Mohammed Ismail Sherif Kwaku Frimpong[2] (born 9 January 2002),[3]professionally known as Black Sherif and formerly Blacko,[4] is a Ghanaian singer, rapper and fashion model. He initially gained popularity in 2021 with his song "First Sermon," which he released in May 2021. This was followed up with the "Second Sermon" in July 2021.[5]
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His breakthrough came in March 2022 with his hit single "Kwaku the Traveller," which reached Number 1 on the Ghanaian and Nigerian Apple Music charts.[6] (Its music video has been viewed 27 million times on youtube). He then released his debut album, The Villain I Never Was, on 5 October 2022.[7] His sophomore album, Iron Boy, was released on 3 April 2025.[8]
In May 2025, he was nominated in the 2025 BET Awards.[9][10]
Early life and education
Mohammed Ismail Sherif was born and raised in Konongo-Zongo, in the Ashanti Region of Ghana. As both his parents worked mostly overseas,[7] he started living with his aunt and other extended family members at the age of 10. His nomadic lifestyle exposed him to multiple influences and different cultures at a very early age.[11]
Sherif attended his basic education at Konongo Zongo Islamic Basic School and later at Pinamang Educational Complex, where he graduated junior high school. He then completed his secondary education at Kumasi Academy, he was a member of the Literary Group (LG) under the students representative council where he picked up an interest in music and dancing.[12] Black Sherif has also partnered with Italian sports wear brand ellesse.[13]
A former student of the University of Professional Studies (UPSA), he was studying at the University of Ghana as of October 2022.[14]
Career
Black Sherif began his career in 2019 with the release of his song "Cry for Me" on YouTube. His debut single "Money" was released on 25 May 2020, along with a music video. In May 2021, his single "First Sermon" was released, further increasing his audience. The song's sequel, "Second Sermon," was released in July and received a remix with fellow African artist Burna Boy.
Black Sherif breakthrough came in March 2022 with his single "Kwaku the Traveller," which reached Number 1 on the Ghanaian and Nigerian Apple Music charts and became his most popular song. He released his debut album, The Villain I Never Was, in October, supported by the singles "45" and "Soja".[7]
Black Sherif has worked on songs by Sarkodie,[15] Smallgod,[16] Tory Lanez, Ardee,[17] Bas,[18] Stormzy, Amerado, DJ Breezy, Larry Gaaga and others.
In August 2022, Black Sherif was named "Up Now" by music streaming service Audiomack.[19] “I've had Audiomack since high school,” Black Sherif told Audiomack. “It was the first platform that I used and convinced my friends to listen to my music. It was easier, and it looked professional. It's been the primary thing for me to connect with my fans and share music.”
Black Sherif performed at the 25th anniversary of the Music of Black Origin (MOBO) Awards, which took place at the OVO Arena in Wembley, London.[20] In December 2022, he hosted his debut concert, the "Mozama Disco Concert," in Accra. [21]
On 20 February 2023, Black Sherif won the Best Hip Hop award at the Soundcity MVP Awards, which were held at the Eko Convention Centre in Lagos.[22] He played the Palladium Times Square in New York City on 20 May.[23]
Since March 2023, Black Sherif has performed at the Wireless Festival in Abu Dhabi,[24] Something In The Water Festival in Virginia Beach[25] and Afronation Miami.[26] He is the first Ghanaian to perform at the Wireless Festival in the UK.[27][28]
Artistry
Black Sheriff's music is a blend of highlife, reggae, and hip-hop, specifically UK drill, a subgenre of drill music and road rap, borrowing from the US Chicago styles that originated in Brixton, London, from 2012 onwards that are often about violent and hedonistic criminal lifestyles. Many of his lyrics are in an Akan dialect, Twi, his native tongue. He has stated his musical influences are rappers Kanye West, Travis Scott, Saint Jhn, Dave, Stormzy, J Hus, and Ghanaian artists Mugeez and Sarkodie.[2]
Lawsuit
On 11 April 2022, Shadrach Agyei Owusua, the CEO of Waynes Chavis Consult, filed a lawsuit against Black Sherif for breach of contract. Owusua alleged that he had invested in Black Sherif's career and that Black Sherif had signed a distribution agreement with a company named Empire. Owusua sought injunctive relief prohibiting Black Sherif from performing without his authorization.[29][30] The Accra High Court dismissed the suit on 26 July 2022.[31]
Discography
Albums
- The Villain I Never Was (2022)
- Take Care of Yourself Blacko (double single)[32] (2023)
- Iron Boy (2025)[33]
Singles
- "First Sermon" (2021)
- "Ankonam" (2021)
- "Second Sermon" (Remix) (featuring Burna Boy) (2022)
- "Kwaku the Traveller" (2022)
- "Money" (2022)
- "Oh No" (2023)
- "Wotowoto Season" (featuring Odumodublvck) (2023)
- "Fallen Angel" (featuring Smallgod) (2024)
- "January 9" (2024)
- "Zero" (2024)
- "Shut Up" (2024)
- "Kilos Milos" (2024)
- "Lomo Lomo" (featuring KiDi) (2024)
- "Jesus Christ" (featuring Arathe Jay) (2024)
- "Rebel Music" (2024)
- "So It Goes" (featuring Fireboy DML) (2025)
Personal life
Black Sherif is a Muslim.[2] There is little information known about his personal life.
