Tag Archives: Success

A Review of Kojo Cue’s Debut Album “For My Brothers.”

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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.

How to build a Brand – BRND 102

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Having dealt with personal branding just a week ago, this episode will bring to light 5 Ideal steps to building a brand (BRND 102). It will provide a step by step and a proven approach to guide and direct whoever is willing and determined to build a successful brand. One key factor in branding is that, even if you are selling a product/service, the one selling is not separated from whatever she/he sells–You can’t simply alienate the seller from the product. For these strategic reasons, the following points are worthy of consideration in the process of building a brand.

Firstly, there is the need to identity strengths and weaknesses. This is at most the best opportunity to exploit if you are to break into any competitive field and succeed. Identifying your strengths and weaknesses helps you to know the methods to employ to improve upon yourself and also the areas that must be improved. In building a brand, it is very keen to know who you really are and be definitive as possible because unless you are inventing something, there certainly would exist prototypes of what ever service you are going to offer.

Also, know your product. Apart from identifying your industrial strengths and weaknesses, it now dons on you to label what ever product you are selling. By so doing, you get the exact description, value and worth of your product or service which would be presentable in the eyes of your clients or who ever may be in need of your service. If you know your product/service very well, you will know how exactly you can sell to even the ‘hardcore’ client with little of no  bargains.

Thirdly, you must know who your competitors are.
This is the most important part and the very reason for which branding is a necessity. Whatever service you are offering, believe it or not, you are not going to operate in isolation. Even if you operate as a monopolist in your field, for how long would you continue to build a great wall to bar competitors? Knowing your competitors as well as their, customers and the products/service they offer will not only make you a spies but will also provide you with options to act either in accordance with or contrary to the principles and strategies your competitors are operating. This must be done to capitalize on both strengths and weaknesses of your competitors and to be able to situate your brand and to stay at par if not above your competitors.

In addition, you must “Dare” to be different. What is the essence of identifying your strengths and weaknesses, knowing your product/service and finally knowing your competitors if not for the quest to be different? The first 3 points will quickly reveal the features and characteristics of ‘ the seller (yourself)’ , the product and the environment in which one operates. The trio , well harnessed will be an incredible tool to penetrate a highly competitive market. At this stage , you are well versed with the basic information and the only tool available to employ is a tool to be different. Be different in appearance, human/customer relations and product delivery as well as other competitive advantages you may have identified during the process of identifying yourself, product and competitors.
 

Finally, embrace changing trends.
Throughout the history of man, change and progress are best explained as ubiquitous. Therefore a 21st century man that fails to see change and embrace it is better off living in the prehistoric era. Changes and alterations in the conventional principles of doing business are being spearheaded by technology which is changing virtually everything changeable and even at a pace faster than Michael Jackson changed the shape of his nose. There is the need to plan and prepare adequately to embrace the changes brought forth by technology and other agents of change so that in the event that type-writers become less relevant, you will comfortably migrate and adopt to the current trend.

To a very substantial extent, I believe these points will equip one with the necessary skills to be in business and also survive in a very competitive environment. There may be other subsidiary points such as knowing your ‘target market’ (buyers). However, I considered this point subsidiary to the aforementioned 5 because, in the process of knowing your competitors, you are more likely to come into contact with their buyers and you study them as well.

What’s next after building a brand for yourself? Sustainability! Your guess is as good as mine. Hopefully, I will come your way another time with the final episode which will emphasize on ‘How to sustain a brand’ (BRND 103)

Until then, you can leave a comment or provide suggestions right under this post.
THANKS FOR READING…

Personal Branding – BRND 101

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I was fascinated to have come across a satiric question challenging one of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’sfavorite quotes “The heights by great men reached and kept were not attained by sudden flight, but they, while their companions slept, were toiling upward in the night.”

The satiric question was ‘ why do people choose to toil at night while they can perform the same task during the day?

Branding has been resonating in my eardrum since my exposure to that question and I think this piece will answer why Henry Wadsworth Longfellow and others who believe in that timeless quote would continue to toil at night whilst our companions sleep.

What at all is Branding and why it is becoming increasingly pertinent to build oneself a brand in our days? Well, maybe you may not be as branded as Toyota or as the lyrical entertainer – Sarkodie is in modern times but if you ever dream of setting yourself apart and on top of your game, then branding is a prerequisite. Red, blue, green, gray , black and white are collectively called ‘colours’ but branding is what makes them easily to be identified individually.

Personal branding is the gateway to staying atop of your field and be as definite as possible in your group.
What you do and say across time, becomes who you are and by definition, becomes a brand in the eyes of the people around you.

Branding is necessary because we are all ordinary until someone does the very thing we all do in a different (extra-ordinary) way to command a higher prize/price, patronage, acceptance and recognition.

Before the dominance of the social media titan – Facebook, there were several medium for communication and social interactions but these platforms did not kill the zeal of Mark Elliot Zuckerberg to make a difference – which really has paid off.

