MUST READ: Review of Sarkodie ft Ace Hood – New Guy

• Posted on June 12, 2015June 12, 2015
• by Nana Kwesi Coomson
• Comment

This song is an epitome of contemporary hiphop which focuses more on the lyrics than the instrumentation. What is the subject of the song? What messages are they sending across? These two questions should be asked by anyone who listens to the song.

The ‘New guy’ song is the biggest collaboration to hit Ghana music so the expectations of Ghanaians were high. Sarkodie has loyal followers on social media who are ever ready to even change their birth names to his new song or project when the Rapper hints of anything new so the hype of the New Guy song flooded social media. Not to talk of the brouhaha that coupled it.

The introduction of the song gives snippet of the subject of the song; you wake up every morning and know that people are looking up to you so you have to give off your very best. Looking in the rear view mirror of your life, you are convinced that you have come a long way so giving up is not a choice, regardless. It is up to you to prove yourself to the world that, you are the new guy (the ish).

Sarkodie begins the song with explanation of why he should be seen as the new guy. In rap, the words used don’t literary mean what is known in the language used but a good wordsmith knows how to use a word to provoke listeners to think. For example, in Senior High School, when one does something exceptional, his mates hail him with the phrase “you spoil there” which does not literary mean you have destroyed something but instead, you have done something amazing. This is what Sarkodie meant when he said “I’m the new guy, I made it from the slums back in Africa where most of my niggas committing suicide.” This phrase has generated controversies where most people are asking how many people commit suicide in Tema where Sarkodie is from. Example of this is when in his ‘Cursum Perficio’ song, the introduction to ‘Sarkology’ album he said “I killed myself so my wife is a widow.”

“….. T-Shirt trying to make it to the suit and tie” This also explains where he’s from, a typical Rapper who is known for sagging, wearing informal dresses but entering the corporate world as ambassador of brands like Samsung, Fanmilk, among others. The subsequent bars explain how far he has come in life.

His switch from English to Twi was brilliantly done, also further explaining how far he has come and ensuring his fans he will never let them down, equating the size of his followers to T.B. Joshua’s Synagogue which according to the church, more than 15,000 members attend its weekly Sunday service; The Guardian also says T.B. Joshua’s Synagogue attracts more weekly attendees than the combined number of visitors to Buckingham Palace and Tower of London.

His shout out to Senavo (X O Senavoe) is a style of Senavo he adopted in that line. Sarkodie as well asks for a reason to curse on the song, giving a quick background of rap which is originally owned by the Blacks in America. He blends his style with tongue-twisting which is a brand he is known for since surfacing on the music scene.

He also projects his neighbourhood, Tema Community 9, saying that is his Heaven, his nirvana or paradise.

“24/7 y3 di me rap no b) akutia, I no bore cos it comes with it..” This line explains how his raps are used for insinuations which are not really the purpose of his songs but that is one of the pros and cons of being a public figure.

Ace Hood enters to explain that, he has also come a long way using Martin Luther King as a figure of dream to tell how gigantic his dreams are. He recounts the luxurious life he is living now (20 bi*** in my bed counting keys ni** , bema (BMW).

“Prison cells are getting too congested” Ace Hood explains that, there are a lot of crimes going on and so a lot of people have been incarcerated, congesting prison cells. “New guys wearing suit and tie” also points to how corporate their brands have reached.

“Being the one nig** idolize” a role model to many and who they are celebrating. “Mama praying every day in church” also reveals that, his support has been his mother’s prayers.

In the next verse, both sell their continents and Sarkodie enters first saying “Let me take you to Africa, my people they love you. I came in you showed me some love I promise to build you a statue (uhh!). Ace Hood akwaaba, and Sark is a hell of a nation. Ma signi wo din w) Kumasi, mapem so 3nny3 adea wo be hia confirmation so …” He again tells Ace Hood he is the ‘big deal’ (A BET winner) in Africa which the media (www.233times.net and others) project him as the ‘Africa Rap god’ and also thanks him for the intense love he showed him when they met in Miami. Again he promises him something lasting (statue) as an appreciation for the love shown him

“Sark medaase, I’m the new Pac (2 Pac) in the project. Welcome Sarkodie United States where they sell narcotics, It’s a pleasure my ni***” Ace Hood also tells Sarkodie about USA and what to expect during his stay there. Ace Hood speaking Twi in the song is the high for most people because he proved his creative instincts.

This song is so far a thought provoking song from Sarkodie and it will take more than a listen to appreciate it.

The low point in it is the explicit contents in it which is not media friendly.

NB: In raps, you don’t get the luxury to explain in full what you mean so you succinctly pour your thoughts.

Author: Nana Kwesi Coomson (www.233times.net) @nkcoomson on Twitter