A decade ago, a young man sporting a few inches of dreadlocks, burst onto the local music scene.
He rode on the back of a controversially-laced, sexually explicit single aptly couched in the female name ‘Linda’ to make it big at first attempt.
Linda became an instant hit, and enjoyed a heavy nationwide rotation. The song was even the subject of a huge ‘suitability’ debate at the 2004 Ghana Music Awards. Despite the controversy, he won two awards; Hiplife Artist of the Year and New Hiplife Artist of the Year.
It gave him the much needed major breakthrough, and mainstream pass.
Now known as Samini, and then commonly referred to as Batman, ‘Linda’ was the first single off his debut album ‘Dankwansere’ (Batman). The album also had the song ‘Gyae Shie’, another controversial song.
Born Emmanuel Andrews Samini on December 22, 1981 in Accra, to Mr G.A Samini and Theresa Samini, he would later go on to become everybody’s darling boy. In the early years of his career, he featured on almost every local hit song; he was the best material around at the time.
Samini developed the passion for music at a very early age. By 14, he was already a member of his church choir.
Studio sessions at Nana King’s Ashanti International Studios in Dansoman, paved the way for a full-time professional music career.
In the year 2004, he was a part of the hiplife group known as Trinity which had KK Fosu and rapper Kokoveli as its other members. The group became famous for the hit song ‘zaaza’. They disbanded after few appearances.
He would later fall off and reunite with both K.K Fosu and Kokoveli, promising to make Trinity, a once-to-be-visited idea. That idea has failed to fly.
After years of trading with the stage name Batman, Samini felt a change in name would be more appropriate.
On his 25th birthday, December 21, 2006, he morphed into Samini, also leaving behind his famous signature ‘kpooi’.
After his debut album, Dankwasere, Samini has released four other albums including Samini (2007), Dagaati (2008), CEO (2010) and Next Page, which is set for release later this year.
Samini has won quite a number of awards including a MOBO for Best African Act in 2006, Best Live Performer at the 2009 MTV Africa music Awards, Best African Act at the Hip Hop Awards in Nigeria in 2008 and several Ghana Music Awards.
In 2006, he was nominated in the Best African Act category at the MTV Europe Music Awards and also Best Live Performer at the 2008 MTV Africa Music Awards. He has also been shortlisted in the Best International Act category at the 2014 Black Canadians Award.
Samini’s energy on stage is impressive. In 2011 and 2012, he headlined concerts with international acts Mavado and Demarco respectively. He’s shared similar stages with other foreign acts.
Managed by his friend, and business partner Tony Pun, Samini has managed to grow his brand.
He has proven beyond any reasonable doubt that he’s got great talent and here to stay.
Originally published by enewsgh.com on March 5, 2014
Comments