When he came to the country, he had one goal in mind. To promote his fifth album Loyalty with the Amapiano and Afrobeats single titled Enjoyment Minister featuring Stonebwoy and Quamina M.
But he extended his visit after being bitten by the Amapiano bug and extended his stay to work with some of Mzansi hitmakers.
International Ghanaian artist Desmond Kwesi Blackmore (34) fondly known as D-Black, has previously collaborated with the likes of award-winning South African stars Bucie, Cassper Nyovest, and Khuli Chana and he is ready to explore and add some Amapiano features.
“I’ve been hearing about Amapiano for close to three years. I was on holiday here and that’s what everyone could talk about. Back in West Africa, it’s huge now,” D-Black says.
His Amapiano's song Enjoyment Minister is arguably the number one song in Ghana.
“It’s an Amapiano record. In Nigeria, the top 20 charts have seven to nine Amapiano records on there if not more.”
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D-Black loves the South African sound.
“I’ve always tried to work with as many South African stars as possible.”
In the coming months, he will be working on features with Semi Tee and Malemon, DJ Tira, Nadia Nakai, Lady Du, Ricky Rick, and many others.
“The first collabo will drop before August,” D-Black says.
This is not his first trip in Mzansi but it is one of the most memorable.
“South Africa is home to me, I have many close friends and built solid relationships with many people."
After taking a long hiatus of four years from the music scene, he's back with the release of the 12-track album Loyalty.
To him, Loyalty means, “As human beings, we all demand loyalty in one way or another. Whether it is in relationships, friendships, or colleagues at work, we all demand it. Sometimes we can be selfish with our demands. When you listen to this album you understand exactly where I am coming from as you listen to people’s perspectives and opinions with regards to loyalty in your relationships. It is a journey from the first track right down to the last. So please check it out and rock with me, I am back,” D-Back says.
The album features the likes of Sefa, top Ghana afro-pop and dance hall star Stonebwoy, songstress Efya, Darkovibes, Quamina MP, Akwaboah, Nigeria’s finest Ice Prince, Praiz, Simi and Peruzzi, and South African maestro, Anzo, among others.
“I wanted the project to be versatile and explore different African sounds,” D-Black says. The 2010 BET award nominee took his time and recorded his album during the global Covid-19 pandemic.
“This time I am exploring five different genres on one album including the traditional Ghana sound, Highlife, Afrobeats, and my current favourite genre Amapiano,” D-Black says.
“I have laid down two albums; this while I was in lockdown in Los Angeles, USA when Covid-19 hit the world. I worked on music from March until July. When I landed back in Ghana then we went into lockdown, I then made more music. I worked with various artists from Ghana, Nigeria, and South Africa,” he adds.
