Ghanaian rapper Edem is a year older today.
Google says he was born on May 21 but the man says May 20. Whichever it is, he is 34 today. Born in 1986. So, let’s continue…
Many know him for his rap prowess, tweeps know he could be savage, his fans know he is friendly.
Here are a few things you didn’t know about him.
His full name is Denning Edem Hotor. He was known as Ayigbe Edem. Well, now he’s just Edem. He is the only son of two children. Lost both parents- mom at 13 and dad at 16.
Young Edem went to Amazing Love in Denu, continued in Bishop Herman College and later read Marketing at Marshalls University.
He is Ewe. I want to say his favourite colour has nothing to do with the tribe but anyhow you look at it, his favourite colour is red and he is Ewe.
Akple should be his favourite food don’t you think? But… Edem loves rice. Rice with anything. Cook rice, add soup, he’ll eat. Add sauce, he’ll eat. Add water, that, I don’t know but what I’m trying to say is that he likes rice with anything.
Edem got married to Stacey Osekere in 2014. They have a boy and a girl. The girl, Selikem Khloe Hotor, 9 and the boy, Jonathan Edem Jnr Hotor, 5. Very bright kids. Check his Instagram for some videos with them…away from the kids, he said something in his ‘Fiefuor’ song – Father please give me two children, 1 boy, 1 girl….sugar daddy for some Legon girls. Well, he’s not 48, does not live in a single room, is already married so we can ignore the sugar daddy part huh? Okay
Remember the ‘indomitable’ he used in the ‘Spelling Bee’ song? Yeah. He loves to read. He reads a lot. And he likes to watch documentaries. Before Music, he loved playing basketball. Is he that tall? (question for the gods) oh and he likes arguing too. He likes to look good in jeans, duku, sneaker or timberland.
I already mentioned he could be a ‘savage’ on Twitter but he has grown his dreadlocks since 2011. Before that, he had an afro and some twisted thing that looked that baby locks. That takes lots of patience and dedication.
He has done some notable philanthropic works including a donation of cash and items to the maternity ward of the Mamobi Polyclinic in Accra, September 2009, the Weija Leprosarium on 10 October 2009, among others.
Before the ‘Gbom Gbom Gbang Gbang’ and the ‘Nyedzilos’, he released 3 solid albums including Volta Regime (2009), Mass production (2011) and Books And Rhymes (2014).
But my favourite song is Gbevu released in 2006, shot the video in 2017. I like it because my name was in there. Okay, let’s get serious. I also like ‘Koene’, ‘Fiefuor’, ‘Nyedzilo’, ‘Kpordawoe’ (This is not about me so I’ll end it there).
Edem won City’s People’s Award- Ghana Musician of the Year 2014, Best International Act Africa at the 2015 Black Canadian Awards beating Mafikizolo (South Africa), Yemi Alade (Nigeria), Eddy Kenzo (Uganda), Davido (Nigeria), Oritse Femi (Nigeria), and Teeyah (Ivory Coast).
He also won 3G Awards in 2016,2015 Vodafone Ghana Music Awards Album of the Year for Books and Rhymes, Afropop song of the year with ‘Koene’ and Video of the Year with ‘The One’ video.
Edem topped the 2014 4syte TV Music Video Awards with 3 awards for Best Directed, Best Photography and Most Outstanding Video for ‘The One’ which features Sway.
You cannot list Ghanaian rappers without Edem. You cannot talk about Volta without his name- “Volta Regime era era”.
He is currently pushing the #ImHungry agenda on twitter to seek redress, get royalties fixed for creatives especially musicians.
Do you remember his hit single Wotome Woshi released in 2006? Which of his songs is your favourite? Leave your comment.
