Reggie Rockstone

Reggie Rockstone(Reginald Yaw Asante Ossei, "the Godfather ofHiplife") is a Ghanaian rapper. He was born in theUnited Kingdombut lived his early years inKumasiandAccra. He has been living in Ghana continuously since he pioneered theHip-Lifemovement in 1994.He is married to Dr. Zilla Limann, Daughter ofHilla Limann, the only president of the third Republic of Ghana. They have three kids together and have been married since 2001.
He pioneered theHiplifeart and has played an important role in the development of this uniquely African genre in Ghana. He raps in Akan preciselyAsanteTwiandEnglish.In 2004, Rockstone won theKora Awardfor the best African video and he performed in front of a 50,000-person crowd in Ghana, together withShaggy.In 2006, he recorded a track with theJamaicanDancehallsingerBeenie Mancalled "Chukku Chakka" (in reference to Rockstone's 1999 hit "Eye Mo De Anaa", which sampledFela Kuti). Rockstone is featured in the 2007 documentary "Living the Hiplife" (dir. Jesse Weaver Shipley).
Reggie Rockstone is the son of fashion designer Ricky "Ricci" Ossei (Saint Ossei). Reggie Rockstone attendedAchimota School. Rockstone joined the Ghanaian hip hop groupVVIPfollowing the exit of Promzy in 2014.
Born in theU.K. on April 11, 1964, Reginald Osei aka Reggie Rockstone attached himself to the Hip Hop movement in the early 80's as a dancer. Travelling on a tri-continental basis (i.e.Accra,New York,London), he broadened his Hip Hop scope.As a performer and trained actor, he began rapping in 1991.
His first 'fifteen minutes of fame' came as a dancer in Accra in the early 80's. His second chance at fame came in 1992-93 as a member of one of the top rap groups from London, England. He belonged to PLZ (Parables, Linguistics and Zlang) with Fredi Funkstone, Jay (both fromWest Africa) & DJ Pogo of the U.K. Number one hits from PLZ included "If it Aint PLZ" and an EP entitled "Build a Wall Around Your Dreams" released on an independent label called "Go For the Juggler."
1994 became the watershed or turning point in his entertainment career. The rap scene in London was not rewarding enough. He returned to Accra to encounter a whole generation of people grooving toAfrican-Americanrhythms, all heavily influenced by the same elements of Hip Hop that he knew.
He used the hip hop beats with authentic phat production and laced it with true African dialect; TheAkanlanguage of Twi. It became the tool to make such butter classics as "Sweetie, Sweetie", "Tsoo Boi", "Nightlife in Accra" and "Agoo" from his debut album in 1997 entitled "Makaa! Maka!".Launched on an independent label called KASSA RECORDS that he partly owns,  Rockstone has reached Ghanaians and non-Ghanaians across four continentsReggie Rockstone is credited as the pioneer ofhiplifeor "Kasahare music" in Ghana and like some masters of the art of hip hop, he has proclaimed his retirement and out of retirement several times. His specialty isAsante Twi. He is internationally acclaimed, with several performances throughoutWest Africa, the UK,France,USAandSwitzerland.
In 2013 he was selected to be a judge of the maiden edition of theGloX FactorAfrica along withOnyeka OnwenuandM.I.He was also a judge for the fifth edition of the Malta Guinness Street Dance competition in 2012.
In 2009, Rockstone was one of 17Public figures, who were outdoored byGlobacomto endorse their brand, which was part of their preparations to roll out inGhana. There was an allegation that he had been dropped as an ambassador but he denied the reports.
He introduced RockstoneCondoms, which is his own brand of contraceptive to theGhanaianmarket in August 2013. With this move, he was pitching into the zero infection or prevalence initiative againstHIV/AIDS's goals.
Rockstone recorded four albums for theKassa Recordslabel and one for MixerPot:
He owns a food distribution business that packages the Ghanaian dishwaakyefor delivery to hotels. The food is packaged in glass jars.