M3NSA

From one half of FOKN BOIS, the renowned Ghanaian duo behind increasingly acclaimed short film Coz Ov Moni comes No.1 Mango Street – the international debut album by MC, singer and producer M3NSA.





Having conceptualised and performed on the hilarious Coz Ov Moni (known as the world’s first pidgin musical) with Wanlov Kubolor, and produced the bulk of its soundtrack, 2010 has been an incredible highlight in M3NSA’s 12-year music career. The film itself premiered in the UK and the US, has been accepted at the Rio International Film Festival (Brazil), and at the Pan African Film Festivals in Los Angeles and Cannes.It was screened at the Black August Festival in New York, where M3NSA blessed the stage with Hip-hop icons Dead Prez and Talib Kweli.

It is also partly the inspiration for No. 1 Mango Street, a nostalgic yet contemporary take on the place M3NSA grew up in Accra. Here, at a young age he produced songs for the legendary founder of Hip-Life, Reggie Rockstone, (a blend of Highlife and Hip-Hop)and also released the single ‘If You Don’t Know’, nominated for four awards by the pan-African music channel, Channel O.

Opening a 14-track set, the title song concisely rounds up the many musical influences of Ghana’s number one beat maker: Nu-jazz,Soul, Hip-hop, Afro beat and High-Life delicately underscore sweet harmonies with his guitarist cousin Ryan Ansah, yearning for the place he still calls home. M3NSA paraphrases, “I talk about going back to pick up from where I left things at, and where everything started. It's about acknowledging exactly where I come from and bringing all those experiences with me.”

M3NSA’s father Tumi Ebo Ansah was a guitarist in the British afro-pop collective Osibisa, while his mother taught him how to play the piano when he was eight. Now living in London, he enjoys the unique global positioning that cosmopolitan city allows. And No.1 reflects this: ‘No One Knows’ is the breezy, pensive and optimistic first single, which samples the Nigerian folk-soul singer Asa’s ‘No One Knows Tomorrow’. Then there’s the party-starter Adjuma, which in a parallel world could be as massive as the erstwhile Hip-hop club anthem ‘A Milli’ was. Also all about the hustle (Adjuma means work), the principle is the same, just with the benefit of a dialect switch here and there. With snatches of Twi and Pidgen, the clever rhyme schemes and narratives are what make this album universally relatable. Says M3NSA, “You don't have to be into African hip-hop to listen to the album, you just have to be into music.”



That wide-reaching relevance will be the reason why you may have heard M3NSA’s work on legendary North London producer/DJ Richy Pitch’s Ghana-inspired Ye Fre Mi Richy Pitch LP (on which he wrote 6 tracks). And also why you will have seen him opening shows for Wu-Tang Clan, The Roots, Little Brother and the Gorillaz. Not to mention recently rocking the mic with Damon Albarn, The Gorillaz, Tony Allen and Amadou and Mariam at the Africa Express events in France and Spain.

And that’s just the start of greater things to come. No.1 Mango Street is one of those albums that will help bring to the menu what Hip-hop has been missing for a long time – an authentic, everyday perspective which makes the genre fun and enlightening at the same time.
- Society Hae

As a fitting crown to what continues to be an epic year for M3NSA, the Ghanaian London-based MC, producer and singer has received a preliminary nod for a UK Music of Black Origin (MOBO) award.

The announcement was made on Wednesday 8th September at a ceremony in London ahead of the 15th anniversary of the MOBO Awards show, set to take place on October the 20th. M3NSA’s name was listed amongst 15 of the finest artists in Africa and in the Diaspora who will contend via public vote in the category for the Best African Act.

“I feel like after putting in a lot of time, energy and heart into creating music that I feel is authentic and truly represents what we are about as Africans in the diaspora, it’s good to be acknowledged for it,” comments M3NSA, adding, “It’s such a good feeling to be part of the scene right now. Being in the same category of other artists that I respect and who are doing amazing things is overwhelming.”

Said artists include K’Naan, Blk Jks, P Square and none other than fellow FOKN Boi Wanlov the Kubolor, with whom M3NSA conceptualized and performed on the hilarious Coz Ov Moni, known also as the world’s first pidgin musical. Adds M3NSA, ‘Kubolor and I are excited about our nominations because we know it is the beginning of great things to come.’

London revellers can experience the launch set from one of Ghana’s most respected rappers on Friday 2 October at the Rich Mix.

The general public is invited to sign up to MOBO.com and vote for their choice of the Best African Act! The Best African Act category will start off with 15 nominations, giving the artists the chance to be shortlisted into the ultimate top 5.. The winner will be announced at the 15th Annual MOBO Awards show taking place at the Liverpool Echo Arena on 20/10/2010. Voters must register at www.mobo.com.

