True, Reggie Rockstone is regarded as the godfather of hip life, rightly so, because he together with Michael Cook coined the term Hiplife in 1996 leading to the polishing and dropping of a Twi rap track called “Tsoo Boi”, the fever has since claimed many music lives.

It also holds true that In 1993 there was a group managed by Panji Anoff named “talking drums” made up of Kweku T and another partner who released their very first Hiplife track in 93, a twi rap song titled “Aden” but by then the term HIPLIFE had not been coined.

It however took Obrafuor real name Michael Elliot Kwabena Otchere Darko to drop all-time favourite ‘Pae Mu ka’ album in 1999 to baptize the arrival of the genre which many had doubts about. That album won him ‘Rapper of the Year’, ‘New Artiste of the Year’ and ‘Best Hiplife song of the Year’ at the 2000 Ghana music awards event. His work earned him the reverend title or ‘rap sofuor’.

Obrafuor would later follow up his success with albums such as 'Pae mu ka', 'Asem Sebe', ‘Tofa', 'Ntete e Pa', 'Execution Diary' and 'Heavy' whiles embarking on social campaigns to fight indiscipline in the country, the release of the ‘Nya Ntete Pa’ single and its acclaim showed that good causes could be championed in an upbeat way. His 'Maame' single in 2002 still reverberates on Mother’s Day.

Obrafuor’s label, Execution Entertainment and Edward Nana Poku Osei aka Hammer’s Last 2 Music Group have been successful in elevating or discovering talents like Kwaw Kese, Tinny, Okyeame Quame 4x4 and Yoggi Doggi.

The 38 year old Kwahu-Obo born has certainly paid his dues to the industry, little wonder ‘Latter-Day Saints’ finger him and his seminal work the ‘Pae Mu Ka’ album as laying the foundation for them in becoming musicians. Already Sarkodie, Manifest and Guru have sang his praise but for new sensation Pappy Kojo to also disclose that it is the 'Kwame Nkrumah', ‘Yaanom’, 'Asem sebe' and 'Twe wo ho', 'Odo', 'Bra Be hwe', 'Okukuseku', ‘Sete’, ‘Oye Ohene’, ‘Adefoode’ and ‘Ebehyehyew’, hitmaker is his bedrock in music is testament to Obrafuor’s lasting legacy.

Obrafuor’s simple approach to life makes it easy for him to share his musical gifts with young artistes who seek him leading to the legend featuring on numerous songs.

Thank you Obrafuor, Ghana’s rap ‘sofuor’: musician, entrepreneur, mentor and activist we thank you for sharing your gifts with us. You are a true legend indeed.

Feast on the Kwame Nkrumah video and photos of Obrafuor!