Kuami Eugene | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Eugene Kwame Marfo |
| Also known as | RockStar |
| Born | 1 February 1997[1] Oda, Ghana |
| Genres | Afro pop, Highlife, Afrobeats |
| Occupation(s) | Singer, Record producer |
| Instrument(s) |
|
| Years active | 2016–present |
| Labels | Lynx Entertainment, Empire |
| Website | www |
Eugene Kwame Marfo (born February 1, 1997),[1] who goes by the stage name Kuami Eugene is a Ghanaian High-life and Afrobeat singer-songwriter. He is signed to Lynx Entertainment and Empire Distribution[2] and is known for several songs, including "Angela", "Wish Me Well," "Ohemaa" and many others. He won the New Artist awards in 2018 from the Ghana Music Awards and the Ghana Music Awards UK. He also received the Most Promising Artist in Africa award from AFRIMA.[3] In 2019, Kwame Eugene received 7 nominations at the Ghana Music Awards and went on to win the awards for Album of the Year, Producer of the Year, and Highlife Artist of the Year.[4] He was crowned Artist of the Year and High-life Artist of the Year at the 2020 Ghana Music Awards.[5]
Early life
Kuami Eugene[6] was born to Alex and Juliana Marfo in Akim Oda, Ghana.[7][8] His interest in music led him to sing in the church from a young age where he also learned how to play the drum, keyboard, and guitar.[9] He attended the Salvation Army Senior High School located at Akim-Wenchi. The young artist, who grew up in the environs of Fadama, a suburb of Accra furthered his education at Ghana Telecom University.[10]
Music career
Kuami Eugene was a contestant in season 5 of the reality competition show MTN Hitmaker in Ghana in 2016, where he finished third overall.[11] He was signed shortly afterward to Lynx Entertainment and has gone on to release several singles. In 2017, "Angela"[12] reached one million views on YouTube, the most for any music artist on that label, and was indicated to be in rotation among the top 10 songs in Ghana.[13] He is a featured artist in "Adwenfi" by DJ Vyrusky and Shatta Wale.[14] In 2018, he released a continuation of the story line in the "Angela"[15] song called "Confusion".[16] And in June 2018, he released the single "Wish Me Well", which was in response to the negative comments he received on social media.[17]
In 2017, he participated in Sarkodie's Rapperholic Concert in Ghana, on 25 December.[18] Ghana Music Honors 2017 Edition, December to Remember 2017,[19] Concert 2017,[20] the 61st Ghana Independence Celebration Show at Indigo 02 in London.[21] Kuami Eugene has gone on to perform on many more stages including at Oh My Festival in Amsterdam, Afrobeats to the World concert at the PlayStation Theatre in New York, and Afronation in Ghana.
In May 2022, Kuami Eugene released his single 'Take Away' and performed at the 2022 Afrochella in Ghana.[22][23]
Recognition
Legendary High-life artist Amakye Dede crowned Kuami Eugene as his successor in high-life music at the 20th edition of the Vodafone Ghana Music Awards.[24]
On the 21st Vodafone Music Awards held at Accra International Conference Centre, Kuami Eugene won the Artiste of the Year, beating off competition from Sarkodie, Medikal, Kofi Kinaata and Diana Hamilton.[25]
Controversies
Song theft allegations
In October 2021, a notable incident emerged within the music scene as Bhadext Cona, a musician, publicly accused Kuami Eugene of engaging in song plagiarism. The genesis of this controversy can be traced back to Bhadext Cona's original intention to collaborate with Kuami Eugene on her track titled "Bolga." However, she alleges that instead of honoring the collaborative project, Kuami Eugene repurposed the song and transformed it into his solo release, which he named "Bunker."[26][27]
Discography
Singles
| Title | Year | Album |
|---|---|---|
| "Ɛbɛyɛyie" | 2017 | Non-album singles |
| "Fadama Boy" | ||
| "Hiribaba" (featuring MzVee) | ||
| "Boom Bang Bang" | ||
| "Angela" | Rockstar | |
| "Confusion" | 2018 | |
| "Wish Me Well" | ||
| "Wish Me Well remix" (featuring Ice Prince) | Non-album singles | |
| "Meji Meji" (featuring Davido) | ||
| "Walaahi" | Rockstar | |
| "No More" (featuring Sarkodie) | 2019 | |
| "Ohemaa" (featuring KiDi) | Non-album singles | |
| "Obiaato" | ||
| "Turn Up" | 2020 | |
| "Ghana We Dey" (featuring Samini & Shatta Wale) | Son of Africa | |
| "Open Gate" | ||
| "Fire Fire" | 2022 | Fire Fire |
| "Take Away" | Take Away |
As featured artist
Below are some of the singles Kuami Eugene has been featured on.
