On 2017’s Disturbation, Ghanaian rapper Medikal—born Samuel Adu Frimpong—offered a project both high-octane and melodic, fusing witty wordplay and gritty rhyming with catchy hooks over trap-leaning production largely helmed by producer Unkle Beatz. Well received by critics, this debut album gained the most nominations at the 2017 Ghana Music Awards. “Disturbation defines the journey,” Medikal tells Apple Music. “I dropped this album for those who believed in the struggle, those who doubted our hustle and those who felt it was too early for this.” At 22 tracks, the album boasts a slew of collaborative believers, with features from the likes of Phil Blak, Sista Afia, WANLOV, Falz, Pappy Kojo, Ahtitude and Stonebwoy, among others. While displaying his versatility across the tropical rhythms of the Bisa Kdei-assisted “Pressure”, the dancehall-infused “Yaro” with Shatta Wale and the conscious “Beautiful Africa”, the album spawned hits such as “Too Risky” featuring Sister Deborah as well as the bass-laden “Confirm (Remix)” alongside Sarkodie. “This is what mandem wanted—this is what we prayed for,” he says. “This is why we wailed and skipped classes but still came out with classics! This is for the streets, the youth, the pastor and the priest.”
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