As a trendsetting and inventive rapper, Sarkodie began his instrumental career as an underdog rapper‐ who through years of maturity has earned a novelty in the rap game in Ghana and beyond.
Born as Michael Kwesi Owusu Addo and raised in the Tema neighbourhood, Sarkodie is a top-notch and award‐winning rapper with about five (5) albums to his credit, yet has entrenched his impervious personality in the annals of the music industry as the most sought after rapper.
After many years of pushing the frontiers as an underground rapper, he finally rose to mainstream fame in 2008 after turning down a job offer from an advertising company to fully take up music as a professional career.
In 2010, he had several collaborations and earned numerous accolades and nominations including 5 major awards at the 2010 Ghana Music Awards with his debut album, Makye and other epochal international awards. He was also part of the historic Ghana cypher that appeared on the international airing of the 2010 BET Hip‐Hop Awards.
Breaking the jinx, Sarkodie’s, hot‐selling Rapperholic album bagged 12 glorious nominations in the 2012 Vodafone Ghana Music Awards. On April 14, 2012 Sarkodie made history when he was crowned the Artist of the Year for the second time, as well as winning the award for Most Popular Song of the Year for his hit song You Go Kill Me and the Best Rapper of the Year for another second time.
Sarkodie’s iconic and breath‐taking stage presence has enabled him to perform on platforms with notable international acts including Chipmunk, T‐Pain, Trey Songz, Mavado, Ludacris amongst others. Having toured the U.S.A and U.K, Sarkodie’s hallmark is performance satisfaction and perfect delivery of thought‐provoking lyrics in his kind of music.
In January 2014, Sarkodie released his third studio album Sarkology. Primarily recorded in Twi, the album features guest appearances from Fuse ODG, Davido, Tiwa Savage, Banky W., Timaya, 2 Face Idibia, Efya, Mugeez, Obrafour, Burna Boy, Vivian Chidid, Vector, Silvastone, Sk Blinks, Stonebwoy, Joey B, J Town, Lil Shaker, Raquel, Sian, Kofi B and AKA.
Its production was handled by Magnom, Hammer, Killbeatz, Masterkraft and Silvastone, among others. The album’s launch concert was held at the Accra Sports Stadium in December 2013. He has since gone on to release the albums; Mary, Highest and Black Love.
His contributions to the Ghanaian music industry have earned him numerous accolades, including the Vodafone Ghana Music Award for Artiste of the Decade. He was announced the very first winner of BET’s Best International Flow act at the 2019 BET Hip Hop Awards. He is also considered one of the major proponents of the Azonto genre and dance.
Sarkodie owns the Sark by Yas clothing line, which was launched on April 27, 2013. The clothing line has accessories for men, women and children. In 2012, he was officially unveiled as the Brand Ambassador for Samsung Electronics at the University of Ghana, Legon. He also launched the Obidi Chief headphones and signed an endorsement deal with FanMilk Ghana in 2013. Sarkodie is currently in partnership with Tigo, a brand that sponsored his 2013 Rapperholic tour. On 30 October 2019, he was appointed as an ambassador for the Year of Return campaign; the honour was conferred on him at the Creative Arts Industry Forum.
Sarkodie married Tracy in a private wedding ceremony held in Tema on 17 July 2018. They have a daughter, Adalyn Owusu Addo.
Source: GhanaCelebrities.Com