| Title | Year | Chart positions | Certifications | Album | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AUS [28] |
FRA [29] |
GER [30] |
NLD [31] |
NOR [32] |
NZ [33] |
SWE [34] |
SWI [35] |
UK [36] |
US [37] | ||||
| "Rewind" (MzVee featuring Kuami Eugene) |
2017 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | — | Daavi | |
| "Adwenfi" (DJ Vyrusky featuring Shatta Wale & Kuami Eugene) |
– | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | — | Non-album singles | ||
| "Killing Me Softly" (Adina featuring Kuami Eugene) |
2018 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | — | ||
| "Kwani Kwani" (Tic featuring Kuami Eugene) |
– | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | — | |||
| "Baby Girl" (Strongman featuring Kuami Eugene) |
– | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | — | |||
| "New African Girl" (Fuse ODG featuring KiDi & Kuami Eugene) |
90 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | — | |||
| "Back To Sender" (DJ Breezy featuring Kuami Eugene, Darko Vibes & Kwesi Arthur) |
– | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | — | |||
| "Bend Down" (MzVee featuring Kuami Eugene) |
– | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | — | |||
| "Drogba (Joanna) - new Africa remix" (Afro B featuring Mayorkun, Kuami Eugene, KiDi & Frenna) |
– | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | — | |||
| "Never Carry Last" (DJ Vyrusky featuring Mayorkun & Kuami Eugene) |
– | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | — | Rockstar | ||
| "Eternity" (Jupiter featuring Kuami Eugene) |
– | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | — | Non-album singles | ||
| "Baby" (DJ Vyrusky featuring KiDi, Shatta Wale & Kuami Eugene) |
2019 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | — | ||
| "E No Be My Matter" (Okyeame Kwame featuring Kuami Eugene) |
– | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | — | Made in Ghana | ||
| "Nothing I Get (remix)" (Fameye featuring Kuami Eugene, Medikal & Article Wan) |
– | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | — | Non-album single | ||
| "Honey" (Sarkodie featuring Kuami Eugene) |
– | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | — | Black Love | ||
| "Take Me Away" (Stonebwoy featuring KiDi & Kuami Eugene) |
– | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | — | Non-album singles | ||
| "No Dulling" (Keche featuring Kuami Eugene) |
2020 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | — | ||
| "Love Nwantiti (Ah Ah Ah)" (CKay featuring Joeboy and Kuami Eugene) |
8 | 1 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 29 | |||
| ''Metua''
(Amerado featuring Kuami Eugene) |
2021 | _ | _ | _ | _ | _ | _ | _ | _ | _ | _ | Non-album singles | |
Awards and nominations
| Year | Organization | Award | Nominated work | Result | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 3Music Awards | Artist of the Year | Himself | Nominated | [42] |
| Best Collaboration of the Year | Biibi Besi (Kwame Yogot ft. Kuami Eugene) | Nominated | |||
| Yeeko (Okyeame Kwame ft. Kuami Eugene) | Nominated | ||||
| Happy Day (Sarkodie ft. Kuami Eugene) | Nominated | ||||
| Hiplife Song of the Year | Abodie (Captain Planet (4×4) ft. Kuami Eugene) | Nominated | |||
| Hip-Hop Song of the Year | Yeeko (Okyeame Kwame ft. Kuami Eugene) | Nominated | |||
| Afrobeats/Afropop Song of the Year | ''Dollar on You'' | Nominated | |||
| Highlife Act of the Year | Himself | Nominated | |||
| Song of the Year | Biibi Besi (Kwame Yogot ft. Kuami Eugene) | Nominated | |||
