Tic Tac (musician)

Nana Kwaku Okyere Duah aka Tic Tac is an award-winning hiplife musician originally from Kwamo, a suburb in the Ashanti Region in Ghana.

Career

Tic Tac began his music career while a secondary school student in Accra. He first began performing in 1997 with a group called 'Natty Strangers' along with his best friend Bessem Bikhazi (famously known as Cold Sweat. After becoming the most eagerly awaited group in Ghana, winning awards at events such as Kidafest, Fun World, Source etc., Tic Tac later went on to release an self-produced album after Bessem migrated to the UK to train as a Commercial Pilot. During his early career, Tic Tac modeled his style after his idol Busta Rhymes.[1][2] Bessem Bikhazi, now a fully qualified pilot is currently managing Tic Tac.

Tic Tac reached a wider audience when he was featured on Azigiza's song "Woye Bia", which was a hit in Ghana. Collaborations with Slim Busterr and Daasebre Gyamenah followed. In 1999 Tic Tac released his debut solo album, Philomena, which spawned several hits.[3]

"Menka Bio (Shordy)", a single from Tic Tac's third album, Masem, topped the Ghana music chart for 22 consecutive weeks in 2002-2003, which was a record at the time. The launch of his fourth album, Wope, was one of the largest ever in Ghana. Wope was groundbreaking for the hiplife genre in that it featured several major international stars, including Freddy Meiway from Côte d'Ivoire on the title track and Tony Tetuila of Nigeria on "Fefe n'efe", which sampled Fela Kuti. His fifth album, Accra Connection, featured collaborations with Sway DaSafo, Rhian Benson, D'Banj, and JJC.[4]

Tic Tac has performed internationally, alongside artists such as 50 Cent, Lloyd Banks, Kanda Bongo Man, and Buju Banton.[5]

"Kangaroo"

The video for Tic Tac's 2006 single "Kangaroo" was directed by Gil Green and reached the top of the MTV Base Africa charts.[5]

During the 2008 Africa Cup of Nations, the Ghana national football team began using the song, with its accompanying dance, to celebrate goals.[3][6]

Awards and recognition

Tic Tac has been the recipient of eleven Ghana Music Awards, including Musician of the Year in 2004. At the 2005 Ghana Music Awards, he had a record nine nominations.

Humanitarian work

Tic Tac is currently involved in a campaign with the United Nations in Sierra Leone and Ghana alongside Ramsey Nouah and Ozwald Boateng, as part of the WFP raising funds for children.

He is also the current vice chairman of the Greater Accra region of Musiga, and is constantly involved in numerous campaigns with Musiga to educate and unite the musicians of Ghana.

References

  1. ↑ "Tic Tac". musicinghana.com. Retrieved 29 December 2009.
  2. ↑ Asante, Shaheera (February 2004). "Hip-Life in Ghana". BBC. Retrieved 30 December 2009.
  3. 1 2 "The man Tic Tac: A biography". myjoyonline.com News. 12 February 2009. Retrieved 30 December 2009.
  4. ↑ Chale (20 May 2006). "Tic Tac - Museke African artistes". Retrieved 30 December 2009.
  5. 1 2 "Hip-life Festival". BBC. August 2007. Retrieved 30 December 2009.
  6. ↑ "I'm Proud of the Stars -Tic Tac". Daily Graphic. 14 February 2008. Retrieved 30 December 2009.
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