# D-Black

Desmond Kwesi Blackmore (born January 12, 1987), known by his stage name D-Black, is an anglophone hip-hop and Afrobeat musician and entrepreneur from Ghana. He has been described as "a successful entertainment mogul"

## Early life

D-Black attended Ridge Church School then Pope John Senior High School and Minor Seminary before the University of Cape Coast to study B.A Economics and University Of Ghana, Legon to study BFA Theatre Arts/Music.

## Personal life

D-Black was born to a Ghanaian mother, Adeline Boateng, and a Ghanaian-English father, John Derek Blackmore. He has three children. D-Black has nine siblings.

## Career

In 2009, D-Black began his career as an independent artist in the group D-Black & Kwaku T, releasing a group album, Target Practice. In 2010 D-Black and his rap partner both went solo. He went on to release three albums (Music, Love and Life, The Revelation and Lightwork), an E.P (Smoke and Mirrors) and a mix-tape (Hunger & Thirst). He won the 2011 BET Awards.
He has collaborated with African acts including Davido, Mayorkun, M.I, Phyno, Ice Prince, Seyi Shay from Nigeria, Cassper Nyovest, Bucie, HHP from South Africa, Stanley Enow from Cameroon, Stella Mwangi from Kenya and Vanessa Mdee from Tanzania as well as Sarkodie, Shatta Wale, StoneBwoy, Castro, Bisa Kdei, Efya, King Promise, Kuami Eugene E.L, Kwabena Kwabena, VVIP and more from his homeland Ghana. D-Black's journey from a young dreamer in Accra to a celebrated musician and entrepreneur is a testament to his resilience, talent and unwavering determination.
D-Black represents Ciroc Ultra Premium Vodka as its brand ambassador in Ghana. Additionally, he secured a marketing partnership with Black Sun Energy Drink. He fronts his own Black Avenue Clothing Line. He was the brand ambassador for The Rlg Brand of VIVA phones in the West African Sub Region in 2013.

## Black Avenue Muzik

D-Black is the CEO of record label Black Avenue Muzik, with acts including himself, DJ Breezy, S3fa, and music producers Rony Turn Me Up and Paul Noun. Former acts include Joey B, Freda Rhymz, Dahlin Gage, Ms. Forson, Osayo & Nina Ricchie & Wisa Greid. It won record label of the year at the 2018 Ghana - Naija Entertainment Awards in Lagos, Nigeria. and was nominated for the record label of the year at the 2019 Ghana Entertainment Awards in New York.

## Other ventures
### Black Avenue Clothing

Set up in 2012, this is a design company, marketer and importer of men and women's apparel.

### Livewire Events

Livewire Events is an events management company set up in 2015. In 2015 it produced the Bukom Banku vs Ayittey Powers boxing match at the Kumasi Sports Stadium. This included performances from Sarkodie, Shatta Wale and Efya. Other notable events include the 2018 Kundum Festival Jam in Axim for the Ministry of Tourism.

### Black Avenue Films/TV

He produced the film Why Should I Get Married, starring John Dumelo, Maria Nepembe, Princess Shyngle, Eya, Prince David Osei, and The EFGH Show hosted by Peace Hyde in 2015.

### Hospitality

D-Black owns Club Onyx, Oasis Lounge and La Maison restaurant..

## Discography
### Albums

* Target Practice (2009)
* Music, Love & Life (2010)
* The Revelation (2012)
* Lightwork (2016)
* Hunger & Thirst Mixtape (2017)
* Smoke & Mirrors E.P (2019)

### Singles

* "Move" w/ Kwaku T (2009)
* Breathe" w/ Kwaku T (2010)
* "Somebody" ft. Kwabena Kwabena (2011)
* "Get On the Dancefloor" ft. D Cryme (2011)
* "Ma Me Five" (2011)
* "Asabone" ft. Reggie Rockstone (2011)
* "My Kinda Girl" ft. Sarkodie (2012)
* "Change Your Life" ft. E.L (2012)
* "Vera" ft. Joey B (2012)
* "Black Clouds' ft. Waje (2013)
* "Conference Call" ft. Kwaw Kese, Sarkodie (2013)
* "Woara" ft. Kesse (2013)
* "Setewaa D3nky3" (2013)
* "Party Gbee" (2013)
* "Carry Go" ft. Davido (2013)
* "Personal Person" ft. Castro (2014)
* "Seihor" w/ Castro (2014)
* "Kotomoshi (2015)
* "Champ" ft. M.I Abaga (2016)
* "Omega" ft. Sarkodie (2016)
* "Bottles" ft. Medikal (2017)
* "Julie" ft. Bisa KDei (2017)
* "Makoma" ft. Mayorkun (2017)
* "Nobody" ft. King Promise (2018)
* "Badder" ft. Kuami Eugene(2019)
* "Dat Ting" ft. Joey B (2019)
* "Obiba" ft. Kidi (2019)
* "Miracle" (2019)
* "Falaa" ft. Medikal (2019)
* "Heaven Or Hell" ft. Sefa (2019)
* "Stay" ft. Simi (2019)
* "Sheege" ft. Gyakie (2021)