| Yeeko (Okyeame Kwame ft. Kuami Eugene) | Nominated | ||||
| Happy Day (Sarkodie ft. Kuami Eugene) | Nominated | ||||
| Producer of the Year | Himself (Rockstar Made it) | Nominated | |||
| Video of the Year | Spiritual (KiDi ft. Kuami Eugene, Patoranking) | Nominated | |||
| 2021 | Vodafone Ghana Music Awards | Artiste of the Year | Himself | Nominated | [43] |
| Highlife Song of the Year | "Open Gate" | Nominated | |||
| Most Popular Song of the Year | "Open Gate" | Nominated | |||
| Highlife Artist of the Year | Himself | Won | |||
| Album of the Year | "Son of Africa" | Nominated | |||
| International Collaboration of the Year | "Show Body" (ft Falz) | Nominated | |||
| Collaboration of the Year | "Happy Day" (Sarkodie ft Kuami Eugene) | Won | |||
| Best Music Video | "Open Gate" | Nominated | |||
| 3Music Awards | Artist of the Year | Himself | Nominated | [44] | |
| Highlife Act of the Year | Himself | Won | |||
| Album of the Year | "Son of Africa" | Nominated | |||
| Song of the Year | "Open Gate" | Nominated | |||
| Afrobeats/Afropop of the Year | "Open Gate" | Nominated | |||
| 4syte TV Music Video Awards | Best Highlife Video | "Open Gate" | Nominated | [45] | |
| Most Popular Video | "Open Gate" | Won | |||
| Best Male Video | "Open Gate" | Nominated | |||
| Best Special Effect Video | "Turn Up" | Won | |||
| Best Storyline | "Open Gate" | Nominated | |||
| Most Influential Artist | Himself | Won | |||
| Best Edited Video | "Open Gate" | Nominated | |||
| Best Directed Video | "Open Gate" | Nominated | |||
| Overall Best Video | "Open Gate" | Nominated | |||
| 2020 | Vodafone Ghana Music Awards | Artiste of the Year | Himself | Won | [5] |
| Highlife Song of the Year | "Obiaato" | Nominated | |||
| Best Video of the Year | Nominated | ||||
| Highlife Artist of the Year | Himself | Won | |||
| Male Vocalist of the Year | Nominated | ||||
| Best Collaboration of the Year | "Ohemaa" (ft KiDi) | Nominated | |||
| Most Popular Song of the Year | "Obiaato" | Nominated | |||
| 3Music Awards | Highlife Song of the Year | "Walaahi" | Nominated | [46] | |
| Highlife Artist of the Year | "Obiaato" | Won | |||
| 2019 | Vodafone Ghana Music Awards | Artist of the Year | Himself | Nominated | [25] |
| Highlife Artist of the Year | Won | [47] | |||
| Producer of the Year | Won | ||||
| Album of the Year | Rockstar | Won | |||
| Song of the Year | "Wish Me Well" | Nominated | [25] | ||
| Highlife Song of the Year | Nominated | ||||
| Best Collaboration | "Never Carry Last" | Nominated | |||
| 3Music Awards | High-life Act of the year | Himself | Won | [48] | |
| High-life Song of the year | "Wish Me Well" | Won | |||
| Ghana Music Awards UK | Highlife Song of the Year | "Wish Me Well" | Won | [49] | |
| Highlife Artist of the Year | Himself | Won | |||
| Ghana Music & Arts Awards Europe | Highlife Song of the Year | "Wish Me Well" | Won | [50] | |
| Highlife Artist of the Year | Himself | Won | |||
| Artist of the Year | Won | ||||
| 2018 | 4syte Music Video Awards | Best Story line Video | "Angela" | Nominated[51] | |
| Ghana Music Awards | High-life Song of the Year | "Angela" | Nominated | [52] | |
| Song of the Year | "Angela" | Nominated | |||
| Best Male Vocalist | Himself | Nominated | |||
| High-life Artist of the Year | Himself | Won | [53] | ||
| Best New Artist | Himself | Won | |||
| Liberia Music Awards | Best International Artist | Himself | Nominated | [54] | |
| Ghana Music Awards UK | Best New Artist of the Year | Won | [55] | ||
| AFRIMA | Most Promising Artist in Africa | Won | [56] |
References
- 1 2 "Kuami Eugene, Biography". www.ghanaweb.com.
