Ghanaian rapper EL, also known as Elom Adablah, has named his top five lyricists in Ghana.
In an interview with DJ Slim, he explained that a lyricist is someone who writes and performs words to a beat in a complex and artistic way that often needs several listens to understand fully.
EL’s top five lyricists, listed in no particular order, are Kojo Cue, King Tradey, Kev the Topic, M.anifest, Omar Sterling (formerly Paedae), and Obibini.
“Let me list five of my most respected lyricists, not rappers.
This is because anybody can rap. Rap is just putting words together, making them rhyme, and making them work, and that is rap.
“People might love that, but when it comes to lyricism, it is a different conversation; it is an art.
These are songs you have to listen to a couple of times to get the message.
Sometimes you get the meaning of one line, wait, and then unconsciously get the meaning of the next line another time,” EL told DJ Slim.
According to EL, the rappers he listed as the top five lyricists in Ghana are still relevant and active in the music industry.
He also mentioned that he could create a list of older rappers who are no longer active.
“If we are talking about people who are not active in the industry too, that one too dey,” he said.
