NATIVE Exclusive: King Promise Took His Time With His New Album
"It is my most personal album."
For King Promise, the music has always been first. His early days as an artist found him letting his words speak for themselves, which earned him a growing presence online. While he pursued music as merely a side hustle during his early university days, he soon realigned his focus on his craft when he saw its propensity for success.
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First earning his stripes as an artist back on Soundcloud in 2017, Ghana’s King Promise began steadily releasing Afrofusion singles which finely merged a range of genres including Afropop, R&B and Highlife. Born Gregory Bortey Newman, the singer has spent the past few years establishing himself as one of the trusted voices in Ghana’s Pop scene with a string of notable releases including 2018’s “CCTV” featuring Mugeez, Sarkodie and R2Bees, and 2019’s “Call Waiting” with Joey B.
Unapologetically placing his Ghanaian heritage at the forefront of his sound, he’s built a catalogue of music that lets his talent do all the talking. In 2019, he released first LP ‘As Promised,’ with features from African artists such as Wizkid and Shatta Wale, which went on to become one of Ghana’s most streamed albums. Through consistent practise, he continues to hone his skills and further his global ambitions.
Taking time to create his music, he took a sabbatical from the music scene to concentrate on creating more music. Recently, he announced the release of his forthcoming album ‘5*’ with a romantic ballad “Ginger” which serves as its promotional single, joining a line of already released drops such as the Headie One-assisted “Ring My Line,” “Bad N Rude” with WSTRN, the Patoranking-assisted “Chop Life” and “Slow Down.” While these songs give a taster course to what fans can expect, the album also promises features from globe-throttling artists such as Vic Mensa, Patoranking, Omah Lay, Chance the Rapper and more.
Looking to write music that connects with his fans, ‘5*’ ushers in a new phase of his career. Through constantly betting on himself, King Promise has been able to hack the formula and create music that speaks to the base of his own existence and emotions. “Slow Down” acted as the first announcement of the album, with the singer narrating a story of broken love over a glitchy Afropop soundbed. WSTRN-featuring “Bad N Rude,” equally showcases his near veteran tendencies with impressive writing ability while his latest release “Ginger” sees him lean into delivering romantic quips with with honey tongued lyricism.
At each point on the new album, King Promise is making a statement: he’s spent years keenly observing the scene, learning his sound and trusting himself. Now, he’s making music that reflects his current standing, and drawing inspiration from his daily life as well as occurrences from all over the African continent. When we speak over Zoom, he tells me that what listeners hear in his music is as a result of his dedication to his craft. “When creating an album, I take 2 years to ensure it is meticulously curated with honeyed productions and that is what I have been doing,” he shares with the NATIVE.”
This attention to detail shines through on the forthcoming album. King Promise tells us that he spent his time with this album because he began working on it during the 2020 COVID-19 lockdowns. In this time, he was able to get closer to himself, to family, and to his hometown in Ghana which reinvigorated him with the tools he needed to take on his next album. “It is my most personal album as you can note from the released singles which speak of my growth from Boy P to 5 Star,” he shares.
Ahead of its release in June, we caught up with the singer to talk about his upbringing, his love for music, the creative process for ‘5*’ and the changes he wishes to see in the Ghanaian music scene.
Our conversation which follows below has been lightly edited for clarity.
NATIVE: Hi King Promise, how did you first get started in music?
PROMISE: I got into music when I was in school. Back then, it was more of a hobby rather than a career. Before finishing uni, I blew up, something I didn’t expect but I was earnestly hoping for. At this point, it was still more of a hobby but the conviction grew stronger and I began earning from my music. I really loved music as it was a huge part of my upbringing, eventually I became aware that I could actually sing. Professionally, I’ve been making music for about 4 years.
NATIVE: Growing up, your father was a music head and a lover of various genres, did this impact the sound of music you currently make?
PROMISE: Growing up there was music all around me, my dad ran a boutique in my home city. During the weekends and after school, I took care of the shop. Music was always playing, and as I was the one controlling the playlist, I played music that my father always played. All that moulded me into the artist I am today.
