REVIEW: Kojo-Cue Breaks Down – Before We Shine 2 (Part 1)
OMGGhana.com caught up with one of Kumasi’s finest ‘Kojo-Cue‘ or as we like to call him ‘Ghana’s Kanye West‘ (trust me you will understand the moniker, after you get familiar with his works). The Kumasi bred MC is currently gearing up to release the follow up to his highly acclaimed LP Behind We Shine (Read : Before we shine interview). Before We Shine I was released in early 2012 and it showed Kojo’s prowess behind the mic and won him the title ‘King of Mixtapes’ in Ghana.
Fast forward to 2013 ,the boy repping one of Kumasi’s biggest rap camp ‘CUE’ is at it again!! Before we shine 2 is destined to shake the industry and take over your iPods,mp3′s,cassette players(wait, those still exists?) ones more as if Before We Shine 1 isn’t enough for us right? The lead single ‘Winning‘ is currently in rotation and recking havoc on the airwaves. Now unto the good part, Kojo was kind enough to take time out of his busy schedule to break down the beats, lyrics, song process behind each of the 16 track-LP. Today we, we are going to give you the first part, keep it locked on yours truly OMGGhana.com in the upcoming days for the remaining .
The LP features his fellow label mate Cabum , Stone (Bradez) and more with production by Klu, Peeweezle among others
Title
It’s the sequel to Before We Shine but the subtitle is derived from a Bohemian ceremony of the same name and it’s a metaphor for letting go of all your care and living life like a gypsy. Just doing what makes you happy and not paying attention or seeking approval from anyone for your lifestyle.
1. Success Story (Prod. by Alberto)
“This song is about the different levels of success. I just wanted to highlight the fact that one person’s idea of success may be another person’s failed or normal state. I wasn’t born rich and normally when you show up at the same places and hang with the same crowd as the rich kids, its considered success where I come from. So my achievements may not mean much to you because they are things you’ve always had and taken for granted but to the people where i come from, its success.”
2. Nananom Flow (Prod. by Kid Ziggy)
“This is a straight-up lyrical song, just an exhibition of my technical abilities as far as rap. The title is homage to both our forefathers and Hiplife music which I grew up on. The hook is an interpolation of a Nananom song and at the end of every verse I try to pair two Hiplife emcees in a cypher to give you the picture of the kind of flow I speak of.”
3. Aden Koraa (ft. Stone of Bradez) (Prod. by Cabum)
“This song talks about hurting the haters by being good at what you do. It’s basically a get off my back type of song. The beat is very Kumasi and Hip-Hop, it sounds like a quintessential Hiplife song and it’s guaranteed to be a fan favourite. Stone’s verse is crazy, one of his best verses till date, no kidding.”
4. F**k Wit My Dreams (Prod. by Kuvie)
“One of my favourite songs on the tape, this is basically about being so determined to achieve your goals that you sort of develop this notion in your head that nobody alive can stand between you and your dream. It inspires you to work hard to prove them wrong, if they say you can’t do something, you do it and take it to the next level. I say in the song ‘den say I nor fit run this and I picked up the pace/now adey draw crowds cos den doubt say ago fit trace’, I think that explains it all.”
5. Six Feet Deep (Prod. by Kid Ziggy)
“This is another lyrical assault that is directed at a particular emcee who I will not mention. i know for sure he will get the message and you will too if you pay attention. Food for thought, you do the dishes.”
Stay tuned for tracks 5-10 tomorrow…