Kwesi Arthur ’s debut album has been anticipated for a while now. Throughout the 2010’s the Ghanaian artist imprinted his amorphous, soulful songs in the mind of audiences home and abroad, releasing the acclaimed Nkrumah tapes which showcased his flair for rapping and singing. Now, with years working on the grand display of his artistry, Kwesi Arthur’s ‘Son of Jacob’ has finally been released. 

 

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‘Son of Jacob’ is a fifteen track album which recognises Kwesi’s unique position in the scene as he brings a diverse cast of supporting acts into his world. Among features on the album include the Brooklyn-based Ghanaian creative and musician Big Hommie Flee, Nigerian artists Adekunle Gold, Joeboy and Teni (the latter two appearing on pre-album singles), while diasporic affiliations are strengthened with the inclusion of NSG and VIC MENSA, the American rapper of Ghanaian heritage.

On the stirring album artwork, a painted Kwesi Arthur sits among a number of people. Aged differently, they wear unique expressions (mostly of sadness) while Kwesi sits in the centre as though he’s the custodian of their stories. The decrepit kiosk which looms behind them could be interpreted in several ways, but Kwesi has sort of mapped this journey in the past. If you’re familiar with Kwesi’s music, you’d know he’s the sort of artist that always wants to pass across poignant messages that are peculiar to the Ghanaian and the Black person in general. 

From his back catalogue, most recently his feature on Yaw Tog’s crossover hit “Sore” and “See No Evil”, off the second project in his Nkrumah series, Kwesi Arthur has shown his tendency to lean simultaneously on the personal and the communal, telling stories that situate him in the struggle of something larger. There’ll be forthcoming pieces forthcoming from us, but for now you’ll do well to listen to ‘Son of Jacob’.