A personal brand is the real and distinctive feature of oneself and what one does. It’s what comes to mind when your name/company/field is zoomed. Space exploration has long been linked with Neil Armstrong not only because he was among those who have been to space before but also , and most importantly, for breaking the jinx of being confined to earth and leaving a mark elsewhere in outer space. In the “Biography of Neil Armstrong”, NASA TV in August 2012 reported ‘Armstrong gained the distinction of being the first man to land a craft on the moon and first to step on its surface.’ This is an affirmation of an identity he created for himself before his departure and for which he would forever be remembered for.

Branding is the distinction between two or more players in the same industry and notably with branding, you do the same thing in a different way.

There is less doubt about the fact that the compelling nature of the 21st century business requires one to be competitive lest be kicked out of the game. To be competitive is to understand the volatile nature of modern day interactions and as well accept that, the changing phase of modern times requires one to build a unique brand that could make them standout and be recognized. If you are a student, musician, writer, Lecturer or whatever your status maybe, try to be different, innovative and creative to capitalize on originality and pride yourself with the leading name in your field.

Now on the question which instigated this piece, it’s only in the womb where others spend more or less time than others but once on earth, 24 hours is a day for everyone — we all have equal opportunities in terms of day and night but what makes us different is that hurdle we overcome to go the extra mile. For instance, when we need to prepare for four hours in a day, those like Henry Wadsworth will do the (ordinary) 4 hours that everyone does in a day and do an additional (extra) hours in the night all alone. In the end, he is more likely to become skillful and efficient at what he prepared for. He has branded himself to do the ordinary things in the extraordinary way.

To excel is to be different and when everyone is standing, you can stand out. Indeed branding can be very expensive looking at the sacrifices involved but the long run implication is that, branding pays the cost in excess of higher returns, profits, recognition and above all, a branded name.

Hope I’ve been able to expose the hidden motive on why people choose to go the extra mile and do the ordinary thing the extraordinary way. Embracing yourself with the various features in your field that only a hand full of people can have put you on a higher pedestal. It’s time to build a brand and it’s time to set yourself apart.

In the preceding episode, we will walk thoroughly through the 5 most proven ways to building a successful brand.

Until then , watchout!

LIFE

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In the middle of life is something so special that is worth noting. Yet, not all has been able to figure  out and even those that have been successful in decoding the centre of life are still battling with how to overcome these requirements needed to progress to the next stage.
I may be sounding very metaphorical if not cynical if I don’t let the cat out of the bag now.  This not a suspense though. Hope you have a clue what lies at the centre of LIFE now. Kudus if you have been able to decipher but let’s give our readers on the other side that think that life is lumped up to be like perfect  radius of a great circle the benefit of the doubt and  educate them. At least the motivation alone will be the reason the will always keep their heads up!

Now let’s make headway. Have you thought of life without a condition, choice and limitations ever before? It sounds so normal to answer in the affirmative but makes you a super human to answer in the reverse. Hmm, at the centre of LifE is  the mother of all  probabilistic clauses (if) .. You may check that again so you don’t doubt the uncertainties of life and its associated conditions just like Thomas did. At the centre of life is a lonely ‘i’ and a forward leaning ‘f’ put together in the Queen’s language to get ‘if’ which by basic grammar we are taught to be a conditional clause. Oops! Was that a mere coincidence or there is an allegory aback?

As humans, we are battling the “never ending” strokes of life with the conditions and demands of it suppressing us the more. Uncertainties of life leave us in dilemma simply because nature has a way of regulating the doings of mankind which we have little or no knowledge about. Hence , the thousand and one questions asked each and everyday.
In the realms of humanity, there are causes and effects. ‘If’ you  do this, that will happen. ‘If’ you don’t work , you become poor. ‘If’ you don’t study, you will fail just to mention a few. These are conditional sentences which lead humanity to always make a choice – whether you know the effect of the cause or not, you are obliged to make a compelling choice.

This is what separates the Shakespeare’s from the ordinaries. Losers give up on their dreams because they are uncertain about the effect of their cause given the conditions of life. Believe you me , the world wouldn’t have embraced light earlier if Thomas Edison had internalized thoughts of limitations and uncertainties given the conditions “what  ‘if’ the bulb fails to glow?” Many dreams and talents have been buried with the fear of the uncertain ‘if’ condition.

“What ‘if’ I fail?” Is by far the question asked by students who are yet to take a new course.
Davido, was right ‘if I tell you say I love…’ That’s when I’m tied to the promises I made to you. He might have hidden that aspect of the ‘if’ clause. Until he says he loves you, he can’t promise you a penny-the Versace and Gucci are not yours yet.
Now my avid reader, the fear of failure and the uncertainty of the conditions are making risk taking a problem. It has been said, the greatest risk ever is not taking a risk at all.

What if;

-I say you are the best,

-You are not a failure in your category,

-you are a maker and defier of nature?
The ‘if’ clauses are not to depress and suppress you.

Step out of you comfort zone, make a move  insofar as you are not living your life on a circular path, progress would be made and you will surely get to your destined destination from and uncertain location ‘if’ you believe.