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Unless it is one of those public
stunts generally employed by artists or their management to sustain or
soar up their dwindling fortunes and popularity, then the news about
Promzy (Emmanuel Ababio)- arguably the front man of one of the most
respected and successful music groups in Ghana over the past 15 years-
signals the ‘death’ of the group’s musical fortunes.
Despite the
expected assurance of their manager, Bull Dog that ‘VIP is bigger than
one member of the group’, it is an undeniable fact the group can’t,
unless some divine intention, maintain its glory.
The gloss of
VIP has in recent times been waning. This was evident at their last
stage performance at the Vodafone Ghana Music Awards where the crowd,
which hitherto would jump off their seats, sing, applaud and dance as if
possessed to every song by VIP, sat staring, uninterested to what they
were about. The magnetic force that defined VIPs showmanship was
evaporating.
Prior to that performance, response to their new
single ‘Follow Me’, a cover of Nigerian rapper M.I’s ‘African Rapper
(No.1)”- in my view, coupled with the solo tunes of Lazzy ‘Human Gyata”,
Prodigal’s “DJ” had minimal impact on the music charts and radio
airplays. The sign was clear that they needed to re-invent but not in
this fashion.
One may argue that VIP has survived such situation
before. No doubt. Before VIP became such a big brand in Ghana and going
on to sweep five awards (a record) at the 2004 Ghana Music Awards, the
vision of their progress nearly came to a halt.
Friction, who was
a founding member, exited the Nima based group after dropping hits as
‘Rana Sallah’ and Obaa Sweetie’. Another member, Bone, also went away,
leaving Promzy, Lazzy (now Zeal) and Prodigal to salvage the drowning
VIP boat.
The group’s management switched hands. Mic Smith then
of Groove FM handed the management to Goodies Music who partnered with
Precise Music and later Allordia Productions and in 2004; VIP released
their biggest album ever ‘Ahomka Wo Mu’. Remember in 2011, they picked
the top prize Artiste of the Year at the Ghana Music Awards.
The
success of the album cemented their credentials as a force to reckon
with, opening doors to them across Africa and the UN appointing them as
Peace Ambassadors for West Africa. They had been on a roll ever since.
There
was a brief hiatus. They released ‘Progress’ which spurned two single
‘I Think I like Am’ and ‘Away’. Then the gloss began to wear off till
this recent announcement. |
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