In 2002, an American ethnomusicology student named Brian Shimkovitz found a mysterious 1994 cassette entitled 'Obaa Sima'. The tape was made by a Ghana musician named Ata Kak.
Shimokovitz spent three years in Ghana exploring its most
colorful and exciting musicians, this research then led to a music blog that he
created in 2005, called 'The Hiplife Complex'. The blog explored the genre
hiplife which is a combination of hip hop and highlife. Shimokovitz plunges the reader into the world of
the scene through interviews with certain leaders of the genre, such as J –
Que. We also get an insight into the roots of the genre whilst Shimokovitz
honestly shows the negative press it got as it was shunned by the media due to
elements such as its profanity which was supposedly negative for the youth.
(Credit: The Drone)
His second blog, which was started in 2006, was named 'Awesome Tapes From Africa'. This blog was made in order to share his huge collection of African cassettes that he had acquired from his travels. “This is music you won’t easily find anywhere else” Shimokovitz claims and it is true; 'Awesome Tapes From Africa' supplies a mass range of dazzling and bizarre music shared by a man who holds a vivid passion for this daring music.
(Credit: The Drone)
His second blog, which was started in 2006, was named 'Awesome Tapes From Africa'. This blog was made in order to share his huge collection of African cassettes that he had acquired from his travels. “This is music you won’t easily find anywhere else” Shimokovitz claims and it is true; 'Awesome Tapes From Africa' supplies a mass range of dazzling and bizarre music shared by a man who holds a vivid passion for this daring music.
From this blog Yaw Atta-Owusu's(Ata Kak) work 'Obaa Sima' was introduced, the
original awesome tape. The first song shared was 'Momo Yendodo', a frantic piece
of musical brilliance. Ata Kak raps ferociously over ethereal synthesisers
whilst an elegant female voice floats in the background. The song hypnotizes
the listener with its interesting combination of 80s disco and Grand Master
Flash’s hip hop structures, yet he makes it immediately unique with his scat
style “Scoobidoobidoobis”. The other six songs join this track with their
outlandish sound, which is a favourable perk to the listening experience. Each
song turns a corner to come across more eccentric sonic ideas of Ata Kak; hip
hop is crossed with house, and these genres are practiced with African sounds
surging through the veins of the tracks. This is especially heard through the
use of his Southern African language – Twi. 'KwiDaa Nyinaa' would most likely be
the single on the album, but the album doesn’t really hold a solid hit,
throughout the seven songs the same fluctuation of joy is released with every
song, he never lacks energy.
(Credit: Album Artwork)
In 2011, 'Awesome Tapes From Africa' was turned into a legit
record company and Shimokovitz has also played DJ sets under the name too. This
creation was a chance for him to work with his favorite musicians, yet Ata Kak
remained hidden. Shimokovitz searched Canada, Ghana and America in search of
the man and eventually found him. The album then got reissued in 2015 on the
label, the quest was completed and the mysterious enigma of the Ghanaian rapper
was broken, he could finally spread his music to other cultures and make a
deserved profit for his music.
Ata Kak Captivates the listener, the songs may not be spread
throughout the modern soundscape, yet so many elements of his music can be
relevant and meaningful to modern music. He has been found in certain DJ sets,
for example Four Tet has played him before, a joyous example of record digging
and bringing obscure sounds into the light of popular listening.
On the topic of
popular listening, and 25 years after his only record was made, Yaw Atta-Owusu
is currently on his first ever tour. After his music practically started
Awesome Tapes, it is now being spread in the form of live music as he gallantly
strides across Europe. He has played at Field Day Festival in London and Sonar
Festival in Spain. This man has gone from not being known by anyone to becoming
a cult hero, and Shimokovitz’s efforts to release the album and find him need
recognition, it is a truly heartwarming tale that shows the magnitude and power
of music.
Tour Dates:
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