Kojey Radical

British rapper, poet, and creative director Kwado Adu Genfi Amponsah (aka Kojey Radical) uses a mix of grime, alternative rap, and spoken word to convey his perspective on race and life in Britain.
Raised in Shoreditch, London, by Ghanaian parents, Amponsah started out as a spoken word poet. After graduating from the London College of Fashion — with a degree in Fashion Illustration — he released his first music project, Dear Daisy: Opium, named after a book he was illustrating while studying. His official debut EP, The Garden Party, surfaced in 2014 with help on production from Jay Prince. The record saw him become something of a breakout star, earning him a support slot on Young Fathers’ U.K. tour; the time he spent on tour helped to shift his output into more overtly political territory. This newfound sense of self found its way into Kojey Radical’s second EP, 2016′s 23Winters. His third EP, 2016′s In God’s Body, continued in the same vein, with a host of guest spots including Shola Ama, Ghetts, and Obongjayar. In between making his own music, Amponsah collaborated with numerous artists, with some standouts including his appearance on Mahalia’s “Water” and MJ Cole’s “Soak It Up.” A fourth EP, 2019′s Cashmere Tears, preceded the release of his debut album, 2022′s Reason to Smile. ~ Liam Martin