The best foreign act concert to be staged in Ghana – Fabolous concert

Many faulted the move by 233 Connect, organizers of the 233 Connect Concert to gamble their hopes on Fabolous as the main act for their maiden concert in Ghana and waited for the gamble to fail.

But after about five hours of non-stop music Easter Saturday night at the Dome of the Accra International Conference Centre, the many enthusiasts who thronged the venue for the concert left fulfilled.

A patron after the concert loudly exclaimed, “This is by far the biggest and best foreign artiste concert ever staged in Ghana,” – and many more who saw the show can’t agree more.

The maiden 233 Connect Concert was highly anticipated although it will not be the first time a foreign act was gracing the Ghanaian music stage. This one however looked and sounded bigger – that’s why it was highly anticipated.

Prior to the numerous artistes for the night rocking the stage, it was Ghana’s number one and Joy 99.7 FM‘s DJ Black who was busy entertaining patrons to an exciting array of mixes behind the turn tables – he got the crowd hyped up for an exciting night.

Several Ghanaian acts took turns to rock the stage. J-Town got the show on the road with his definitive rap skills but it was that dude, Bra Kelvin Beats We feeli no who brought his iconic comic rap and song Three Headed Beats to bear on the night.

Closely following his steps was young rapper, D-Money unleashing his smash hit Kpokpo o Body and then the Swagger Boys, Ruff N Smooth who took their turn to do what they are best known for.

Backed by their ‘mad’ dancers who seem to have mastered the art of breaking and shaking their back end and waist, they seemed to know what patrons desired and they served it hot!

Sarkodie is still alive
Ghana’s fastest rapper might have gone under the radar after annexing the coveted Artiste of the Year award at the 2010 Ghana Music Awards, but the night was his night.

This guy still has his swag on – he looked like he has been born again. He thrilled the fully filled to capacity Dome with his fluid-fast-flow raps that cemented his name in the hearts of many.

And when he dropped his latest hit You go Kill Me backed by EL, the event turned an all-dancing affair. The crowd loved every bit of the fastest rapper!

Scientific, EL and Jay So also came after treating the fans to I Like You Girl and Am Nothing Without You.

A reputation to save

Music Trio, VIP, performing at the concert

Prior to this concert, Nigerian artiste, Ice Prince, who seems to be cruising with his smash hit, Oleku across the African continent and Ghana in particular incurred the wrath of the organizers for breaching an agreed contract which prohibits him from performing the hit song on any other platform in Ghana except at the 233 Connect Concert.

He had a reputation to redeem after that blunder warranting an unqualified apology from him. Still loud cheers heralded his entree to the stage.

Apart from his hit song, Oleku, all other songs of his were new to the Ghanaian market and audience. As to how he managed to glue the audience to rhyme along with his songs is difficult to tell, but it was just a sight to behold.

He got everyone dancing and when he dropped the much awaited track, Oleku, hell broke loose! It was like a music tsunami ready to run amok – Ice Prince did save his image and he did deliver.

Another Nigerian, Wiz Kid – took his turn and at this point the Dome was on ‘fire’. That ‘small boy’, Wiz Kid, is just sexy. He did cast a spell on the ladies and got them screaming and jamming to his songs – they sang along too. They just loved his every move.

The reigning Artiste of the year, Vision In Progress, (VIP) shifted the show to a whole new gear. Performing songs like, Besin, She Be My Taste, Ahomka Womu, I Think I like Am and Away, they proved that their status as Ghana’s Artiste of the Year was no fluke.

The trio, Lazy, Promzy and Prodigal, still hold the flag as the bridge between the new and the old and they do not fail to deliver whenever they are called upon.

Fabolous was just fabulous!
After VIP’s performance, there was a brief pause – very nervy moments that left many anxious over the whereabouts of Fabolous – whether he was in town and was even going to perform.

After a few minutes that Fabolous’ DJ had finished setting up, a “Nice” shout emerged out of the dark to quiet the anxiety.

That was Fabolous’ voice and soon after, the man of the night was ushered onto the stage with Rick Ross’ famous track Blowin Money Fast (BMF). Wearing an all black attar with a black cap and snickers to match, one unique thing that made Fabolous stood out was the Ghana Flag hanging around his neck as he entered.

From his first freestyle which had him smiling all through, he knew the crowd loved every bit of his performance. Then he paused and said, “Everybody here is Ghana people,” (whatever that meant).

Then the songs started flowing, the ‘Fab man’ and his compatriot from the US, Red Cafe went back into time dishing out songs that laid the foundation to who he has become today.

Waving the Ghana flag constantly, Fabolous performed popular tunes such as I’mma Do It, Superwoman, So Into You, Can’t Let You Go, Baby Don’t Go, diamonds on my damn chain, Breathe and Money in the Bank.

He also performed I’ll Never Leave (Uh Oh) You Make Me Better, Say Ah, Throw It In This Bag, , and the expected tune You Be Killing Em to end the show.

For his last words, Fabolous said, “Ghana, we will be back… Ghana I love you,” before finally walking off the stage.

Story by Ernest Dela Aglanu/Myjoyonline.com/Ghana