Kojo Cue is a BBNZ signed Ghanaian Hip/Afro Pop Artiste. Off the stage and without the microphone, Kojo is also known as Linford Kennedy Amankwaa. Though he has been in the music industry for a while now, the last few weeks have seen the rapper being the subject of attention courtesy the release of his debut album “for my brothers.” The Album is made up of 16 tracks which features the likes of Worlasi, Joe Derobie, Adomaa, Maayaa, A.I and many others. The duty of this article is the extensively review the Album for better appreciation by music lovers and those who admire and creativity.

To begin, the life of Kojo Cue could be likened to a nerd, introvert and anti-social type of person. But behind the mic, Kojo is a genius who knows exactly how to garnish words with experiences to create a lasting rhythmic effect on the minds of music consumers. Let’s walk through some of the playlists on the album to justify such a claim.

Dua

On the Album, the rapper provided a chronological account of a boy growing up on his own having been cursed and neglected by the father. This is clear in “Dua.” Here, Kojo brilliantly describes a father who cast a spell on the son under frustrations from poverty who rather would love to spend on Alcoholic beverages than take care of the child. The mother, on the other hand, advised the son to be mindful of the women he chose to be with since womanizing together with laziness is a recipe for poverty.

Rich Dad, Poor Dad

Lyrics from the track “Rich Dad, Poor Dad” as inspired by the Book “Rich Dad, Poor Dad” written by the New York Times Best-Selling Author – Robert Kiyosaki, depicts a father who failed to cater to the child. This made the kid struggle throughout the various phases of life. To Kojo, the family that one is born into has an impact on one’s life and poverty strikes the very moment one becomes lazy. The struggle to create and Make wealth for future generations should be paramount to growing adults.

Survivor’s Guilt

This is one of the 16 tracks that gets you emotional when you relate to it. This is where Kojo addressed the situation where one member of a group that was previously toiling and struggling together becomes relatively successful but this person (survivor) is not successful enough to pull his colleagues along. The guilt here is that you are sometimes less fortunate than your colleagues that are suffering (some even dead) but you however make it against the odds. Kojo captured the situation as ‘The trauma of being the only one who made it but still not making enough to help everybody out…” He further buttressed this point by saying “…even though you work hard for your things and your wealth, you feel bad for doing good for yourself.” The possibility of finding oneself in what Kojo termed “Survivor’s Guilt” is likely to be high when one is not able to meet the expectations of childhood peers even when one has his problems to deal with.

Workaholics Anonymous.

In Workaholics anonymous, Kojo Cue Lyrically focused on the dilemma of self-employment and getting employed. The dilemma is the desire to be one’s boss because it’s stressful and frustrating to be working from Monday to Friday for a meager salary. On the other hand, those formally employed are assured of at least salaries “every month” unlike in his case, where he is not certain whether he will get something from his career as a musician. Thoughts of the challenges and frustrations of getting employed formally accompanied by long hours of getting stacked in traffic, having a non-tolerant boss, etc. give him sleepless nights.

You Alone

If Kojo was inspired by any adage for the song, I guess it would be “Each one for himself, God for us all.” You Alone is a track that preaches self-confidence and acceptance. Kojo cautioned against living a life on the dictates of other people. Brothers, therefore, should live their lives the way they know because if they die, they’ll go alone. He, however, admonished “brothers” to support themselves if they want to share in the Glory and Successes of the brothers.

Wo nsa Be Ka (Literary “You will get your own” or “Your time will come”)

Kojo Cue featured A.I on the track and the duo came up with arguably an inspiring piece. This is a restoration song for brothers and sisters. Hustling youth were assured of better days ahead and thus, they should not give up. Although money is not everything, poverty is painful and for that matter, it’s important to keep the struggle going and hoping for better days to come.

Never Mind

This track is what I consider ‘social Advocacy.’ Kojo painted a picture of people having problems and going through countless challenges in society but remain silent because they cannot trust those, they share their problems with. Due to this, people harbor suicide thoughts, depression, fear, domestic violence, sexual abuses and other forms of traumatic experiences. Kojo Cue Advocated that victims and those at risk should seek external help if they can’t deal with the problems by themselves.

Shii The Song

This is the spiritual track on the album for me. He featured Adomaa and the VI Dream Group. The song is about the dwindling hopes of a young man who relied upon God and other people for his survival. Kojo again confronted the situation where people blame the elderly for their woes. But he grew up to appreciate the toils of these elderly people. It is rewarding to be patient and quiet when things are not going as expected. ‘Things always don’t have to be perfect – you can shii the song.”

For My Sisters

Yes, the album, though titled ‘for my brothers’ also has a track dabbed ‘For my sisters.’ This song addresses social injustices and borders on the pervasive nature of gender inequalities in modern times. The status quo of a male-dominated society is challenged and calls for education and reforms that will instigate a social change in that dimension is amplified.

Loser

Then again Kojo Cue spits hard bars on this track. He recounts times when people considered him is a loser for joining the BBNZ Record label. He goes on to admit that, along the line and in the pursuance of success, there are people who will give up on you and even to a larger extent, reject you outright. According to the rapper, “You are who you hang with” and it’s prudent that we carefully chose our friends and the surrounding people. If you need to cut ties with some “negative” friends, it’s worth it because to him, “If I have to lose you to find me, I guess I’m such a loser.” He admitted.

Muddy Story.

Muddy Story from the album features Maayaa. The focus is on a young hustler who mistakenly impregnated a woman he is not ready to marry. Threats from his in-laws are giving him nightmares and he is on the verge of regretting having unprotected sex. The family is keeping his child away from him and he is constantly counting the days till the eighteen birthday of his child – when he thinks the child would be able to understand his circumstance. This is a social issue that is prevalent in most societies. Kojo cue is addressing issues on premarital and unprotected sexual behavior as well as Child Rights and Protection. This is a muddy story and difficult to deal with when one becomes a victim.

The album also has tracklists such as Agro, Smiling, Dzo and Best Paddy. These together with the above listed demonstrates Kojo Cue’s lyrical, creative and socially conscious prowess. His ability to weave personal experiences into the social context makes him exceptional. He consciously uses his life experiences to address prevailing social issues such as Irresponsible parenting, gender inequality, poverty, unemployment, depression and social rejection, relationship, violence and among others. The Album has the characteristics of lasting a lifetime because it is relatable for brothers and sisters, old and young, rich and poor, employed and unemployed, hopeless and depressed, YOU and I.