Preachers (musical group)

Preachers

Preachers performing at TV3's Music Music, June 19, 2015. L to R: Emani Beats, Obed Psych, Edmund Baidoo
Background information
Origin Ghana, West Africa
Genres Rap, Hip hop, Afro pop
Years active 2009–present
Labels Radah Empire
Website www.preachersgh.com
Members Obed Psych
Emani Beats
Edmund Baidoo
Past members Dennis Enim
Michelle Majid-Michel

"Preachers" is a Ghanaian urban gospel group signed to Radah Empire. The group is made up of three members, Obed Psych, Emani Beats and Edmund Baidoo. Since 2009, as pacesetters of the urban gospel movement in Ghana,[1] they have toured locally and internationally to preach the word of God through their music. Preachers are arguably the founders of the urban gospel/hiphop genre in Ghana and continue to set the pace for the new generation of gospel music.[2]

History

International Tour

In May 2016, Preachers performed to a multitude in Pretoria, South Africa at the Conquerors Through Christ Ministries auditorium as part of their Bibles Up International Tour.[3] In December 2015,[4] the trio performed at Kenya's popular "Totally Sold Out Concert" at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre in Nairobi and organized a conference dubbed "Ghana Meets Kenya Summit"[5] at the Nairobi Cinema.

The Fearless Project

In August 2014, The Fearless Project,[6] which has been the greatest album of Preachers so far was launched at Holiday Inn Hotel in Accra. The Album title is based on the bible verse 2 Timothy 1:7 "For God has not given us the spirit of fear but of power and of love and of sound mind". The album has been described as a multiple hit album because it won them several local and international awards and nominations. Their song No Juju won "Most Wanted Rap Song of the year at the Christian Community Music Awards 2014"[7] and "Most Popular Song at the Jamming Jesus Festival and Honors 2015",[8] The video for their song "Meyi W'aye"[9] which featured Noble Nketsiah also won "Best International Music Video" at the Gospel Music Awards Italy 2014 and "Video of the Year" at the Jamming Jesus Festival and Honors 2015[8]

Group Formation

Preachers started as a group of five namely Michelle Majid-Michel, Dennis Enim (lead singer at the time), Obed Nzuh(also known as Obed Psych, now lead singer of the group), Edmund Baidoo and Emmanuel Awuni (also known as Emani Beats). They came together as a group in 2009 to form a gospel rap group which they together named PREACHERS. The name Preachers was derived from the bible verse Mark 16:15 which says "Go ye into the world and Preach the gospel to all creation". They recorded their first mixtape "Very Special" in 2010 with almost all songs produced by record producer and multi-instrumentalist KODA .

Debut Album and Breakthrough

Not long in time, Michelle opted out of the group to focus on her education. The remaining four Dennis, Obed Psych, Emani Beats and Edmund continued to work together as a team and blew up with their debut album "Mark 16:15"[10] in 2012. This led to their breakthrough in the music industry as their hit song Go Hard topped local charts, won them the Discovery of the Year award at the 2012 Ghana Gospel Music Awards[11] and Most Wanted Rap Song at the 2013 Christian Community Music Awards.[12] Go Hard's music video[13] also featured on top Christian Hip Hop online magazine Rapzilla.[14]

In 2013, Dennis silently left the group and Preachers released a music video for their song "E Dey Love Me"[15] which brought controversies from the cost and concept of the video to the mysterious absence of Dennis in the video.[16] Preachers have since not officially said a word about his absence. However, Preachers describe themselves today as the interminable trio which concludes that the group is now a trio.

The trio however did not stop there. They continued to grow from strength to strength winning many more local and international awards such as Afro Rap Artist(s) of the Year at the Africa Gospel Music Awards in the United Kingdom. They performed on bigger platforms and put together a formidable group called team bibles up which consists of "die-hard" fans of Preachers. Their Go Hard Tour[17] grew into the Bibles Up Tour[18] which covered more schools and made more impact than ever. They succeeded in winning the hearts of the youth and were always on major youth events.