NATIVE: Who were some of your earliest musical influences?
PROMISE: I grew up on heavy Highlife music and all genres. Daddy Lumba, Bob Marley, Westlife,Shaggy, Usher, Ne-Yo. I feel like my influences are a mix of various genres mostly Highlife thus influencing the sound and type of music I make.
NATIVE: You had a long break from music, what prompted you to take it?
PROMISE: Honestly, there was no reason. It was over a year where I was mainly concentrating on making music. Beforehand I was touring and didn’t want to rush into making and releasing music. When creating an album, I take 2 years to ensure it is meticulously curated with honeyed productions and that is what I have been doing.
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NATIVE: You are set to release your new album ‘5*’ next month, what has been the inspiration behind the project and what prompted the name?
PROMISE: I began making the project during lockdown when I got back to Ghana after my tour. I got to be home, become closer to family while taking note of my growth in both my romantic relationships and my finances. It is my most personal album as you can note from the released singles which speak of my growth from Boy P to 5 Star. When I started off my career I was under the moniker Boy P, and I am at the point where the public sees my growth. Basically ‘5*’ is a lifestyle, everyone around me is a 5 star. I stand for good stuff and ensure the best standard of music is dished out.
NATIVE: Your recent release “Ginger” revolved around romance, should we expect more of love centred themes in your project?
PROMISE: I am exploring a plethora of topics. The album is very diverse, touching about love, money and definitely a little bragging. “Overthink” and “Iniesta” talk about my journey and where my head is at. It’s just good vibes and energy as I had fun while making my album. I want my fans to experience that same feeling. I want them to feel as if we were together when creating the album.
“I want them [my fans] to feel as if we were together when creating the album.”
NATIVE: Who are the producers involved in the creation of the project?
PROMISE: I mainly worked with Killerbeatz and Guiltybeatz. There is also Jae5 who produced “Ginger”, MOG, Rexxie and a couple of more producers from Amsterdam. I was in the UK for a couple of months so I was working with different producers working on different songs. I was trying to be experimental in the album as I wanted fans to hear different sounds and other side of me.
NATIVE: You have a blend of talent from various continents on the project, have these collaborations impacted the sound of the album?
PROMISE: What I really did was evaluate who would sound better on each song. I wanted to make music that came organically. An example is “Choplife” which I did in London with a producer from Amsterdam. When I got to Ghana, I felt Patoranking would deliver a stellar verse on the song. That is mainly how most of the songs and collaborations came to be. As much as the collaborations impacted the sound in the album, it was still within the vision I had for it.
NATIVE: Which songs on the album mean more now that you’re able to share them with the world?
PROMISE: I have a couple. “Overthink” is the first song I really didn’t write by myself. I had a conversation with Jae5 on how life changes over time. He later on sent a verse written by someone who was having the same issues and he had written exactly what I had written on my side. I just added another verse to what was already done and made it my story. I also love “Ginger,” “How Dare You” and “Ten Toes” featuring Omah Lay.
NATIVE: While making music, what do you want your fans to take away from it?
PROMISE: I am super glad I inspire people because that is all I want to do. I want them to know we are all the same despite our status in society, so they should have a good time and be able to dance in the clubs while being at peace.
NATIVE: What are some of the changes you wish to see in the Ghanaian music industry?
PROMISE: The support. There is a saying that ‘you can break a broom stick but you can’t break the broom as a whole.’ The music scene in Ghana is budding and growing across Africa. We find Ghanaians topping charts not only in Ghana but also Africa and worldwide. We had KIDI receive international recognition with “Touch It”. The industry should see all these beautiful things happening and support instead of picking favourites. The gatekeepers sometimes are ignorant as they are rigid despite the change in times. The artists also have to play their part as it takes a lot of blood sweat and tears to make music.
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Pre-save ‘5*’ here.
