Why I Couldn’t Be Part Of #OccupyJulorbiHouse Protests- Edem
Rapper Edem has provided an explanation for his absence from the renowned OccupyJulorbiHouse protest.
Furthermore, he expressed concern over the mistreatment of celebrities by certain malicious individuals on social media, who coerced them into attending the demonstration.
This occurred when celebrities, who had previously made posts unrelated to the protest, were criticized for their perceived detachment from reality.
Some were encouraged to actively participate in the protest in order to advocate for improved governance. Nevertheless, Edem firmly believes that individuals should not be compelled to join a cause, particularly when they possess their own ideologies and the ability to make independent decisions.
“That’s a certain level of psychological bullying of somebody who is an individual…If you believe that you have to bully an artist to go for a demonstration, do you also believe that an artist should bully you for you to attend their concert?” he quizzed
“Because when it is time for their concert and they tell you, you tell them that ‘I don’t have money for it’ and so you cannot bully an artist. I’m sure that the ones who also went, some of them had backlash that they went for PR and so the truth is that you cannot live up to people’s expectations,” Edem noted.
According to him, people shouldn’t be seen at protest locations unless they are personally involved in the cause or have been coerced into showing up.
Music Career
By the age of nine, Edem was frequently observed banging on tables, empty cans, and any other object that produced rhythm. In junior high, he joined his first group of musicians. In high school, he founded a six-member band called the Ringmasters. They performed both at the school and at other festivals. Typically, they sang, chanted, and danced. After graduating from secondary school, he pursued a music career in the commercial world. He collaborated with underground performers such as Kokromoti, Nival, Trigmatic, Vyroz, M.O.B., and Osibo.(Reference Required)
Edem appeared on Voice of America, where he discussed his “Nyedzilo” video, which features Mavin Records’ Reekado Banks, as well as his videos such as “The One,” which features Sway and discusses the liberation of Africa, and his award-winning song Koene, which was previously featured on Music Time Africa by Heather Maxwell and Vincent Makori.
In 2006, he released “Witine Woshi,” which translates to “we came and they fled.” It garnered widespread acclaim in his region and enhanced his clandestine reputation. In that year, he joined The Last Two Entertainment Group, led by hit-maker Hammer of The Last Two, on an official basis. This label is responsible for 1999’s Obrafour, Tinny, and 2005’s Kwaw Kesse, among others.
In 2007, Edem performed at live events including the opening act for John Legend’s concert at the International Conference Centre in Accra. Before releasing his debut album, he collaborated with acts like Obrafour.
After two years in the studio (December 2006 to December 2008), he released his debut single “Bougez” It was broadcast across the nation. On his debut album, Tinny, Kwaw Kese, Sarkodie, Obour, Asem, K. k. Fosu, Tuba, Samini, Jayso, Trigmatic, El, and Gemini were featured alongside newer artists.