Bibles Up Foundation

In 2014, Preachers launched their foundation called the Bibles Up Foundation, which was launched alongside their second album "The Fearless Project"[6]

Discography

Videography

Awards

Year Award Category Outcome
2016 Ghana Music Awards UK Gospel Artist of the Year Pending[29]
Groove Awards Western Africa Artist of the Year Nominated[30]
Christian Community Music Awards Most Wanted Rap Song Won[31]
Vodafone Ghana Music Awards Gospel Artist(s) of the Year Nominated[32]
Best Group of the Year Nominated[32]
Music Video of the Year (Crazy) Nominated[32]
2015 MTN 4Syte TV Music Video Awards Gospel Video of the Year Nominated[33]
Jamming Jesus Festival and Honors Album of the Year (The Fearless Project) Won[8]
Most Popular Song of the Year (No Juju) Won[8]
Most Influential Artist Nominated[8]
Music Video of the Year (Meyi W'aye) Won[8]
Collaboration of the Year(Meyi W'aye) Nominated[8]
2014 Gospel Music Awards Italy International Music Video of The Year (E Dey Love Me) Won[34]
International Group of the Year Nominated[34]
International Song of the Year (No Juju) Nominated[34]
International Gospel HipHop/Rap of the Year Nominated[34]
Christian Community Music Awards Most Wanted Rap Song of the Year Won[7]
Africa Gospel Music Awards Best Video (E Dey Love Me) Nominated[35]
Africa Gospel Music Awards Afro Rap Artist(s) of the Year Won[36]
Group of the Year Nominated[37]
Video of the Year (My Days) Nominated[37]
2013 Christian Community Music Awards Most Wanted Rap Song of the Year (Go Hard) Won[12]
Black Entertainment, Fashion, Film and Television Awards International Artist of the Year Nominated[38]
2012 Ghana Gospel Music Awards Discovery of the Year Won[11]
Africa Gospel Music Awards Afro Rap Artist(s) of the Year Nominated[39]

