Ghanaian musician, Stonebwoy has disclosed that he still needs to put in extra hard work despite signing on Def Jam Music record label.
The ‘Manodzi’ crooner revealed that he’s happy to have the opportunity to work with such a label.
“I joined Def Jam with my Burniton Music Group so we can all progress because they’ve seen my hard work and they appreciate my efforts. That’s where we are today which is making us happy that we’ve also gotten such an opportunity to work from that angle,” he remarked.
“It’s all about working hard and nothing comes easy and what we’ve seen so far is amazing but it’s not as if we’re just sitting idle for the work to progress but we still put in a lot of work. But there is the need for hands to support because the bigger the work, the more the hands or the further you want to go the bigger the engine,” he further stated.
The popular singer responded to those who claimed that it wasn’t necessary for him to join the Def Jam Music record label.
This comes after releasing the crisp video for ‘Manodzi’ on his 5th Dimension album featuring Grammy Awards winner, Angelique Kidjo.
“If I want to move forward and progress then it’s necessary for me to find out the kind of people that can support me for my work to get very far,” Stonebwoy said.
“Just like everybody’s work is going far if we look at our brothers from Nigeria and the global scene we can see that people are progressing with their work. So we also ought to try our best so that we can move forward and so if someone says Stonebwoy was okay, I thank God for that,” he further added.
However, he said that maybe one wishes to be like him, and he also wishes to be like somebody, adding that maybe the level he has gotten to is something one adores but he also wants to do more.
“In your estimation, you think Stonebwoy is okay so why sign on Def Jam but I also see myself that where I’ve gotten to isn’t enough so I need to join forces with them and progress with my craft,” he explained.
Collaboration On Stunning Video For ‘Manodzi’
Stonebwoy released his most prestigious video to date for the brand new single, “Manodzi,” featuring 5x Grammy Award-winning singer Angélique Kidjo.
Directed by Ghanaian filmmaker, director, and cinematographer Yaw Skyface, the video was shot on location at the palatial Chateaux Bouffémont in the Bouffémont commune in France.
Dating back to 1860, the chateaux provided the perfect backdrop for the video’s sweeping introduction, setting the scene for the true African royal experience taking place within its walls.
The video reflects the message behind the single “Manodzi” well. Referred to by Stonebwoy as the “root” of his 5th Dimension album, the track is aptly placed last in the track listing.
But it also has a deeper meaning concerning where Stonebwoy feels he is going in life and urges listeners to take comfort in the meaning.
The song simply means, “keeping on” while working hard to achieve one’s dreams. “I call it the last, but not least track on the album,” he states, because its uplifting message drives the listener to remember where they come from and where they are going—and getting to work with Angélique Kidjo has been a dream for Stonebwoy since the beginning of his career.
“It was an honor to work with Ms. Kidjo. She is like a mother to me and Africa at large,” he respectfully stated.
Angélique Kidjo is a multi-faceted singer, actor, and activist and is well-known for her immensely diverse approach to African sounds. Through “Manodzi,” she expanded further by contributing vocals sung in the Ewe language, one that is not her native tongue. It is also her first feature outside of her primary language, which fans are finding particularly emotional.
The internet has exploded with love for the track, with social platforms and react videos calling it Stonebwoy’s most spiritual track to date, proving that the collaboration resonates with listeners regardless of language.
The video of the song instills the sense that Stonebwoy is taking his rightful place among leaders in the African music industry, and with Ms. Kidjo making an appearance in the video alongside him, it is the perfect culmination of years of dreams and hard work paying off.
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