Featured image credits/NATIVE
ICYMI: PROJECT RUNAWAY
Luwa.Mp4 Releases Riotous Debut Album, ‘punKstA*’
Across the album’s 12 tracks, Luwa.Mp4 continues his fiery exploration and fusion of genres like Punk Rock,...
Rising singer and rapper Luwa.Mp4 has released his debut album titled ‘punKstA*.’ The underground star who has been on a release spree all year long, announced the imminent arrival of his debut only a couple of days ago with a cryptic trailer video and an Instagram caption that simply read ‘PUNKSTA* MONDAY.’
Before the arrival of ‘punKstA*,’ the rising fusion star had been showcasing his diligence and talent with a consistent output that has seen him put out over a dozen songs since the start of the year. A string of singles led to a 6-pack titled ‘lore skooL,’ while a deluxe version that housed 5 new songs came just a month later.
His debut album’s lead single, “pUNK FANTASY,” arrived in late July, setting the stage for what could prove to be a pivotal moment in the underground star’s burgeoning career.
Across the album’s 12 tracks, the eclectic singer continues his fiery exploration and fusion of genres like Punk Rock, Afropop, Hyperpop, and Rap into something uniquely different. Tracks like “Pure Water,” which was previously teased on Cruel Santino’s Subaru Live Stream, the abrasive, Tecno-influenced “pROMISED NEVERLAND,” and the more laidback “pEEp MY RIDE” put on display the sort of varied, autotune-soaked approach that has set him apart and helped carve a growing niche.
While Luwa decided to go solo on his debut, credited as the only recording artist, the album was brought to life by a cast of talented producers like frequent collaborator TOPSY, Emyboi, JTRN, 3CB, FVKK.ANDI and Jeremy Cartier.
Listen to ‘punKstA*,’ here.
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Shekhinah Returns With Surprise Album, ‘Less Trouble’
The South African R&B star is at her most assertive on her first album in four years.
South African R&B and Pop singer Shekhinah has released a new surprise album titled ‘Less Trouble.’ The Durban star, who had been quiet for most of the year, took to social media shortly before midnight to share the new album’s cover, synopsis, and tracklist, simply stating, ‘If you’re seeing this my album LESS TROUBLE is out now at Midnight,’ in an Instagram caption.
The soulful singer first began teasing ‘Less Trouble,’ her first album in over four years, about a year ago when she released its lead single “Risk,” a bouncy Afropop-inspired collab with Ghanaian star MOLIY. A few months after the release of “Risk,” she put out “Steady,” a dreamy pop number that suggested that something bigger was on the horizon. But then it was largely radio silence about a project until its surprise arrival at midnight.
If 2021’s ‘Trouble In Paradise’ represented a coming-of-age for Shekhinah, subsisting some of the dreamy, youthful exuberance of her debut album for more measured musings on themes like heartbreak and grief, ‘Less Trouble’ finds her at her most assertive, writing and singing with the acuity of someone who is grown, decisive and discerning. The delicate opener “Break Up Season” sets the tone for the rest of the album as she shows little tolerance for shady behaviour and toxic patterns.
Other standout cuts on the album like “Bare Minimum,” a sombre collab with fellow South African award-winning singer lordkez, the ethereal, in-your-face interlude “New Casanova,” and the percussive “What Are We,” where Shekhinah contemplates the nature of a relationship but ultimately demands all or nothing, all drive home a part of the album’s synopsis, which reads ‘A BOOK ON MORE HEARTBREAK BUT LESS HEARTACHE.’
Shekhinah invites a couple of new collaborators on ‘Less Trouble,’ featuring the aforementioned MOLIY and lordkez as well as multi-instrumentalist Mars Baby and Young Stunna across the album’s 11 tracks. Mpilo Shabangu handled the majority of the album’s production, while other producers like Michael Morare, her longtime collaborator, Mthintheki Mzizi, and Vuyo also contributed to the album.
Listen to ‘Less Trouble’ here.
