Kwesi Arthur
Emmanuel Kwesi Danso Arthur, known professionally as Kwesi Arthur, is a Ghanaian rapper, singer and songwriter from Tema. He rose to fame in 2017 with the hit single "Grind Day", which received widespread acclaim, a co-sign and a chart-topping remix from rap heavyweights Sarkodie and Medikal. In 2019, his second EP, Live from Nkrumah Krom Vol II, garnered more than 2 million streams in the first week of its release.
Arthur has won several accolades, including Rapper of the year and Hip Hop Song of the year at the Vodafone Ghana Music Awards as well as a Viewer's Choice Best International Act nomination at the 2018 BET Awards. He became the second Ghanaian rapper to be nominated for BET Hip Hop Awards Cypher after Sarkodie's nomination in 2019.
Early life and education
Kwesi Arthur was born on 18 December 1999 in Tema. He was raised in Tema Community 9 and is the second of four children with a brother named Benjamin Danso Arthur, who is popularly known as Dayonthetrack and is also a musician. After completing his high school education at Temasco in 2013, Kwesi's plans of furthering his education to study psychology and law at the University of Ghana came to a standstill due to a lack of funds. This led the rapper to consider a job offer as a security guard in Tema.Music career
Kwesi Arthur was discovered by Ghanaian rapper and entrepreneur Sarkodie, whom he featured on one of his hit songs called "Grind Day", alongside Medikal.Kwesi Arthur started writing raps after listening to Drake's debut album, Thank Me Later.
In 2017, he released the lead single "Grind Day" from his debut EP, Live from Nkrumah Krom. The record was released under his independent outfit and supported by a social movement called GroundUp Chale. He later released the remix for "Grind Day", featuring Sarkodie and Medikal.
Kwesi Arthur has collaborated with numerous Ghanaian musicians, including Sarkodie, Medikal, KiDi, Jason E LA, R2Bees, B4bonah, M3dal, M.anifest, EL, Stonebwoy, Shatta Wale and South African rapper Nasty C. He was nominated for Best International Act at the 2018 BET Awards.
Kwesi Arthur is one of the most successful artists in Ghana, with his music being internationally recognized and awarded. In 2020 his song "Live From The 233" was one of the most streamed African songs on the streaming service Apple Music.
Controversies And Law suit
Glen Boateng, the founder of music company popularly know as Group up Chale have filed a writ of summons at the Accra High Court against Ghanaian musician Kwesi Arthur on the 27th of January 2026. Glen and his company are demanding more than 10 million cedis in damages over comments Kwesi Arthur made in a social media post in the month of January 2026.Discography
EPs
- Live from Nkrumah Krom
- This Is Not The Tape, Sorry 4 The Wait
- Live from Nkrumah Krom Vol II Home Run
- This Is Not The Tape, Sorry 4 The Wait II
- ''This Is Not The Tape III''
Studio albums
- Son Of Jacob
- ''Redemption''
Singles