References
- ^ "Black Sherif, Africa's Young Bright Black Star". Okayafrica. 8 June 2023.
- ^ a b c "Getting To Know Black Sherif, Ghana's New Street Preacher". Complex. Archivedfrom the original on 30 November 2022. Retrieved 30 November 2022.
- ^ "Black Sherif, Biography". www.ghanaweb.com. Retrieved 17 August2023.
- ^ Ochefu, Christine. "Black Sherif is the message". Fader.
- ^ "Audiomack | Free Music Sharing and Discovery". audiomack.com. 4 August 2022. Archived from the original on 16 August 2022. Retrieved 16 August 2022.
- ^ "I didn't know the Sermons will be hits – Black Sherif". My Joy Online. 23 July 2021. Archived from the original on 1 August 2021. Retrieved 1 August 2021.
- ^ a b c "Black Sherif drops debut album The Villain I Never Was". The FADER. Archivedfrom the original on 30 November 2022. Retrieved 30 November 2022.
- ^ Monaheng, Tšeliso (3 April 2025). "Listen to Black Sherif's Highly-Anticipated New Album, 'Iron Boy' | OkayAfrica". OkayAfrica.
- ^ "Black Sherif earns 2025 BET Awards nomination as Ghana's only contender". Graphic Online. 8 May 2025. Retrieved 9 May2025.
- ^ "Black Sherif earns nomination in 2025 BET Awards - MyJoyOnline". www.myjoyonline.com. Retrieved 9 May 2025.
- ^ "Audiomack | Free Music Sharing and Discovery". audiomack.com. 4 August 2022. Archived from the original on 16 August 2022. Retrieved 16 August 2022.
- ^ Falola, Ifeoluwa (15 August 2022). "Black Sherif The Hypnotic Voice Of Freedom". GRM Daily. Archived from the original on 16 August 2022. Retrieved 16 August 2022.
- ^ "Black Sherif secures deal with Italy sportswear brand Ellesse for Santoria 2023 Men's collection". Modern Ghana. Retrieved 27 December 2024.
- ^ "Black Sherif, Biography". www.ghanaweb.com. Archived from the original on 5 October 2022. Retrieved 16 August 2022.
- ^ Mensah, Edith (16 November 2022). "The Blacko-collabo hottest picks". Graphic Online. Retrieved 17 May 2024.
- ^ Kyekyeku, Kofi Oppong (30 June 2022). "New Music: Smallgod Featuring Black Sherif And Tory Lanez – 'Gidi Gidi'". News Hunter Magazine. Retrieved 17 May 2024.
- ^ Adebiyi, Adeayo (5 June 2022). "Arrdee: An instant cross-continental success". Pulse Nigeria. Retrieved 17 May 2022.
- ^ Darko, Kenneth Awotwe (22 February 2023). "Black Sherif makes it onto Michael B Jordan's 'Creed III' soundtrack with Bas and Kel-P". MyJoyOnline. Retrieved 17 May 2024.
- ^ "Black Sherif Is #UpNow". Audiomack World. 3 August 2022. Retrieved 10 June2024.
- ^ "Black Sherif performs at 25th MOBO Awards in the UK". December 2022. Archived from the original on 11 January 2023. Retrieved 11 January 2023.