- NU-SOUL MAGAZINE

Named among the top 50 Ghanaians to watch by BBC, M3NSA will release his first international album on October 2nd. Having performed with other OKA favorites such as Wanlov Kubolor and DJ Richy Pitch, M3NSA’s No. 1 Mango Street is highly anticipated by hip hop heads worldwide. Fusing nu-jazz, soul, hip hop, and afrobeat, M3NSA reflects upon growing up in Accra, saying; “I talk about going back to pick up from where I left things at, and where everything started. It’s about acknowledging exactly where I come from and bringing all those experiences with me.” M3NSA, who raps in English with bits of Twi and Pidgen mixed in, also, in collaboration with Wanlov, helped conceptualize and performed in the hilarious Coz Ov Moni (known as the world’s first Pidgin musical) and produced most of its soundtrack. Watch the video for “Adjuma” off the album (above), and check the album art after the jump (below). Look for No. 1 Mango Street at the top of next month. - OKAYAFRICA

London- As a fitting crown to what continues to be an epic year for M3NSA, the Ghanaian London-based MC, producer and singer has received a preliminary nod for a UK Music of Black Origin (MOBO) award.

The announcement was made on Wednesday 8th September at a ceremony in London ahead of the 15th anniversary of the MOBO Awards show, set to take place on October the 20th. M3NSA’s name was listed amongst 15 of the finest artists in Africa and in the Diaspora who will contend via public vote in the category for the Best African Act.

“I feel like after putting in a lot of time, energy and heart into creating music that I feel is authentic and truly represents what we are about as Africans in the diaspora, it’s good to be acknowledged for it,” comments M3NSA, adding, “It’s such a good feeling to be part of the scene right now. Being in the same category of other artists that I respect and who are doing amazing things is overwhelming.”

Said artists include K’Naan, Blk Jks, P Square and none other than fellow FOKN Boi Wanlov the Kubolor, with whom M3NSA conceptualised and performed on the hilarious Coz Ov Moni, known also as the world’s first pidgin musical. Adds M3NSA, ‘Kubolor and I are excited about our nominations because we know it is the beginning of great things to come.’

This is certainly the case for his solo career as M3NSA prepares for the release of his debut international album No. 1 Mango Street on October 2nd 2010. In summary, it’s a narrative referencing the place where he grew up in Accra, in parts nostalgic (Looking for My Way Home), at times pensive (No One Knows Tomorrow) and even humorous (Yenko’oo featuring Kwabena Jones). It is also remarkably assured and earnest as up until this point, M3NSA has spent a good twelve years perfecting his musicianship both as a producer (for legends such as Hip Life pioneer Reggie Rockstone and London DJ/producer Richy Pitch) and also as a live performer. He has opened shows for Wu-Tang Clan, The Roots, Little Brother and the Gorillaz, and more recently rocked the mic with Damon Albarn, The Gorillaz, Tony Allen and Amadou and Mariam at the Africa Express events in France and Spain.

London revellers can experience the launch set from one of Ghana’s most respected rappers on Friday 2 October at the Rich Mix. Attached is the lead single ‘No One Knows Tomorrow’ a breezy optimistic tune sampling Nigerian folk-soul singer Asa. Please add to your blogs and social media forums for streaming. Or just listen for yourself.

http://soundcloud.com/m3nsa/no-one-knows

The general public is invited to sign up to MOBO.com and vote for their choice of the Best African Act.
- www.museke.com

“Mensa is back again/ To drive the world insane/ Everything I do is a result of hard work/ I don’t ever complain…”

Agyuma is similar to the Musician who wrote it. The bass-heavy track may take cues from Lil’ Wayne’s hit, A Milli, but Mensa twists any American influences into something distinctly Ghanaian, with local references including taxi drivers and ‘Dangbeleshie‘ (a scissor kick).

Over a decade has lapsed since hits like ‘Bra Yen Sa’ and ‘Bibini Ba’ made Mensa one of hip-life’s early stars. He has spent much of that time abroad, but Mensa feels the distance has actually strengthened his music:

“Being away, I actually started appreciating Ghanaian music all over again, going into music Ghanaians were making in the 60s and 70s, paying attention to my Dad’s music. He’s a lecturer in music and he’s always been about palm wine highlife, traditional music, folklore and things like that. Now I’m understanding the value of it all. I’m trying to inculcate it into my music. If you listen to chords and progressions in palm wine highlife, it’s pure jazz. Yet it’s still original and unique.”

Mensa feels Ghanaian music – hiplife in particular – is in transition at the moment: “Ghanaian musicians are very intelligent. They can talk about anything no matter how plain it is and still make it artistic and enjoyable. But it’s important to be able to make music that ten years or twenty years down the line, I can speak to my son and say “this is what I was doing when I was your age and I still think it has some relevance… a place in history.” You don’t want to just make generic crap, but we seem to be into that. It’s a phase most industries go through. We have so much to offer though. The American thing has been done. What else have we got to bring to the table?”