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The NATIVE’s First Impressions Of Amaarae’s ‘Black Star’
‘Black Star’ marks another evolutionary arc for Amaarae, and The NATIVE team offer our thoughts after a...
Change has always been a constant theme in any discussion about the career of Ghanaian-American star, Amaarae. Since she emerged as a singular voice in the late 2010s, she has evolved from a sirenic Afropop-adjacent singer into a Punk-Pop firestarter with minimal fuss. ‘Fountain Baby,’ her 2023 sophomore album, was a sweeping departure from the lilting melodies and shapeshifing cadences of the hypnotic ‘The Angel You Don’t Know,’ emphasizing her commitment to charting new courses with her music.
In the lead-up to her new album, ‘Black Star,’ she has wholly embraced a Pop aesthetic and sheen that was reflected on the album’s promotional singles, “S.M.O.” and “Girlie-Pop!.” Now that the album has arrived, the singer has advised listeners not to go in expecting a continuation of the soundscape on ‘Fountain Baby.’ As keen followers of Amaarae’s career from its start, we are sure that ‘Black Star’ marks another evolutionary arc for her, and we offer our thoughts after a few listens.
WHAT WERE YOUR EXPECTATIONS OF AMAARAE GOING INTO THIS ALBUM?
Kemnachi: I had zero doubts that she would impress me again. Amaarae always comes correct. She is audacious with her choices, taking creative risks most artists would not dare to imagine, and somehow rendering them seamless, deliberate, and effortless. Her music has a way of enveloping me: it’s fluid, slightly dangerous, and yet irresistibly sensual. Every project feels like an immersive world she has curated down to the finest detail. With ‘Black Star,’ I knew it was not going to be a mere collection of songs but another meticulously constructed realm.
Bamise: I expected something fun, genre-bending, and sonically diverse in the fashion that Amaarae’s music typically is. I may have taken the album title a bit too literally, though, because listening made me realise I had an eye out for some Pan-African statements or something to spark discourse on African identity, but I didn’t quite catch any of that.
Boluwatife: Amaarae has largely delivered throughout her career, so I knew she was going to come correct again. She’s one of those forward-thinking artists who take the kind of risks most others wouldn’t, but she always manages to make it work. She’s proven to be a musical omnivore who constantly meshes her wide-ranging influences into something new, fluid, icy, and more often than not, sensual. I knew ‘Black Star’ wasn’t going to be any different.
WHAT SONGS STOOD OUT ON THE FIRST LISTEN?
Wale: I liked “Girlie-Pop!.” I feel like it captures Amaarae’s vision of pushing Afropop into the future. She’s also really grown comfortable with music and lyricism and will not dumb down her message for anybody. The instrumental for “Girlie-Pop!” is also a wonder; it’s so dense, but there are pockets for Amaarae to be emotive about her feelings. Top song!
Daniel Akins: I need to hear “B2B” at the next rave I’m at. Amaarae is in her Dance era, and I’m here for it. Kiss Me Thru The Phone pt 2” with PinkPantheress is the collaboration I knew I needed, and I’m glad they finally linked up. It’s a clear standout on the project; their ethereal style complements each other.
Shina: “B2B” was the one that did it for me. That is my favourite track on the project. The number of times I ran it back was unhealthy for a first listen. It was also really fun to catch the Don Toliver “Best You Had” sample. I need to hear this outside!
HOW WELL YOU THINK THE GUEST APPEARANCES ENHANCED THE LISTENING EXPERIENCE?
Israel: The guest features on Black Star aren’t mere flexes. They’re strategic, theatrical, and sometimes emotionally resonant. They enhance, yes, but they do so on Amaarae’s terms. A standout for me was PinkPantheress on “Kiss Me Thru The Phone pt 2.” The tradeoff is that a few songs feel like dazzling cameos rather than an integrated conversation, yet overall they enhance the album’s drama, texture, and bravado with precision.
Daniel Banjoko: Everyone showed up and delivered, no weak links here. Instead of just guest spots, they felt like vital pieces of a bigger puzzle. Charlie Wilson on “Dream Scenario” nailed his part especially, making the track sound exactly like its name promises.