Concerts and tours

References

  1. "What Is Ghana's Definition Of Urban Gospel Music?".
  2. "Preachers, Ghana's urban gospel music 'Generals'". www.ghanaweb.com.
  3. "Preachers Embark of Bibles Up International Tour". KristocrazyGH.
  4. "Urban Gospel Trio Preachers Begin Kenya Tour". Gospel Hauz. Gospelhauz. 31 Dec 2015. Retrieved 12 January 2016.
  5. "Ghana meets Kenya (GOSPEL MUSIC SUMMIT)". Retrieved 12 January 2016.
  6. 1 2 3 "iTunes - Music - The Fearless Project by Preachers - Apple". iTunes. Retrieved 16 August 2015.
  7. 1 2 "Gospel Trio Win The "Most Wanted Rap Award" Again". pulse.com.gh (5 January 2015). Retrieved 16 August 2015.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "The Dynamic Gospel Rap Gentlemen "Preachers" Wins 3 Awards At The Jamming Jesus Festival & Honors". GH Base (7 April 2015). Retrieved 17 August 2015.
  9. 1 2 "Hot New VIDEO: Preachers collaborate with Noble Nketiah in new track". Starr Fm (23 September 2014). Retrieved 17 August 2015.
  10. 1 2 "iTunes - Music - Mark 16:15 by Preachers". iTunes. Retrieved 16 August 2015.
  11. 1 2 "Preachers are discovery of the year 2012". justinmensah.com (24 December 2012). Retrieved 16 August 2015.
  12. 1 2 "Preachers - Go Hard wins Award at CCMA". justinmensah.com (20 May 2013). Retrieved 16 August 2015.
  13. "Preachers - Go Hard (The Official Music Video)". Youtube. Preachers.
  14. "Go Hard by Preachers on Rapzilla". Rapzilla (14 January 2012). Retrieved 16 August 2015.
  15. "Preachers - E Dey Love Me (Official Music Video)". Youtube. Retrieved 16 August 2015.
  16. "Preachers spend $15000 on new video and we ask...where is Dennis?". justinmensah.com (16 July 2013). Retrieved 16 August 2015.
  17. 1 2 "2012 Go Hard Campus Tour". GTV News. 20 December 2012. Retrieved 16 August 2015.
  18. 1 2 "Bibles Up School Tour". Jerady Writes (9 July 2015). Retrieved 16 August 2015.
  19. "Download : Preachers – Folo Folo ft. Teddy OT – @preachersgh". 116tunes. 18 April 2016.
  20. "New Release: Why Dem Shaa like Dat!!!! By Preachers". Gospel Online GH. Retrieved 4 February 2016.
  21. "NEW MUSIC: PREACHERS – ONE BY ONE". Gospel Hauz. Retrieved 23 December 2015.
  22. "Music: Glory ~ Preachers [@preachersgh] Ft. Veyeera [@veyeera]". May 20, 2015. Retrieved September 16, 2015 via Gospelhotspot.
  23. "Preachers - Together As One ft. Teddy OT, Belac360, Tresh, Seth Diamond". 3 October 2016.
  24. "Preachers Premiere Crazy Video in Style" (3 September 2015). Graphic Showbiz. Retrieved 14 September 2015.
  25. "Urban Gospel Musicians Preachers Go 'CRAZY' In A New Video". GhBase.Com. Retrieved 14 September 2015.
  26. "Preachers - E Dey Love Me (Official Music Video)". Youtube. Jan 31, 2014. Retrieved 14 September 2015.
  27. "Preachers ft. Isaac Ogoe - My Days (Official Music Video)". Youtube. Jun 8, 2012. Retrieved Oct 8, 2015.
  28. "Preachers Ft. Christ Image - GO HARD (The Official Video)". Youtube. Jan 12, 2012. Retrieved Oct 8, 2015.
  29. "1st Ghana Music Awards UK Nominations 2016: See the Full List of Nominees". Live 91.9 FM. 20 September 2016.
  30. Junia, Pep. "Preachers nominated for Groove Awards – Proudly Ghanaian! | ENewsGh". E News.
  31. "Preachers Win Most Wanted Rap Award The 3rd Time – CCMA 2016". 116tunes. 3 May 2016.
  32. 1 2 3 "VGMA 2016 – Final Nominations". Retrieved 29 February 2016.
  33. "Preachers get nod in 4Syte Awards - Graphic Online". graphic.com.gh. Retrieved 2015-11-02.
  34. 1 2 3 4 "BREAKING NEWS!!!!! GOSPEL MUSIC AWARDS (GMA) ROME ITALY 2014 OFFICIAL RESULT". Gospel Music Awards Italy. Retrieved 20 August 2015.
  35. "AFRICAN GOSPEL MUSIC AWARD 2014 COMMITTEE RELEASES FINAL LIST OF NOMINEE". naijagospelbeats.com (21 July 2014). Retrieved 17 August 2015.
  36. "African Gospel Music Awards (AGMA) 2013. And The Winners Are…". Praise World Radio (7 July 2013). Retrieved 16 August 2015.
  37. 1 2 "2013 Africa Gospel Music Awards Nominee List". akatasia.com (12 June 2013). Retrieved 17 August 2015.
  38. "Preachers go hard with BEFFTA award nomination". ghanamusic.com (4 October 2013). Retrieved 17 August 2015.
  39. "AGMA 2012 Final Nominee List". Modern Ghana (4 June 2012). Retrieved 17 August 2015.
  40. "Preachers Embark of Bibles Up International Tour". KristocrazyGH.
  41. "Ghana Meets Kenya (Gospel Music Summit)". Retrieved 6 January 2016.
  42. "Preachers Premiere Crazy Video In Style". 3 September 2015. Retrieved 8 October 2015 via Graphic Showbiz.
  43. "PY and Caroline to host Preachers @5 concert". ameyawdebrah.com (17 December 2015). Retrieved 16 August 2015.
  44. "2014 The Fearless Project". iTunes. 4 August 2014. Retrieved 16 August 2015.
  45. "2013 Bibles Up Tour". Bibles Up TV (10 May 2013). Retrieved 16 August 2015.
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