Tic, previously known to the older Ghanaian generation as Tic Tac, has been offered a citation of honour for his immense contribution to the origins of the Afrobeats genre.
The citation was presented to Tic, by the host of Accra FM’s Highlife Time Show, Oyoko Dehyie Kofi, with written words to eulogize the legendary rapper’s offerings to Hiplife, Afrobeats, and back when where few young talents boldly stood up for the rap genre.
“You have been a trailblazer whose creative artistry and dedication helped lay the foundation for the evolution of Afrobeats and the modern Ghanaian music industry,” the beginning of the eulogy read.
Excerpts of the citation gave the rapper his due flowers for inspiring young generations and elevating Ghanaian music to the Nigerian music market.
“You have inspired generations of artists and elevated Ghana’s music to international acclaim. This honour is bestowed upon you for your outstanding achievements, influence, and pioneering role in shaping the Afrobeats sound and culture,” the citation concluded
Tic, expressed his appreciation for the honour stating that the gesture meant a lot to him.
The legendary rapper is often overlooked when legendary names are mentioned. His 2006 hit song and video for “Kangaroo,” featuring Samini (then known as Batman), was featured on MTV Base African Charts. Notably, the video was directed by the acclaimed American director Gil Green, who was a big deal back then. Additionally, his song “Philomena” sparked a cultural slang term becoming a popular way to tease people about funky body odour.
The Kangaroo dance from his song was also adopted by Ghana’s Black Stars football team as their celebratory dance.
Tic was one of the early Ghanaian rapper’s who could merge his sounds with Nigerian acts (Tony Tetulia & Key Note). So it’s was not surprising news when he was featured in the 2021 Netflix documentary “Afrobeats: The Backstory,” for playing a pivotal role in shaping Afrobeats into its current form.
Specifically, Tic appeared in Episode 2, discussing Ghana’s “Hip-Life” movement and its influence on modern Afrobeats.