EL (rapper)
Ghanaian rapper
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Biography
Elom Adablah (born 28 June 1983), better known by his stage name EL, is an award-winning Ghanaian record producer, rapper and sound engineer.
Early life
EL grew up in the largest estate in Dansoman. He first attended St. Martin De Porres School in Dansoman where he excelled as a top student and later transferred to Jack and Jill where he completed his Junior Secondary School level. He then gained admission into Presbyterian Boys Secondary School (PRESEC), where he discovered his musical talent. After high school, he pursued a degree in economics and political science at the University of Ghana, Legon.
Music career
2008: Music beginnings
During his first year in the university, EL signed to Jayso's Skillions Records alongside other notable young Ghanaian underground artists like Ball J, Gemini, Kevin Beats, Killmatic and Lil Shaker, and helped Jayso co-produce the Skillionaires Demotape. However, after graduating from the university, the Skillions broke up and EL became a solo artist. He acquired a studio in Asylum Down and began working on a new mixtape. He went as far as releasing a single, "Chale (So Fli)", with Jay Foley, Wolf and Kwaku T (remix). However the mixtape was never released. EL relocated to a better studio at Osu, and invested all his available funds in acquiring state-of-the-art equipment much to the chagrin of family and friends.
2009–2012: Something Else
EL got signed to BBnZ live His debut double album, Something Else, was released on 1 June 2012 by Akwaaba Music, and is a blend of different varieties of music inspired from various sources.
2014: B.A.R
EL released The Best African Rapper album, shortened as The B.A.R on 20 May 2014. It featured Ayigbe Edem, Sarkodie, Joey B, C-Real, Gemini, Telvin, Frozen, Lil Shaker, Stargo, P. K. and Dex Kwasi.
2015: B.A.R 2
EL announced he was working on B.A.R 2, releasing the cover art and later dropping three songs ‘All Black’, ‘State Of The Nation’ and ‘King Without A Crown. On 29 August 2015, he followed up with the B.A.R 2 concert featuring Wanlov, Ko-Jo Cue, DJ Mic Smith and more.
2016: Elom
EL released his second studio album entitled Elom(Everybody loves original music) has so far released decent ratings from critics. The album boasts of singles "Mi Naa Bo Po", "Watch The Way You Dey Waka" and "Nkrumah Pt. 2" featuring highly respected recording artist Obrafour.
On April 15, 2016 Lauryn Hill headlined a concert dubbed Ms. Lauryn Hill Presents Diaspora Calling! in association with Tidal at Kings Theater, the concert was intended to celebrate the rich tapestry of artists from African Diaspora and had great artist from West Africa on stage namely El and Stonebwoy from Ghana, also Wondaboy and Mr. Eazi from Nigeria performing to a massive crowd.
In the early hours of 8 May 2016, at the Vodafone Ghana Music Awards at the Ghana International Conference Center, EL received the Artist of the Year award.
Producing career
EL has produced hit songs for many elite hip hop, hiplife and R&B performers, such as Sarkodie ("You Go Kill Me", "Dangerous"), D-Black ("Get On the Dancefloor"), Reggie Rockstone ("Rockstone's Office"), Asem ("Check Your Weight"), Geelex ("Bend Your Body") and many more.
In 2010 and 2011, EL heralded the Global Azonto Madness by producing most of the hit songs, including "You Go Kill Me", "Dangerous", and his own hit singles, "Obuu Mo" and "Kaalu".
Discography
- Studio albums
- Something Else (2012)
Obuu Mo, One Ghana, Kaalu, Mame Wossop, Auntie Martha
- Elom (2016)
- Mixtapes
- Project Hip Hop (with C-Real) (2011)
- Songs for Girls-the Valentines Day Mixtape (2012)
- B.A.R. (2014)
- Project Hip Hop 2 (with C-Real) (2015)
- B.A.R. 2 (2015)
- B.A.R. 3 (2016)
- Others
- Another Rainy Day
- Empty Barrels
- Find A Way
- Getting it Fast
- Move On
- My Addiction
- Pick up
- Don Dada ft [Ayigbe Edem] and Telvin
Singles
| Year | Title | Album | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Love Her More ( Featuring Samini) | N/A |
Videography
| Year | Title | Director | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | ☢ | shutterkvng photography |
Awards and nominations
- 2010 African Movie Academy Awards:Best Original Soundtrack 'A sting in a tale'
- 2010 Ghana Movie Awards: Best Score Award, Checkmate And more
- 2011 Ghana Music Awards: Hip-hop Song of the Year award, "Get On the Dance Floor", Producer
- 2015 MTN 4Syte TV Music Video Awards: Best Special Effect
- 2015 MTN 4Syte TV Music Video Awards: Best Edited Video
- 2016 Ghana Music Awards Hip-life/Hip-hop Artiste of the year
- 2016 Ghana Music Awards Artiste of the Year
- 2016 Ghana Music Awards Producer Of the Year
- 2016 Ghana Music Awards Music Video of the Year(Shelele)
Nominations
- 2012 Ghana Music Awards: Best New Artist, Best Rapper, Best Collaboration ("You Go Kill Me" with Sarkodie)
- 2012 Channel O Music Video Awards: Best Newcomer ("Turn The Lights Down")
- Ghana Music Awards Official website Retrieved 26 September 2012
- "Channel O Music Video Awards".