Award winning Ghanaian rapper, Okyeame Kwame has shared six (6) secrets on how to build a personal brand with up and coming artistes.
The artiste who one of Ghana's artistes whose prime focus is on branding has over the years worked on his brand and as such has earned for himself popularity in the entertainment field.
Aside launching a book for his “OK” brand, the 2009 VGMA Artist of the Year has also produced works including Bose Ba (2004), Manwesem (2008), The Clinic (2011), and The Versatile Show in 2012.
Speaking at the launch of Busy Internet's JUMP online platform the “Small Small” hit singer shared 6 key secrets on how to build a brand as a growing artiste. He also gave inspiring tips on how to have a successful life.
Here are a few of the inspiring tips:
Be Different:
What it means is, study the status quo and something different which is exciting and interesting, find a way of blending everything to make your approach different.
Be Original:
Draw from your cultural source, talk about things that are relevant to your community and audience. Don't rap about profanity. Example if you live at Nima the problem is mosquitoes so rap about it. Be original, don't be like others.
Be Consistent:
No matter how inexpensive your videos are, make sure that whatever message you want to sell is there and we can see that in your videos.
Association:
You have to look like the job you want not the one you have. Associate with where exactly you want to go so you become an artist that has importance, choose a name from a place that people find important.
“See Akyeame chose the name “Akyeame” because we saw that people didn't like rap so we went to the court and palace where people have respect everything that goes on there, hence seeking inspiration to form the name “Akyeame”, Said Okyeame Kwame.
Build and army:
Begin with your family, friends, church members, classmates, associates, and enemies. In everything you do, you're surrounded by them so build your army beginning with them. Stay in contact with them via phone or social media. Now set targets and work on getting it done, rent a crowd, convince your friends to come and watch you perform. After they praise you, onlookers will do same.
Do not work hard, work smart:
Working hard is for regular people, working smart is for winners. Working smart means paying attention to little details, once that is done, the big things will follow. Be Smart, when you have a plan walk through with it and execute.
He however urged the Up and Coming artistes to choose a name a simple name to make it easier for people to recall them anytime.
“When you receive an award and you get the opportunity, show it to Asantehene or the president. As an upcoming artist, find a rapper or a singer that you look up to and associate with him or her. If you meet an amazing presenter like Bola Ray, Kwame Adinkra, Andy Dosty take photos with them and share on your social media platform.” He said.
Okyeame has Master's Degree in Marketing Strategy at the University of Ghana Business School and was recently honored by the CIMG after his presentation at the organization's Continuous Professional Development (CPD) seminar under the theme: ‘Branding For Global Recognition'.
He is currently out with a new single Saucing featuring his kids Sir Bota and Sante.