FOKN REVIEW- FOKN Wit Ewe

         FOKN Bois- FOKN Wit Ewe Album Review

 By: Kofi Montana Asuman 

               

FOKN Wit Ewe- Album art

When FOKN Bois released the single “Thank God We Are Not A Nigerians” last year, it was clear that the Accra Duo was at a certain creative place Ghanaian rap hadn’t been in years. Over the creative stunts of K. Jones’ beat, they rapped breathtakingly through the song’s four minutes; meanwhile considering the harsh mockery the song made about Nigerians, I am forced to think that is one “beef” which will not be squashed anytime soon. On the upside, it was easily M3nsa’s best, most impassioned single since the release of “If You Don’t Know” feat V. I. P.

 FOKN Wit Ewe is good and a typical example of a modern-day satire album which uses creativity and comedy to tell it as it is. Rounding up guests like Wusuwaah and Wunmi & Olongo, plus producers like Ryan Ansah and A. J. Kwame, the record is an exercise of FOKN Bois’ versatility and, more impressively, a comprehensive showing of the lyrical dexterity the Duo has mastered since they emerged on the Ghanaian music scene.

M3nsa

FOKN Wit Ewe has been pegged as a gospel porn album. The cover is one that directly and indirectly combines various elements which reflect the various themes presented in every song on the album.

 But while the record does serve as one of the best Ghanaian compositions in recent times “Gimme Pinch”, which spends almost five minutes describing an “immaculate version of ‘Juicy’ by The Notorious Big”, where the young men have a feel “the things them dey  work for, fight for,  live for, and die for”. “Gimme Pinch” unarguably, is the standout track of the entire album. The song also sends a Pan African- politically charged message about the former Libyan strongman Muammar al-Gaddafi. M3nsa points out on his verse “u go fight all your life for your people. Them go kill you for nothing in the end.” 

 

They use their immigrant status to narrate their stories. Thus it is easy to identify when they rap as Ghanaians, and when they rap as Ghanaians who have been exposed to other environments and have been influenced in one way or the other. “Help America” is a literal presentation of the struggles of young people who seek greener pastures in America, but are facing problems because of the various troubles that living in someone else’s country comes along with. The song touches on socio-economic themes such as; unemployment, the depreciating value of the dollar and the bad state of the American Social-Welfare System etc. –“gone are the days of 99 Cents a gallon of   gas.”

 

wanlov A.K.A FOKN Gypsy Kobolor

“Sextra Terrestrial Sex, Sexin Islamic Girls, Rasta Fried rice and Spread You” are all songs that allow the rappers to play around words and ideas. It also provides them an opportunity to explore their widely acclaimed Gospel-porn sect. On the other hand,

 “Ty the Nought” which is produced by Mez is a typical example of what a Ghanaian rap song should be. The verses of the song coupled with its powerful production style, hits listeners with tight bars and very concrete ideas. The duo point out their mission for the Ghanaian rap industry; “we de3 we come to conquer…… We have come to clean the mess up. ”  

The skits of the album (Sintro, FOKN Enterlewd, FOKN Knews, FOKN Eating Sheep, and FOKN wit Ewe) are all good. It is a style only few emcees can replicate. They create a nice image and help the audience relate and follow the plot of the album.

On the low, the album is too sexually explicit: probably the most sexually explicit album Ghana has witnessed in a long time. The album cover must show a rating to serve as a limit for the under aged. Optionally, an edited version for radio can be made because it contains too much sexually explicit adult content. 

 twitter: @kofimontana                facebook:   K. Montana Asuman