- ^ Awotwe Darko, Kenneth (22 December 2022). "Black Sherif: A once homeless 'KK' finds a home in over thousands of hearts at Mozama Disco". Archived from the original on 11 January 2023. Retrieved 11 January2023.
- ^ "Burnaboy, Black Sherif, Win At The Soundcity MVP Awards 2023 (FULL WINNERS LIST)". African Folder. 12 February 2023. Archived from the original on 12 February 2023. Retrieved 12 February 2023.
- ^ "Palladium Times Square Events Calendar & Schedule 2024 - New York, NY". JamBase. Retrieved 16 January 2024.
- ^ "Black Sherif pays tribute to Christian Atsu at Wireless Festival - MyJoyOnline.com". www.myjoyonline.com. 12 March 2023. Retrieved 31 May 2023.
- ^ Tollo, Nathan (15 March 2023). "Black Sherif billed to perform at Pharrell Williams' 2023 Something in the Water music Festival". 3News.com. Retrieved 31 May 2023.
- ^ "Black Sherif overwhelmed by Miami; says the city feels like a video game". Pulse Ghana. 30 May 2023. Retrieved 31 May 2023.
- ^ "Black Sherif becomes first Ghanaian to perform at Wireless Festival UK". www.myjoyonline.com. 10 July 2023. Retrieved 11 July 2023.
- ^ "Black Sherif becomes first Ghanaian act to perform at the Wireless Festival in the UK". GhanaWeb. 10 July 2023. Retrieved 11 July2023.
- ^ "Black Sherif sued over alleged breach of contract". Ghana News Online. Archivedfrom the original on 12 April 2022. Retrieved 12 April 2022.
- ^ Inusah, Murtala (11 April 2022). "Black Sherif sued over contract termination". Starr Fm. Archived from the original on 12 April 2022. Retrieved 12 April 2022.
- ^ Ghansah, Emmanuel (26 July 2022). "Black Sherif wins court case with former manager; makes it into YouTube Foundry class of 2022 as only Ghanaian artiste!". Ghana Music. Archived from the original on 16 August 2022. Retrieved 16 August 2022.
- ^ LeJarde, Arielle Lana (10 August 2023). "Black Sherif shares double single Take Care of Yourself Blacko". The Fader. Retrieved 23 December 2024.
- ^ Nwaokolo, Nneamaka. "Black Sherif Is Honest on "Iron Boy" but Hesitates to Evolve". Unorthodox Reviews. Retrieved 18 April 2025.
- ^ Amoah, Geraldine (11 May 2025). "TGMA 2025: Full List of Winners As King Promise Wins Artist of the Year - YEN.COM.GH". yen.com.gh. Retrieved 11 May 2025.
- ^ "2023 BET Hip Hop Awards: Black Sherif wins 'Best International Flow'". Citinewsroom - Comprehensive News in Ghana. 4 October 2023. Retrieved 20 October2023.
- ^ "Burnaboy, Black Sherif, Win At The Soundcity MVP Awards 2023 (FULL WINNERS LIST)". African Folder. 12 February 2023. Archived from the original on 12 February 2023. Retrieved 12 February 2023.
- ^ Agambila, Dorcas (4 September 2023). "Black Sherif wins 'West African Artiste of The Year' at Headies Awards 2023". Pulse Ghana. Retrieved 7 September 2023.
- ^ "Piesie Esther loses AOTY to Black Sherif". theaccratimes.com. 9 May 2023. Retrieved 14 September 2023.
- ^ Ntsie, Berlinda (27 February 2022). "Black Sherif Wins eaas entertainment personality of year". Archived from the original on 21 March 2022. Retrieved 27 February 2022.
- ^ "Kidi wins big at 2022 3music awards,Black Sherif graps first major award". 27 March 2022. Archived from the original on 4 April 2022. Retrieved 6 April 2022.
- ^ Kotey, Nii (27 March 2022). "3Music News: 3Music Awards '22: Here are all the winners". 3Music TV. Archived from the original on 1 April 2022. Retrieved 27 March2022.
- ^ Hansen, Gabriel Myers (21 March 2022). "Vodafone Ghana Music Awards 2022: All the nominees". Music In Africa. Archived from the original on 2 June 2022. Retrieved 12 April2022.
- ^ "Black Sherif wins Artiste of the Year Award at GMA UK 2022". Ghanabusinessnews.com. 30 October 2022. Archived from the original on 11 January 2023. Retrieved 11 January2023.
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