“My music, for now… let’s just call it music from Ghana. It has a lot of jazz, soul, hip hop influences, but its essentially Ghanaian music.”

While he’s been away, Mensa has been popping in and out of the country working on his album, No. 1 Mango Street. He says it is dedicated to Ghana: “I’ve done the whole European thing and America and all that and I just feel like I want to represent Ghana in a different light. To make music valuable again. Musicians don’t realise what their potential is, especially coming from Ghana.

We have a sound that the rest of the world has not been privy to. I think most musicians now are making music for the next quick buck. That’s why everybody’s jumping on this hiplife generic sound, but there’s so much more they can tap into… Living here and seeing how people react to authentic music from Ghana or from Africa. People hear Fela Kuti and they are like “Wow! This is actually beautiful music.” How come we don’t hear enough Fela on the radio in Ghana? It makes me appreciate the music all over again and I try to take a page out of that book and bring it into my work.”

Mensa named the album after the only address he has ever lived in Ghana. “I have the fondest memories of growing up there. As a teenager leaving, coming back home. Leaving the country, coming back home. Going to boarding school, coming back home. And then as an adult, going back to the street to see how much it has changed and how much it has not changed. It’s pretty much all my influences and experiences growing growing up there and everything around it.”

No. 1 Mango Street features classic Ghanaian band, Osibisa, as well as Nigerian singer Ndidi (to whom he’s married) and Samini: “Man, he’s great to work with. The texture of his voice. To be a producer and an artist, to me it’s such a blessing. Recording his vocals, his work ethic. The guy is focused, man. It’s an inspiration to me. I kinda took him out of his comfort zone with that song.”

Mensa’s journey has been a long one. Today, he is a complete artist who rhymes, sings and produces his own work as well as those of other artists like regular conspirator and fellow Adisadel College old boy, Wanlov the Kubolor. It all started when he started playing piano in church at the age of nine.

His first musical memory was a classical recital gone wrong. He had practiced for weeks but once he hit the stage, he could not remember how to play. He started and stopped ten times and his best friend even joined him on stage to offer her support. Most people might have given up, but strangely this experience made Mensa more determined than ever to show people his potential. He eventually played the song. He is philosophical about the incident: “I think I had all the bad experiences when I started… got them out of the way.”

http://accradust.com/accra/archives/200 - Dust Magazine

I am sure that Ghanaians by now have gotten used to seeing rapper Wanlov walking bare-footed in town in the usual wrap around his waist with little or no underpants beneath. However the free spirited artist together with friend and acclaimed composer/rapper/producer M3nsa, reveal a lot more on tape for their upcoming movie, 'Coz Ov Moni'. The two musicians weren't shy at all in showing bits of the backsides in several scenes in the simply hilarious flick. At a recent press preview, the two new members to the acting fraternity explained that the nudity in the flick wasn't in bad taste because it is not sexual in nature. So don't expect another 'Heart ofMen'!

'Cos Ov Moni' is an amazing pidgin musical trailing the 'hustle' of two friends within a day. The story unfolds as they wake up in the morning with one thing on their mind, to collect a debt owed them by a wily friend. After getting the money, they set off to blow it off on food, partying and women with hilarious and dramatic consequences. While going through the day, the story highlights real struggles of ordinary young Ghanaians in modern Ghana in spite of the strong elements of humour. Their ability to do this so subtly is something that makes me want to see more, but sadly Wanlov and M3nsa say they have given up on any acting ambitions following the torturous production schedule they had to go through in the past few months.

The 45-minute or so musical is a pulsating hip hop dialogue with each second of film laced with throbbing beats and rhythms that would have viewers bumping their heads as the story unfolds. There are also elements of black emancipation and the celebration of blackness, as the two lead actors struggle to separate reality from dreams. 'Coz Ov Moni' has cameo appearances from other stars such as Samini, Reggie Rockstone, Mokin, Panji Anoff and several others.

'Coz Ov Moni' is certainly a must-see when it is released later in the year. According to M3nsa and Wanlov, the movie is still going through a few tweaking here and there before it becomes available to the public, most likely before or during the Independence Day celebrations. There is a possibility that the final product would be slightly different from what I saw at the press screening however the humour and freshness in the concept behind the movie would never change and I recommend it to everyone, except maybe those below 16.

'Coz Ov Moni' is an ambitious production that clearly has never been attempted in Ghana and the perhaps the whole of Africa. It is therefore not surprising that the producers want to enter it into a few international film festivals before releasing it on DVD with extra 'behind the scenes' footage. I can only wish them luck and say unequivocally that I am proud of their effort.



http://www.modernghana.com/columnmusic/11351/3/wanlov-and-m3nsa-bare-it-all-coz-ov-moni.html - The Jaded Renegade @ ModernGhana.com