5 Things To Know About Controversial Ghanaian Rapper, Kweku Smoke

Kweku Smoke, known in real life as Paul Amankwa, made a grand entry into Ghana's competitive music industry with a good hip hop tune, titled 'Yedin' in 2019. The song, which featured Ghana's favorite rapper Sarkodie, gave Smoke the right exposure he needed in the industry at the time.

Though Kweku Smoke's style of rap isn't as deep as that of new rappers like Amerado, Tulenkey, Lyrical Joe and Toyboi, he has still been able to trend in Ghana so many times for controversial reasons. Some people think his controversial nature as an artiste is needless and can hurt his promising career, others disagree and feel he needs that 'attitude' to stay relevant in the game.

Here are 5 things you probably don't know about the 'Akata' crooner, Kweku Smoke.

1. Education

Kweku Smoke is a product of Benkum Senior High School in the Eastern Region and Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) in Kumasi. As a matter of fact, he got the name 'Smoke' during his days at secondary school.

2. Lifestyle

Kweku Smoke has revealed in an interview that though he sounds and looks 'arrogant' due to his attitude in the industry, he has always been sober in real life. That is to say he doesn't drink nor smoke.

3. Collaborations

Kweku Smoke has done music collaborations with Sarkodie. Aside 'Yedin', Smoke has two unreleased songs with the 2019 BET Best International Flow winner. He has also done a couple of songs with his close friend and social media sensation, Bosom Pyung. Kofi Mole and Cabum are the other artistes he has worked with.

4. Industry Beefs

Smoke started beefing with Ghana's most influential dancehall artiste, Shatta Wale during the early stages of his career. Kweku Smoke accused Shatta Wale of stealing his song after they decided to do a song together. He later recorded a full song dissing the 2014 VGMA Artiste of the Year.

Smoke has also recorded diss songs for former Lynx Entertainment act, Asem and rapper Ball J. Currently, Kweku Smoke is beefing Strongman, Sarkodie's former signee and Amerado Burner.

5. Awards and Nominations

Even though Smoke hasn't received any award for his works, he got nominated alongside Fantana, Larusso, Herman Suede at the 2020 3Music Awards in the 'Next Rated Act' category for Greater Accra Region of Ghana.

By: Eben Owurachy