Obrafour

Naturally, where there is misery, company is most cherished, a school of thought says that human beings love pain and that is why we all love people who radiate agony. He, our celebrity for the week, proved to Ghanaians  that he wasn?t just an ordinary rap artiste when he stormed the music scene seven years ago with his debut, ?Pae MU Kae?.

His arrival on the scene marked the beginning of a new dimension to rap music in the local dialect; mixing humour with sensitive issues, lyrics that live with you, in times of sorrow.

Those were the days when hiplife artistes could be counted impulsively due to their small number. Let?s see?one, two three..Emm ? there was just about thirteen of them at that time.

It was virtually easy having a hit song in those days because of the rather small market for rap music in the local dialect ? Hiplife. When he arrived, his articulate and laid back style of delivery was so infectious that many other artistes in his field, followed this trend of rap involuntary.

Michael Elliot Kwabena Okyere Darko a.k.a. Obrafour, through the years, has maintained his stature as story teller and realist. The fans also gave him ears than he had expected, as the follow up was a hit single ?mama? which eventually made the older folks love him ? not because of his height but for the big brains that hung in-between his ears.

This thereby paved the way for him to demonstrate his undaunted musical skill, through ?Asem Sebe? the album that could be described as library material for the history of hiplife. Obrafour unfolded the other side of him that wasn?t known to his fans; his singing talent. It even made lovers of hiplife, especially his fans, go wild and so was his label. Yes, Michael Kwabena Darko was making an important statement, that there is more to show-business than fame, clothes and women.

So, when Obrafour did not get ?swollen headed? by the tons of cheers that heaped on him, it became obvious that he needed more than fame. Dreams had to be realized. Then came the good news; the birth Execution Entertainment, the label that handled promotions for his third album ?Tofa?.

Execution Entertainment?s birth commemorated a new vision of pursing projects, based on unselfish reasons. Its first task was to sensitize the Ghanaian public on indiscipline; hence it supported the Vice President?s campaign against Indiscipline, where Obrafour did a sound track ?Ntetie Pa?, which subsequently enjoyed more than massive airplay.

Execution Entertainment afterwards launched it's first compilation. ?Execution Diary?, which featured prominent as well as new artistes. Presently the label houses about four new artistes whose albums are being recorded, Obrafour?s Execution label is moving up sturdily through its local and international affiliates. The label is currently putting together Digital Video Disks (DVD) and Video Compact Disk (VCD) music videos from the compilation, whiles the ?OB4? clothing lien is about to be launched.

Over the years music lovers have witnessed who the real gems are amongst the chaff, by virtue of consistency and innovation. A lot more musicians emerged but fell out due to their inability to keep their heads above water. Obrafour on the other hand, has proven to al who thought he wouldn?t last, that it is far from over, in fact, it has just begun. Watch out for updates on Execution Diary?s Europe tour.