Kobi Onyame | |
|---|---|
 Onyame onstage in 2014 | |
| Born | Kyame Barfour-Osei (1982-07-03)3 July 1982 (age 42) Ghana |
| Alma mater | University of Strathclyde |
| Style | Hip hop |
Kobi Onyame (born Kwame Barfour-Osei)[1] is an independent recording hip-hop artist, producer and songwriter based in the United Kingdom.[2] His albumsGold andDon't Drink the Poison were shortlisted for theScottish Album of the Year Award in 2018 and 2022 respectively.[3][4]
Onyame was born in Ghana[5] and grew up inAccra.[1][6] He then moved to the UK, living inLondon, later moving toGlasgow to study for his master's degree at theUniversity of Strathclyde.[7] His mother died in 2008.[1] His work draws on his Ghanaian heritage, mixed with contemporary hip-hop.[8] Early in his career, he released work under the name Jae P.[9]
Onyame's fourth albumGold was nominated for theScottish Album of the Year in 2018,[10] where it was described as "an almost wistful echo of a yearning for home and originality that somehow has its roots in the past and present simultaneously."[11] Following this nomination, he was the recipient of funding from the PRS Foundation, to support the recording of his next album.[8] Along withC Duncan,Modern Studies, andRod Jones, Onyame performed at theLive at the Longlist event where the 2019 Scottish Album of the Year award winner were announced.[2]
In 2019, Onyame was one of 10 Scottish acts supported byCreative Scotland to perform atThe Great Escape.[12]
In 2021, Onyame released his fifth studio,Don't Drink the Poison. The ten-track album is self produced, with two tracks co-produced by Ghanaian musicianJayso and by Scottish musician Nathan Somevi.Don't Drink the Poison features guest appearances from new African artists including George Kalukusha from Malawi, SheSaidSo from South Africa and rapper Worlasi from Ghana.[13] The album was shortlisted for the 2022Scottish Album of the Year Award.
