSM). A Pluz hinted Showbiz that plans are under the way for a performance with KSM very soon at the National Theatre, according to him, KSM said he has a lot of respect for him and song.

Remember ?Mesuro Mpo Na Merekaka O?? That was ?Freedom Of Speech Volume1? released in 2002. A Pluz says ?Freedom Of Speech Volume3?, another ITC production will be released on January 5, 2005.

What he mainly does with his Freedom Of Speech songs is to criticise and praise political parties and politicians as and when they deserve, he actually mentions names without hesitation.

Perhaps A Pluz?s love for freedom of speech and his interest in politicians and politics does not come as a surprise ? he was born on Ghana?s Independence Day, March 6.

Asked if he thought that has influenced him in anyway, this is what he said, ?Maybe, I guess the Independence drums were being played while my mum was in labour and when I first arrived.?

To say A Pluz, real name Kwame Asare Obeng has a great sense of humour is an understatement, this reporter had to virtually drive him out of the office because he would not stop making funny and sometimes almost irritating remarks.

Born to author and academician Daniel Kwasi Obeng and Elizabeth Obeng, a housewife, A Pluz who claims he is single (because his mother says he should wait a little) is an old student of Swedru Secondary School and Winneba School of Business.

Wondering how he came by his name? ?In hiplife I always score A?s simple isn?t it??

A Pluz expressed gratitude to his Executive Producer John Kojo Vanderpuye for the immense support he is giving him. To his colleagues and fans he says, ?The best is yet to come!?