## Awards and nominations

| Year | Event | Award | Song | Results |
| 2009 | Channel O Music Video Awards | Best West African | Move | Nominated |
| 2010 | Vodafone Ghana Music Awards | Hip-Hop / Hip-life Song of the Year | Breathe | Nominated |
| 2010 | Vodafone Ghana Music Awards | Music Video of the Year | Breathe | Won |
| 2010 | Museke African Music Awards | Music Video of the Year | Breathe | Nominated |
| 2010 | African Music Awards, London | Music Video of the Year | Breathe | Won |
| 2010 | Channel O Music Video Awards, South Africa | Best Hip-hop | Breathe | Nominated |
| 2010 | Channel O Music Video Awards, South Africa | Best Music Video | Breathe | Nominated |
| 2010 | Sound City Music Awards, Nigeria | Best Collaboration | Somebody | Nominated |
| 2010 | Sound City Music Awards, Nigeria | Best New Video | Believe | Nominated |
| 2010 | 4SYTE Music Video Awards | Best Overall Video | Breathe | Nominated |
| 2010 | 4SYTE Music Video Awards | Best Storyline in a Video | Breathe | Won |
| 2010 | 4SYTE Music Video Awards | Best Directed Video | Breathe | Nominated |
| 2010 | 4SYTE Music Video Awards | Best Collaboration in a Video | Breathe | Won |
| 2010 | 4SYTE Music Video Awards | Best Group Video | Breathe | Nominated |
| 2011 | Ghana Music Awards | Hip hop/ Hip-life Artist of the Year | None | Nominated |
| 2011 | Ghana Music Awards | Hip hop Song of the Year | Get on Da Dancefloor | Won |
| 2011 | Ghana Music Awards | Songwriter of the Year | Somebody | Nominated |
| 2011 | Ghana Music Awards | Collaboration of the Year | Somebody | Nominated |
| 2011 | Ghana Music Awards | Album of the Year | Music, Love & Life | Nominated |
| 2011 | BET Awards | Best International Artist of the Year (Africa) | - | Nominated |
| 2011 | Ghana Gospel Industry Awards | Alternate Gospel Song of the year | Somebody | Nominated |
| 2011 | Ghana Gospel Industry Awards | Alternate Gospel Video of the year | Somebody | Won |
| 2011 | Channel O Music Video Awards | Best African West | Get on Da Dancefloor | Nominated |
| 2011 | 4Syte Music Video Awards | Best Photography in a video | Somebody | Nominated |
| 2011 | 4Syte Music Video Awards | Best Hip-hop Video | Get on da dancefloor | Nominated |
| 2011 | 4Syte Music Video Awards | Best Collaboration in a video | Somebody | Nominated |
| 2011 | 4Syte Music Video Awards | Best Edited Video | Get on Da Dancefloor | Nominated |
| 2011 | Music Video Awards | Best African Act | Get on Da Dancefloor | Nominated |
| 2011 | Ghana Hip-hop Awards | The Next Big Thing Award | - | Won |
| 2011 | Ghana Hip-hop Awards | Male Hip-hop Artiste(of the Decade) | - | |
| 2011 | Ghana Hip-hop Awards | Hip-hop album (of the Decade) | - | Nominated |
| 2011 | Ghana Hip-hop Awards | Best Collaboration | Breathe | Nominated |
| 2011 | Ghana Hip-hop Awards | Hip-hop Artiste of the year | - | Won |
| 2012 | Ghana Music Awards | Hip-hop Song of the year | My Kinda Girl | Nominated |
| 2012 | Ghana Music Awards | Music Video of the year | My Kinda Girl | Nominated |
| 2012 | Ghana Music Awards | Album of the Year | The Revelation | Nominated |
| 2012 | HSH Awards | Most Influential Artiste | - | Won |
| 2012 | Hip-hop World Awards | Best International Artiste | - | Nominated |
| 2012 | Channel O Music Video Awards | Best West Africa video | Falling | Won |
| 2012 | MTN 4SYTE Music Video Awards | Best Collaboration | Falling | Won |
| 2013 | Ghana Music Awards | Artist of the year | - | Nominated |
| 2013 | Ghana Music Awards | Song of the Year | Vera | Nominated |
| 2013 | Ghana Music Awards | Hip-life Song of the Year | Vera | Nominated |
| 2013 | Ghana Music Awards | Hip-hop Song of the Year | Falling | Nominated |
| 2013 | Ghana Music Awards | Hip-hop/Hip-life Artiste of the Year | - | Nominated |
| 2013 | Ghana Music Awards UK | Song of the year | Vera | Won |
| 2013 | Ghana Music Awards UK | Collaboration of the year | Vera | Won |
| 2013 | Channel O Music Video Awards | Best Africa West | Vera | Nominated |
| 2015 | Ghana Music Awards | Hip-life Song of the Year | Seihor | Won |
| 2016 | 4Syte Music Video Awards | Male Video of the Year | Kotomoshi | Won |
| 2016 | 4Syte Music Video Awards | Hiplife Video of the Year | Kotomoshi | Nominated |
| 2016 | 4Syte Music Video Awards | Best Directed Video of the Year | Kotomoshi | Nominated |
| 2016 | 4Syte Music Video Awards | Most Influential Artist of the Year | D-Black | Nominated |
| 2017 | Ghana Movie Awards | Soundtrack the Year | D-Black ft. Efya | Won |
| 2017 | 4Syte Music Video Awards | Hiplife Video of the Year | Bottles | Won |
| 2017 | 4Syte Music Video Awards | Male Video of the Year | Bottles | Nominated |
| 2017 | 4Syte Music Video Awards | Photography Video of the Year | Bottles | Nominated |
| 2018 | 40 Under 40 Awards | Entrepreneur the Year (Hospitality) | D-Black (Club Onyx) | Won |
| 2019 | Ghana Entertainment Awards Awards | Artist / Entrepreneur of the Year | D-Black | Won |
| 2022 | 3Music Awards | Artist of the Year | Himself | Nominated |
| 2022 | 3Music Awards | Afrobeats/Afropop Song of the Year | Enjoyment Minister ft. Quamina MP, Stonebwoy | Nominated |
| 2022 | 3Music Awards | Hiplife/Hip Hop Act of the Year | Himself | Nominated |
| 2022 | 3Music Awards | Album of the Year | Loyalty | Nominated |