Apple Music has declared 17 year old Ghanaian rapper Thorsten Owusu Gyimah widely known as Yaw TOG as their latest featured artist in its Africa Rising artist development program.
Spearheading the brewing of the drill style called Asakaa that emerged from the streets of Kumasi in Ghana, Yaw’s debut single “Sore” (2020) became the first video of its genre to garner 1 million views and shot the movement into visibility across the continent.
The collective solidarity of Yaw TOG and his mates namely O’Kenneth, City Boy, Reggie, Jay Bhad, all members of the Asakaa collective whose unique identity is a mixture of Kumasi’s street lifestyle infused with New York’s lauded drill culture, “Sore” caught the attention of some of the world’s notable rappers like Vic Mensa and Stormzy who both jumped on the Chris Rich Beats produced song but only Stormzy’s rendition alongside Kwesi Arthur was released.
Yaw TOG’s debut 7-track EP dubbed ‘Time’ sees him switch between English, Twi and Pidgin whilst merging elements of Afrobeats and Hip-hop, and comprehensively reflecting on thematics of growth and struggle whilst capturing the true essence of Kumerica.
The latest music from Yaw Tog along with the next generation of African superstars is available now on the Apple Music Africa Rising Playlist.
About Apple Music’s Africa Rising
Apple Music’s Africa Rising, is an exclusive artist development programme and companion playlist geared towards identifying, showcasing and elevating rising talent and introducing the next generation of African superstars.
Africa Rising cover star alumni to date have include: Omah Lay, Manu Worldstar, Tems, Amaarae and Ayra Starr. Africa Rising sees Apple Music select six artists every year who each receive a minimum of two months of editorial support across the Apple Music platform including a launch interview with Nadeska on Apple Music 1.
Nadeska has also launched a new weekly Africa Rising feature on her show highlighting the hottest new artists on the continent.
Africa Rising is the latest of many Apple Music initiatives aimed at taking African talent to the world. Now available in 33 countries across Sub-Saharan Africa, Apple Music 1 is home to Africa Now Radio with host Cuppy which has featured interviews with some of the continent’s hottest artists such as Tiwa Savage, Yemi Alade, Cassper Nyovest, Mr Eazi, Patoranking, Rayvanny, Kiddominant, Mayorkun, Fireboy DML, Adekunle Gold and Master KG.
Apple Music also selected Nigerian Afropop star Rema as its Up Next artist in 2020, following the addition of Burna Boy to the roster in 2019 and Mr Eazi back in 2017. Up Next is Apple Music’s global emerging artist program.
For a limited time, new customers to Apple Music on iOS and Android in Nigeria, South Africa, Ghana, Kenya, Botswana, Tanzania, Uganda, Mozambique, Cameroon and Zambia can enjoy all of this great content with 6 months of free Apple Music through the Shazam app. Returning customers get 3 months of free Apple Music.
