“Hip-hop is a movement, a sub culture where hiplife is defined only by the parameters of music. This music genre includes derivatives of R&B, rap, highlife and traditional ethnic rhythms. Rap and R&B singers are pervasive in hiplife music”. These were the words of Rab Bakari.

The hiplife music seminar (HLMS) will provide music-making opportunities for the youth who mainly have the talent and targeting those who would otherwise not have the opportunity.

Though its open programmers, partnership and strategic measures, HLMS aims to develop and implement a nation-wide strategy to support youth music making that will establish a legacy of music making opportunities and also improve the overall standards of music-making.

It is also to champion the values of music-making that is proving that music has a positive effect on the youth in advancing educational and social development and establish music-making opportunities as a force for regeneration in communities fostering social inclusion and community cohesion.

The CEO of HLMS and Trak Mastas International Roger Kubi in an interview said, “Since the birth of hiplife by ‘His Excellency the President Reggie Rockstone’, this genre has come to stay. Hiplife Music Seminar will continue to be a strategic facilitator; we will value our partnerships highly”.

“There are many excellent examples of music-making provision-individuals and organizations with a wealth of experience and with vision. We will work together to build on the best and break new grounds”.

When asked how they will work, Roger added “HLMS will support music-making that fulfils three key objectives (access- for those with least opportunities, breadth- music of all styles and all cultures, coverage- rural, urban, coastal, Ghana-wide and international) and delivers these objectives by offering funding, information and advice.

In its advocacy role, HLMS aims to encourage the debate concerning music-making activities for the youth. It will also be designed to honour the big names in the industry and give thanks and recognition to the people behind the scenes in the industry.

Without these people behind them (the artistes), the big names will never occur. The hiplife music scene owes them a debt of gratitude for aiding the development of the industry.

British Council Hall, Voltic Mineral Water, Mensvic Hotel, Ghana Music.com, Graphic Showbiz, Metro TV, Joy FM, Aphrodisiac Night Club and Vice Squad Productions are supporting the programme that is scheduled to take place at the British Council Hall on June 2 and 3.

Massive thanks to DJ Rab and Blakofe for their support.