- ↑ "Kuami Eugene – Mtn Hitmaker fame now signed by Lynx Entertainment«". GhanaWeb. 13 November 2016.
- ↑ "Kuami Eugene is the "Most Promising Artiste in Africa" at AFRIMA 2018". Entertainment. 2018-11-25. Retrieved 2019-06-28.
- ↑ "2019 VGMAs: Full list of winners". Ghana Web. 19 May 2019.
- 1 2 "Kuami Eugene wins VGMA Artiste of the Year 2020". MyJoyOnline.com. 2020-08-30. Retrieved 2020-08-30.
- ↑ "Kuami Eugene". profileability.com. 24 November 2017.
- ↑ "Kuami Eugene's mom surprises him on his 22nd birthday". www.ghanaweb.com. 2 February 2019. Retrieved 2019-08-14.
- ↑ "Photos: The story of Kuami Eugene -(Before the fame)". GhPage. 2019-01-30. Retrieved 2020-12-07.
- ↑ Mutuku, Ryan (30 October 2020). "10 facts from Kuami Eugene biography few people know". Ghana: Yen.com.gh. Retrieved 20 January 2021.
- ↑ "Kuami Eugene, Biography". www.ghanaweb.com. Retrieved 2023-08-19.
- ↑ "Kelvin wins 2016 MTN Hitmaker Reality Show". Ghana Web. 11 August 2016.
- ↑ Lynx Entertainment (2017-09-12), Kuami Eugene - Angela (Official Video), retrieved 2019-06-28
- ↑ "Kuami Eugene's 'Angela' hits 1m views on YouTube". Ghana Web. 12 November 2017. Retrieved 26 November 2018.
- ↑ NYB. "Award winning DJ Vyrusky shoots video for smash hit single 'Adwenfi'". Muse Africa.
- ↑ "Kuami Eugene – Ghana We Dey Ft. Shatta Wale x Samini". AaceHypez. 4 March 2020.
- ↑ Freddie. "Kuami Eugene releases part two of Angela titled Confusion". Yooyoo Africa. Retrieved 26 November 2018.
- ↑ "Kuami Eugene releases new song titled 'Wish Me Well'". Ghana Web. 20 June 2018. Retrieved 26 November 2018.
- ↑ "Star-studded performances at Sarkodie's Rapperholic Concert 2017". Ghana Web. 26 December 2017. Retrieved 26 November 2018.
- ↑ "Citi FM Rocks Accra Tonight with Official Christmas Party". Citi FM. Ghana. 24 December 2017. Retrieved 26 November 2018.
- ↑ "Shatta Wale, Stonebwoy, Samini for S Concert 2017". Ghana Web. 3 November 2017. Retrieved 26 November 2018.
- ↑ "KiDi, Kuami Eugene and King Promise headline Ghana @ 61 Concert in UK". Citi FM. Ghana. 2018-03-08. Retrieved 26 November 2018.
- ↑ "Kuami Eugene releases 'Take Away' off his upcoming EP". Citinewsroom - Comprehensive News in Ghana. 2022-05-20. Retrieved 2022-05-21.
- ↑ "Kuami Eugene stuns music-lovers at 2022 Afrochella". GhanaWeb. 2022-12-29. Retrieved 2023-01-07.
