Ghanaian rapper Strongman, born Osei Kwaku Vincent says he has no intention of forcing himself into music styles that do not reflect his personality or real-life experiences, especially the fast-rising “scammer rap” genre popular among some young artistes.
Speaking in an interview on Angel Fm in Kumasi, Strongman explained that authenticity is central to his craft, and attempting to rap about fraud, drugs, or a lifestyle he has never lived would sound “funny and fake.”
According to him, certain themes in music come naturally because they are connected to lived experiences.
“There are some songs that reflect who I really am, but there are others that don’t,” he said. “As a musician, some things must be experienced first-hand. When that happens, it becomes easier to sing about them.”
He noted that he can now comfortably rap about parties because his friends introduced him to those environments, but other subjects remain off-limits.
“When it comes to hate or love songs, I do them well because that is my lifestyle. But when it comes to scamming, weed and the rest, I don’t do them well,” he said.
Strongman added that the people in his circle live calm, disciplined lives, which also shapes the kind of music he creates.
“My circle is full of gentle people who don’t even drink alcohol, so they won’t expose me to certain things for me to rap about them,” he explained.
However, he noted that if he ever needs to make a song for “game boys” or people who live that lifestyle, he is careful about who he features to give the song the right energy and authenticity.