Moore: The guest appearances on ‘Black Star’ feel very intentional; each one enhances the album’s world without overshadowing Amaarae’s vision. PinkPantheress’s signature airy delivery meshes with Amaarae’s experimental pop sound. Naomi Campbell’s commanding voice on “ms60” is an unexpected but powerful addition, adding drama to the track. Each feature feels carefully chosen.
WHAT SONG IS THE BIGGEST SKIP?
Bamise: Not to be a party pooper, but I don’t get the PinkPantheress collab, “Kiss Me Thru The Phone pt 2.” It feels like a PinkPantheress song with less pop in it, and just borrows the title of the iconic Soulja Boy song but has no other similarities. It’s between that and “ms60.” For me, the chorus of that sounds like something I’ve heard from Amaarae before, and I doubt its absence would have diminished the album.
Shina: I feel like biggest skip is a strong word for a solid project, but if I have to pick a song to skip, it’ll be “ms60.” I think it’s easily forgettable.
Wale: It’s hard to single out a song that stuck out to me, but hearing Naomi Campbell on “ms60” threw me off. It’s just too contrived to bear for me.
WHAT SONG HAS THE BIGGEST HIT POTENTIAL?
Boluwatife: My gut answer would probably be “She Is My Drug,” just because of how she beautifully reworks the melodies from Cher’s “Believe.” DJ remixes of this song could go crazy. But if I were to think a bit more logically, TikTok would probably lap up “Kiss Me Thru The Phone pt 2.”
Daniel Banjoko: “Kiss Me Thru the Phone pt 2” goes crazy. Amaarae and PinkPantheress are the perfect match. This collab feels like it was destined to happen, and it delivers in full. Honestly, I can’t believe it took this long, and now I just need more tracks from these two, ASAP.
Moore: “Kiss Me Thru The Phone pt 2” has the biggest hit potential on the album. The song has a nostalgic, sad party girl vibe that makes it appealing, and it’s also catchy and well-produced. PinkPantheress consistently performs well on platforms like TikTok, and her fanbase overlaps in a really interesting way with Amaarae’s. The collaboration feels organic and exciting, and will likely create a lot of buzz.
OVERALL FIRST IMPRESSIONS
Wale: There is a very visceral quality to how Amaarae expresses desire that I don’t hear very often in a lot of music. It’s abstracted and warped in futuristic textures, but it’s very profoundly human, and it’s always great to hear that even as she advances the sonics of her delivery. I do, however, have an issue with the thematic scope of ‘Black Star.’ I thought there would be overt references to her experiences of navigating her Ghanaian identity, but those references are limited to samples and interpolations. It’s still an incisive listen and a triumph for finding ways to advance music from Africa.
Bamise: It’s Amaarae; she can never go wrong. But for me, this is the album that excites me the least from her catalogue. Other than how bass-heavy some songs on the album are, like “S.M.O.” and “She Is My Drug” among others, it feels similar to other projects I’ve heard from her in a way that’s not exactly refreshing or mind-bending. I may have gotten spoiled by how diverse and eclectic Amaarae’s music tends to be, but I wanted more from her. I expected more gangster, Hip-Hop Amaarae. Thematically, I didn’t get anything that gives the Black Star of Ghana, or black stars are ruling the world. Will I listen again and enjoy every bit of it still, though? Yes, I will.
Shina: So first off, this is a solid body of work. I love the fact that Amaarae stuck with the Dance, Electro-Pop route she was going with throughout the album. The features also played their part, adding their unique touches to each record. I would say, though, a feature I would’ve loved to hear on this project is 070Shake. I think she would have been perfect on “100DRUM,” but we don’t always get what we want, do we? Thematically, I think Amaarae could’ve leaned heavily on her Ghanaian heritage, seeing as the title and cover of the album are a nod to that. Maybe Amaarae just wants us to dance, and that’s what I’m just gonna do, and you should too.
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