KgPM - HOW THEY LIVING!

(Kay Gee & The prhyme minister)

This 2-member group was formed in 1999.
Real names, no gimmick: Kgee (Gad Kofi Panford), prhyme minister (Leslie Gerald Okyne).

What about this group?
The group KgPM has seen a lot of ups and downs, maybe more downs than ups because even though they are in the lab recording their sophomore effort, many people do not even know what their first album was.

The 'downside': Some, who may have heard the songs on the first album (2001), still do not know whose songs they are, or even if they do, cannot identify them when they see them. According to KgPM, everybody who worked on the album can be apportioned some of the blame. As soon as the album “Saa Na Wotie” was released, Kgee had to leave for California, USA and PM had to start school. (He has graduated now though.) The record label also did not work hard in promoting the songs and the artists, and they had a raw deal with the distributor. Till date, the artists have no idea if they sold 10 or 1000 tapes/CDs, meaning they got no money at all from album sales, if there were any. “We do not know what the CD label looks like, and yet people say they have the original CD,” PM says with a smirk. In their desperation to come out with their first album, the 2 young men almost agreed to anything, for example the name 'KgPM.' According to them, the original name of the group was 2Deep even though individually they had always been Kgee and PM, however they were talked out of the name, reasons being that 'it sounded foreign.' Arguments arose but in the end they lost and had to keep the name KgPM, which is a mouthful for a lot of people. There are variations like KPMG, KGMP, KMP and so on!

The 'upside': All those who are in love with “Saa na Wotie”, have a lot of respect for the artists because of the album's unique style and quality. Kgee and PM are admired greatly for the fact that they still went on during their career to get an education, (even though I am sure they considered giving up!) The 2 young men feel that they are a part of the reason why everybody wants a beat from 'The Last Two's' infamous Hammer, which would not be denied by Hammer himself. KgPM was next in line after Obrafour and Deeba's first albums and they were the first to feature KK Fosu, Dogo and Eugene of Praye fame. (Check out 'Mmiri bi Be ba' and Saa Na Wotie'. [2001, Lowdown Records]).

As a group, Kgee and PM have never performed together ever since they released 'Saa Na Wotie'. Not surprising because Kgee left the shores the day after the 'Mmiri Bi Be Ba' video was shot. “It hurts when I think about the fact that I couldn't be here for all the shows, but I sit back and realise that my going was a good thing – it just happened at the wrong time,” he says. The more laid back prhyme minister chips in, “I always missed him on stage because he is the hyper half of the group and he would have brought in some energy. If we were OutKast he would be Dre and I'd be Big Boi, if you know what I mean.”

So what's new?
The group is almost done with the recording of their second album which is yet to be titled. When is it going to be released? KgPM says they are looking at coming out in December because they are both not in Ghana and this time they want to be present to promote it. Who did they feature this time? KK Fosu as usual,Uncle Mike and fairly new cats like the Nescafe winning group, Praye, Snyper and Partan. Hopefully there would be collaboration with Reggie Rockstone on this album. This time, they mainly worked with new beat makers like KSN and J.Foley, who they say will blow up sooner than later. “This time we are our own men because we funded the album ourselves.

Once it is complete, we will sell the rights of the album so we have nothing to do with any producer,” Kgee says with his rather feminine voice. How different will this album be from 'Saa Na Wotie'? “We are trying hard not to be mediocre,” PM says, “so the style on our second effort is a little different, both the rap and the beats, and we would definitely have more songs on this one than the first. Another difference is that there will be some solo tracks that will feature only me or only Kgee.” Well, so good looking out! Also Kgee has finshed his two line clothing. Don Mehki(DM'S) and his street gear Naughty boi(Naughty wear) which has already hit some clothing stores in LA and some parts of Canada.