Explore Asakaa on Josplay Music Tracks are typically sparse and bass-forward, featuring long intros, no choruses or minimal hooks, and layered verses.
Asakaa, or Ghana Drill, is a regional music genre born in Kumasi, the capital city of Ghana’s Ashanti Region. It is a raw, melodic fusion of UK/US drill and Ghanaian street culture, blending Twi, English, and local slang over hard hitting beats.
Influenced By: Hiplife
By mid-2020, the drill movement had found a strong following among Kumasi’s youth. A group of local MCs, having been immersed in the global drill wave, began experimenting — tweaking the sound to fit their own experiences, their language, and their environment. They didn’t know it yet, but they were laying the foundation for what would become a global phenomenon.
In local slang, “saka” is a twist on “kasa,” the Akan word for “to speak.” Asakaa, then, is about speaking out — using street slang, coded language, and raw storytelling on tracks that reflect the realities of urban youth in Ghana. While drill lyrics are often known for their aggressive tone, the Asakaa artists added their own flavor — melodic elements, Ghanaian sound influences, and a linguistic blend of English, Akan, and Twi — to create something entirely unique.
Asakaa pioneers like O’Kenneth, Kwaku DMC, Jay Bahd, Reggie, Kawabanga, and poster boy Yaw Tog, among others, made the genre theirs by releasing top hits that went nationwide.
For them, Asakaa is a form of expression, identity, and a sonic representation of their realities and ambitions. The sound they created diverged from UK or US drill by pulling in melodic touches and storytelling that made the genre stand out globally.
The term “Kumerica” — a mashup of Kumasi and America — emerged as the cultural hub of Asakaa. Influenced by American hip hop and drill, yet proudly rooted in Ghanaian identity, young people began renaming parts of Kumasi in the style of US cities. Dichemso became “DC,” and the entire city embraced a new flag, a new lifestyle, and a new sense of pride. Kumerica wasn’t just a joke or a meme — it was a self-made cultural rebranding. A new ecosystem for this sub genre to thrive.
The late Pop Smoke, often referred to as the king of drill, was a key influence for many of these artists. His sound and swagger inspired the Asakaa rappers to carry the torch in their own way. And while the Asakaa movement truly caught fire around 2020, many of its seeds were planted earlier.
Sean Lifer, co-founder of Life Living Records, is widely credited as the godfather of the genre. Long before Asakaa exploded across Ghana, he was laying the groundwork. But it was the breakout success of Yaw Tog, especially with his viral hit Sore, that propelled the movement onto the international stage.
Musically, Asakaa features many of the traits of drill: skippy drum patterns, thick drum lines, ominous melodies, and tempos hovering around 60 to 70 BPM. The beats often layer hi-hats and rippling basslines with piano loops, while the vocals ride sharp, aggressive flows that switch between languages with ease.
Since its rise just a few years ago — during a global pandemic, Asakaa has transformed from an underground movement to a national and international symbol of Ghanaian youth culture. And the world has taken notice: the Recording Academy has now recognized Asakaa as a genre eligible for the Grammy’s “Best African Music Performance” category.
Asakaa is rooted in Kumasi’s youth culture, fusing local slang, fashion, and pride in Ghanaian identity with global influences—particularly American drill and hip hop aesthetics.
Vocals are mostly rapped, delivered in raw, gritty tones with bursts of melody; artists often switch between English, Twi, and pidgin, creating a punchy, multilingual storytelling vibe.
Asakaa’s form leans heavily on traditional drill structures like looped melodies and minimal hooks—but it’s flavored with Ghanaian rhythm and Ghanaian street swagger, giving it an unpredictable energy.
Lyrics center around street survival, God, loyalty, ambition, and hustle, with unfiltered depictions of everyday life in Kumasi, often layered with coded slang.
The sound is dark, heavy, and atmospheric, with deep basslines, distorted 808s, and sharp hi-hats.