Ghana via Sydney rapper and producer Kwame first headline shows of 2020 will see Australia’s leading hip-hop prospect hit four metro cities around Australia.
The upcoming tour, presented by triple j, kicks off in Melbourne on March 28 and is followed by three further metro shows in Brisbane (The Triffid, April 3), Sydney (Metro Theatre, April 4) and Fremantle (April 11). Enlisting the help of renowned graphic designer Jonathan Zawada (Flume, The Presets) on poster art duties, was a no-brainer for Kwame who is a longtime fan of his work and is their first collaboration together. These shows mark the first headline tour since Kwame’s completely sold out 2019 EP dates and are expected to fill up quickly.
They also land off the back of Kwame’s most recent single, 'NOBODY feat. E^ST’, which was premiered by Zane Lowe on Apple Music's Beats 1, and the second taste of his forthcoming third extended play. The track is a powerful anthem of self-belief; an ambitious leap in lyrical content and production, born out of Kwame's frustration with life, the creative industries and those who think they know it all. “It's a reminder for myself and anyone else to listen to yourself, outside opinions are irrelevant,” says Kwame.
This theme rings true for the visual accompaniment to the song also landing today. Filmed in Marrickville and directed by Zain Ayub and Kwame, this stunningly raw short film follows a life-changing narrative for a young, troubled Ghanaian boy facing hardships. “His new found friends mentor and nurture the courage within him so that he may move beyond despondency and feel free.” says Kwame.
“The choice to shoot majority of the film in Marrickville reflects its raw texture, sense of realness and celebrates the multicultural background the suburb holds - which is synonymous with the films ideologies. The themes explored represent the diffusion of cultural and societal gaps thereby creating a more universal and globalist experience. The messages within the film are that race, age and status shouldn’t matter when one's back is against the wall.”
With such a strong and universally applicable message, it’s no surprise Kwame’s ethos is connecting all over. With huge performances at Splendour in the Grass, SXSW and appearances alongside industry heavyweights such as Migos, Skepta, 6lack, AJ Tracey and Peking Duk, Kwame has also been announced as support for A$AP Ferg’s March 4 Melbourne show. This will be Kwame’s first show of 2020 and an opportunity for fans to see his live set prior to his tour.
It’s difficult to find a corner of the Australian music scene that hasn’t been taken over by Kwame. Further expanding his already diverse catalogue, the collaborations have been immense for the Ghanaian Australian producer, writer, artist and engineer. Teaming up on party track ‘Summer Rain’ with Wave Racer, Kwame then joined Matt Corby on Triple One’s ‘So Easy’. 'NOBODY feat. E^ST’, is arguably his most reflective work to date and a clear indication of the heights this boundary pushing artist is hoping to take Australian hip-hop to.