Billboard magazine may have set the hiphop streets ablaze with arguments, after the release of its top 10 best rappers of all-time.

However, it’ll interest you to know that none of the rappers named in there makes it to Rocky Dawuni’s list.

The three-time Grammy Nominee, named three Ghanaian rappers in his all-time favourites list. Reggie Rockstone, Sarkodie and Okyeame Kwame, made it to Rocky’s top 5 rappers of all time. He also revealed that Senagalese Hiphop group, Positive Black Soul, make his top 5 rappers of all time.

The Ghanaian Reggae music icon made this revelation while speaking on Joy FM’s Showbiz A-Z show last Saturday on the topic, ‘Ghana’s presence at the 65^th Grammys’.

According to him, “When we talk about African rap, we can’t forget people like Reggie Rockstone, we can’t forget people like Positive Black Soul out of Senegal who were one of the earliest bands to really popularize African rap… and I mentioned Sarkodie too”, he said.

He said of the ‘rap dacta’, “look at Okyeame Kwame, I mean, amazing rapper and all of that”.

Explaining what contributed to choosing his top 5, Rocky Dawuni highlighted the need to tell and amplify our story as Africans. “When I was on the red carpet [at the Grammys] I was asked to name my top 5 rappers and I had to add African rappers to it, because I’m not there to be someone that is pushing only rappers that have had the opportunity and the eco system of being hailed on that level”.   

Rocky Dawuni believes the narrative needs to change from being dependent on rankings influenced by other cultural perspectives. According to him, Africa has some of the best talents in music and arts, and its indigenes need to stick to “a narrative that really reflects who we are, because when it comes to the best we come from the best”.

Rocky Dawuni has successfully made it, thrice, to the prestigious Grammy Awards as a nominee, but hasn’t been too lucky to ever win the award. His previous nominations came in 2015 and 2021, with the last being a nomination in the Best Global Music Performance category this year, for his work ‘Neva Bow Down’ featuring Blvk H3ro.