- ↑ "Amakye Dede crowns Kuami Eugene as his successor". www.graphic.com.gh. Retrieved 2019-06-29.
- 1 2 3 "Full list of nominations for VGMA 2019". Ghana Business.
- ↑ "5 Ghanaian artistes who accused Kuami Eugene of song theft". Pulse Ghana. 2021-11-12. Retrieved 2023-08-19.
- ↑ "I'm better, far superior a musician than Kuami Eugene - Bhadext Cona". GhanaWeb. 2021-10-17. Retrieved 2023-08-19.
- ↑ "ARIA Top 50 Singles Chart". Australian Recording Industry Association. 11 October 2021. Retrieved 8 October 2021.
- ↑ "Top Singles (Week 39, 2021)". SNEP. Retrieved 6 October 2021.
- ↑ "Discographie CKay". offiziellecharts.de. Retrieved 8 October 2021.
- ↑ "CKay discography". lescharts.com. Retrieved 25 September 2021.
- ↑ "VG-lista – Topp 20 Single 2021-39". VG-lista. Retrieved 2 October 2021.
- ↑ "NZ Top 40 Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. 11 October 2021. Retrieved 9 October 2021.
- ↑ "Veckolista Singlar, vecka 39". Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved 1 October 2021.
- ↑ "CKay discography". hitparade.ch. Retrieved 26 September 2021.
- ↑ "CKay | full Official Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 8 October 2021.
- ↑ "The Hot 100 Chart: January 15, 2022". Billboard. Retrieved 11 January 2022.
- ↑ "ARIA Top 50 Albums for week of 15 November 2021". Australian Recording Industry Association. 15 November 2021. Retrieved 11 December 2021.
- ↑ "British certifications – CKay – Love Nwantiti (Ah Ah Ah)". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 27 February 2022.
- ↑ "American certifications – CKay – Love Nwantiti (Ah Ah Ah)". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 16 January 2022.
- ↑ "New Zealand single certifications – CKay – Love Nwantiti (Ah Ah Ah)". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 11 December 2021.
- ↑ Kotey, Nii (27 March 2022). "3Music News: 3Music Awards '22: Here are all the winners". 3Music TV. Retrieved 27 March 2022.
- ↑ "Vodafone Ghana Music Awards 2021: All The Nominees". MyJoyOnline.com. 6 April 2021.
- ↑ "3Music Awards 2021: All The Winners". MusicInAfrica.net. 29 March 2021.
- ↑ "4Syte TV Music Video Awards 2021: Full list of winners". ghanaweb.com. 29 May 2021.
- ↑ "3Music Awards 2020". MyJoyOnline.com. 2020-05-02.
- ↑ "2019 VGMAs: Full list of winners". Ghana Web.
- ↑ "3 Music Awards 2018: Full list of winners". Myjoyonline. 30 March 2019. Retrieved 30 March 2019.
- ↑ "Ghana Music Awards UK 2019: All the winners". MusicInAfrica.net. 7 October 2019.
- ↑ "Winners - Ghana Music and Arts Awards Europe 2019". Ghanamusic.com.
- ↑ Britton, George (3 November 2017). "Sarkodie tops the list of nominations for this year's 4syte Music Video Awards". NYDJ Live. Ghana. Retrieved 26 November 2018.
- ↑ "2018 Vodafone Ghana Music Awards Full List of Nominees". Ghana Web. 4 March 2018. Retrieved 26 November 2018.
- ↑ "Full List of Winners at 2018 Vodafone Ghana Music Awards". MyJoyOnline. 2018-04-15.
- ↑ Nii Okai Tetteh (November 30, 2018) Kuami Eugene Has Been Nominated For International Artiste Of The Year In Liberia
- ↑ "Ghana Music Awards UK 2018: Full list of winners". Music in Africa. 8 October 2018. Retrieved 26 November 2018.
- ↑ Mawuli, David (25 November 2018). "Kuami Eugene is the "Most Promising Artiste in Africa" at AFRIMA 2018". Ghana: Pulse. Retrieved 26 November 2018.