Reggie Rockstone’s fusion of hip-hop beats with authentic African dialect has made him a legend in the Ghanaian music scene. He is widely credited as the originator of Hiplife, a genre that blends rap with highlife music.
Hiplife is not only a musical style but also a cultural movement that reflects the identity and aspirations of Ghanaian youth.
Reggie Rockstone was born into a family of artists and musicians. His father, Ricky Ossei, was a renowned fashion designer who worked with celebrities like Muhammad Ali and Stevie Wonder.
His mother, Beatrice Ossei, was a singer who performed with Osibisa, a famous Afro-rock band. Reggie grew up surrounded by music and creativity.
That’s it for the intro.
Now let’s dig into his valid biography in a listed order.
Reggie Biographic Details
Birth Name: Reginald Yaw Asante Osei
Place of Birth: Born in the United Kingdom, Reggie spent his early years in Kumasi and Accra, Ghana.
Residence: He has been living in Ghana continuously since he pioneered the Hip-Life movement in 1994.
Marital Status: Reggie Rockstone is married to Dr. Zilla Limann, daughter of Hilla Limann, the only president of the third Republic of Ghana. They have three children together and have been married since 2001.
Language: He raps in Akan, precisely Asante Twi, and English.
Net Worth: $5m+
Family Ties: Reggie Rockstone is the son of fashion designer Ricky “Ricci” Ossei (Saint Ossei).
Education: Achimota School.
Current Endeavors: Reggie Rockstone joined the Ghanaian hip-hop group VVIP following the exit of Promzy in 2014.
Reggie’s Rockstone Achievements – His Wins
In 2004, Rockstone won the Kora Award for the best African video and performed in front of a 50,000-person crowd in Ghana, alongside Shaggy.
He recorded a track with Jamaican Dancehall singer Beenie Man called “Chukku Chakka” (in reference to Rockstone’s 1999 hit “Eye Mo De Anaa,” which sampled Fela Kuti).
This was featured in the 2007 documentary “Living the Hiplife” (directed by Jesse Weaver Shipley).
Music Career – Brief Details
Born in the U.K., Reggie initially attached himself to the Hip Hop movement in the early 80s as a dancer.
He broadened his Hip Hop scope by traveling between Accra, New York, and London.
As a performer and trained actor, he began rapping in 1991.
His pivotal moment came in 1994 when he returned to Accra and encountered a whole generation grooving to African-American rhythms heavily influenced by the same elements of Hip Hop that he knew.
Reggie Rockstone’s fusion of hip-hop beats with authentic African dialect has left an indelible mark on Ghana’s music scene.
He truly deserves the title of the Godfather of Hiplife!
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