Featured Artist: Qwesi Levi – An Unsung Talent, Still Blazing

Photo Courtesy: Qwesi Levi

Ghnewsnow Entertainment Desk  is proud to present to you the 20 sterling Ghana reggae and dancehall artists featuring on the Where Di Money Riddim.  These artists span the entire generational spectrum  of the  genre in Ghana right now.  From  Kente to Elis Koina, the Where Di Money project will unleash a barrage of experienced artists featuring alongside raw and new talent and here at Ghnewsnow,we  will bring them all to you ahead of the release. Today,we  shine the spotlight on QWESI LEVI

 

Born Oppong Konadu Agyemang, Qwesi Levi is one of Ghana’s most unsung reggae songwriters. An alumnus of Prempeh College and the University of Ghana, this soft-spoken Ras has been quietly contributing to the reggae fraternity with some serious lyrical aptitude. 

Based in Kumasi in the Ashanti Region of Ghana, Qwesi Levi began his musical trod during early school days where he was introduced to dancehall Reggae by some of his school mates.The young Qwesi took to the sound  at once beginning to appreciate the early Ragga cuts like ‘Poco Man Jam’ by Gregory Peck and ‘Bun and Cheese’ by  Clement Irie which were beginning to infiltrate the local  underground reggae  scene.

He was particularly fascinated by the songs of dancehall greats like King Yellowman, Charlie Chaplain Barrington Levy and Cocoa Tea.

 

Qwesi Levi grew up in the era where Hiplife music was in the process of emerging. Most of the young people pursuing music at the time were focused of writing lyrics to a fusion of hip hop and highlife rhythms. The few producers around would not even look at a reggae hopeful’s demo tape. This however did not deter the young Levi who sought out the few other reggae talents in the city of Kumasi. The only available platforms however were for hiplife acts and it took some talent to bring the new artform to an audience that was tuned to hiplife music.

He began performing in talent shows with the likes of Lord Kenya, Jahbeloved , Swazy B and Osagyefo.

Soon, he joined forces with Jahbeloved and Agee, another young hopeful to form a group. The new group refocused and started leaning more heavily on reggae and ragga music. Around this time, Kente Band was playing at the KNUST campus. The young ‘hustling’ band did not have the gate fee; not even the bus fare to travel to the show so they decided to “foot it”.

Kente Band was playing at the KNUST campus. The young ‘hustling’ band did not have the gate fee; not even the bus fare to travel to the show so they decided to “foot it”.

 

They travelled on foot from Nhyiaeso to KNUST to see Kente through a crack in the window. Even though they did not see the show proper, they got to speak with Fred (Kente), David Amon-Forson, now known as 7 and guitarist Sabo. It is fair to say that that meeting shaped the musical futures of both Qwesi Levi and Jahbeloved. The third member of the group sadly passed on soon after that meeting.

They travelled on foot from Nhyiaeso to KNUST to see Kente through a crack in the window. Even though they did not see the show proper, they got to speak with Fred (Kente), David Amon-Forson, now known as 7 and guitarist Sabo. It is fair to say that that meeting shaped the musical futures of both Qwesi Levi and Jahbeloved. 

 

Photo Courtesy: Qwesi Levi

After the passing of Agee, the group split up even  though  they still kept in touch. Qwesi Levi went on to pursue a solo career.

 

He recorded his first single ‘Cutthroat Shitstem’ with a video directed by Ras Kwesi Baako (Jahbeloved)  and followed up with other recordings such as Food Clothes and Shelter, Jezebel, Some Friends, Wounded Lion and Burn Sodom.

WATCH QWESI LEVI ON YOUTUBE>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

 

One thought on “Featured Artist: Qwesi Levi – An Unsung Talent, Still Blazing

  • November 14, 2021 at 3:21 am
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    Bless up lion Levi. You have all the pure lyrics. I love your songs too much. New reggae Ragga genre.

    Reply

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