Beyond Noise Team
Black Sherif unveils an introspective masterpiece titled ‘January 9’ on his birthday.
Black Sherif unveils an introspective masterpiece titled ‘January 9’ on his birthday.
The single sees BET Award-winning Ghanaian sensation Black Sherif unveil his most reflective release yet, through his record label, RBA and Empire. Released on his special day, the song explores his personal experiences, emotions, and perspectives on a poignant journey through the artist’s musical evolution.
Known for his distinctive style and storytelling prowess, Black Sherif continues to push the boundaries of musical expression. ‘January 9’ showcases his artistic growth and invites fans to connect with the artist more profoundly. The song, which was produced by Joker Nharnah – also known for his acclaimed single ‘Second Sermon’ – combines soulful melodies with insightful lyrics, creating an emotional narrative that will resonate with fans, highlighting his struggles to triumphs, the artist lays bare his emotions, making this song a testament to authenticity and self-discovery.
Sharing the inspiration behind the record, Black Sherif revealed: “The number nine has become so significant to me ever since I got to know my birthday. I have fully grasped its meaning and share in the strongest conviction that the number 9 is my luckiest manifestation”
The 22-year-old continuously hints at the release of his sophomore album, which is due this year, to his fans on his social media platforms. Black Sherif keeps defying the odds and breaking new grounds for music emanating from Africa on the global stage. Since the release of his debut album in
2022, The Villain I Never Was, Black Sherif has solidified his place as one of Africa’s most potent creative voices and amassed massive global streaming numbers, which made him the most streamed Ghanaian artist of 2022 and 2023 on Spotify and the most streamed Ghanaian artist of all time on popular African streaming platform Boomplay. Black Sherif has reached these pinnacles in record time—being an integral part of the front runners pushing the sounds coming from Africa globally.
Self-proclaimed as the “street preacher,” Black Sherif, who was born Mohammed Ismail Sharif Kwaku Frimpong and is referred to as “Blacko” by those close to him, is already one of the foremost leaders for a new generation of African artists. He has gone against all odds handed to him since growing up in Konongo, a small mining town in the Ashanti Region of Ghana, to become the country’s biggest star. Embracing a diverse musical palette, he bridges the gap between Afrobeats, highlife, and Ghanian drill, showcasing his wordplay, storytelling, and linguistic versatility. The breakout success of “First Sermon” and “Second Sermon” in 2021 propelled Black Sherif onto the international stage, with “Kwaku The Traveller” earning him superstar status in 2022. “Kwaku The Traveller” exploded on TikTok and generated 100 million plus streams in 2022. It was named one of the best songs of 2022 by NPR, The Fader, Complex, and others. The success earned Black Sherif a “Best International Flow” nomination at the 2022 BET Hip Hop Awards.
His potent wordplay, illustrative storytelling and unique ability to seamlessly tread between dialects, regions and genres, combined with his captivating, explosive performances, have transcended his talents across borders. 2023 was a whirlwind for Black Sherif, who, for the first time, graced stages around the world, including Afro Nation Miami alongside Burna Boy, Pharrell’s Something in the Water Festival, Wireless Festival in London. Other recent highlights include his appearance on the blockbuster Creed III soundtrack, executive produced by J. Cole’s Dreamville, with “Blood, Sweat & Tears” alongside Bas and Kel-P, and his feature on “Celebrate,” a collaboration with Jamaican star Popcaan. Black Sherif was also one of the high-profile guests, alongside Idris Elba and Sheryl Lee Ralph, to accompany Vice President Kamala Harris in Ghana during her Africa tour in March
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