Meet the top 6 finalist for the 2018 edition of Closeup Campus Tour grand finale scheduled for Friday, August 3 at the National Theatre.
MEET ACYY
‘Being a part of the Close-up Campus Tour has been the best thing to ever happen to an underground artiste like me who has been struggling to break into mainstream’. His name is Atuahene Collins but goes by the stage name ACYY, a finalists in the Closeup Coolbreeze campus tour competition.
ACYY is a level 400 student who emerged winner when the crew made a stop at the University of Development Studies, Tamale.
According to the 24-year-old nursing student, he has been doing music on campus for almost 3 years but never got the break he needed to make his songs known to the world. He believes that the Closeup Campus tour has been immensely beneficial to his music career since it has afforded him the very rare opportunity of blowing up in school.
He believes that music is not only for entertainment purpose but a way to inspire people through personal experiences and happenings in society. Moreover, he always challenges himself to be a better person both in his personal life and as an artiste. He likes hip-hop, hence his style of music, rap.
GET CLOSER WITH CRYME OFFICER
On a normal day, a crime officer would either be at post, either on his desk or on the ground investigating a crime scene. But no, not this one! With such rare talent, there’s no doubt that he’s meant for the stage, and mic. His name is Cryme Officer, and he is one of 6 finalists of the Closeup Coolbreeze Campus Tour.
Named Prince Isaac Arko at birth, Cryme broke all barriers when he emerged winner of the Closeup Coolbreeze Campus Tour at the Koforidua Technical University. But who is this talented young act from Koforidua?
Prince is a 26-year-old fresh graduate of Koforidua Technical University with background in accounting. His passion for music had always been evident as he was mostly found in the studios recoding or writing lyrics. He was also deeply involved in all campus entertainment activities; either performing or helping with production.
He revealed that before the Closeup Coolbreeze Campus Tour competition, he was a nominee in a campus produced SRC awards scheme which he didn’t win. He attributed the loss to lack of exposure and wider fan-base. So when the Closeup team got to his campus, he knew he had to regain his image by jumping onto this great opportunity, not to only become a local champion but to subsequently break the barrier into mainstream music.
The experience, according to the rapper, has been life changing. He admitted however, that the process i.e. competing, winning and the whole regional campus tour has expanded his fanbase, made him relevant and most importantly, given him the opportunity to meet and interact with mainstream artistes. The singer and rapper believes that versatile artistes such himself should not limit themselves to one particular genre of music. His inspiration is from his own life experiences, happenings around him, and God.
SAY HELLO TO LYCON
‘I am inspired by my everyday struggle and the things happening around me. Trust me, I have been through a lot as an underground artiste’ – Stephen K. Afun.
Popularly known as Lycon, Stephen is one of the 6 finalists of the Closeup Cool Breeze Campus Tour Finale slated for the 3rd of August at the National Theater.
The 24-year-old level 300 electrical engineering student of the Ho Technical University emerged winner when the close up cool breeze campus tour competition hit his university grounds. He beat more than 10 other students to the title. The lad believes that success comes to those who seek for it, hence his decision to be a part of the Closeup talent search.
His style of music is generated from years of listening to afro-pop, highlife and hip-hop. His lyrics are mainly inspired by peculiar things happening around him and also his personal struggles and triumphs.
MEET OFFICIALS
The musical duo, OT and Aiges, collectively referred to as THE OFFICIALS are level 200 Electrical Engineering students, representing the Ashanti Region. They were announced number one is a fiercely competitive battle held in Kumasi when the Closeup Team made a stop at Kumasi.
Their main inspiration for doing music is to cause change and touch people’s lives positively through their lyrics. And even though they have a very humble beginning, they draw strength from the success stories of top artistes who started with nothing.
According to the group, the Closeup Coolbreeze experience has been quite surreal as they never really expected their lives to take such a drastic turn for the better. Their confidence level has been boosted, their fan base increased, and they are ready to break the barrier into main stream music.
UPCLOSE WITH RAPDIZZLE
His real name is Derrick Owusu, but on stage, he’s known as Rapdizzle, an Information Technology student of the University Of Cape Coast. The 24-year-old level 300 student is very grateful to Closeup Coolbreeze for this amazing initiative which has given young underground artistes the opportunity to be able to break barriers.
According to the rapper, prior to the campus tour, he had been performing on various stages in and around campus but never got the break he so badly needed to get his music and brand out there. So what got him attracted to this program is the Closeup and Charterhouse brands, and he is glad he answered to the search call.
Winning the competition gave him the opportunity to perform in other regions in Ghana, increasing his fan base his fan base on campuses and on the streets. This gave him the rare opportunity of meeting and performing on the same stage with some of the top artiste in the industry, which is one of the most difficult feat to achieve as an underground artiste.
He draws inspiration from his fans who believe in his ability to succeed and also things that generally happen around him. He is a Hip-hop/hiplife artiste with a lot of ambition. He would thus like to extend an invitation to all, especially his school mates and the people of Cape Coast, to come in their numbers to support him break the barrier into main stream music on the August 7, 7pm at the National Theatre.
MEET KING VIRGIN
King Virgin was discovered when the Closeup CoolBreeze Campus Tour competition reached Central University Campus. He warmed his way into the hearts of the students while competing with 14 other contestants, and was voted the man of the day. This versatile rapper, is one of 6 finalists billed to battle out for the number 1 position on Friday 3rd August, at the National Theatre.
The 24-year-old level 300 Physician Assistantship student whose real name is Adu-Adjei Samuel, considers himself a man of few words as he puts all his thoughts into his rap, hence making each rap line very deep and sometimes, very personal. Before he entered into the Closeup Coolbreeze Campus Tour competition, he was doing music on campus which helped him create a fan base but never really got the opportunity to perform on bigger stages alongside top artistes. So for him, Coolbreeze platform has been nothing but amazing. ‘King Virgin has been around for a while, but the exposure this competition has given me is massive, wow! Sometimes I have to pinch myself to realize it’s not just a dream’, he said.
Amidst the touring, fraternizing and the performances, he admitted that the journey has been a learning process for him as an artiste. ‘I am very grateful to Closeup and organizers, Charterhouse for this great opportunity. I must say I have learnt a great deal out of this experience, especially about stage performances to different audiences. I must say, this is indeed my foundation builder’, he said.
According to the young rapper, throughout his music career, he has always been greatly inspired by the award-winning rapper, Sarkodie. ‘I respect his hustle and the fact that he never forgets his past. As for his rap, well, the guy is just out of this world’ he said with so much admiration in his eyes.
He is ready, he is eager and he is indeed fired up to give his fans a great performance, as he believes putting up his best will make him the overall winner of the Closeup Coolbreeze Campus Tour competition. This, he believes will help him break the barrier, giving him enough leverage for the desired future. ‘As an upcoming artiste like myself, being a part of this competition has already given me the exposure I need but winning the overall competition will give me leverage over other younger artiste’. He urges all his fans to meet him at the National Theater on the 3rd of August for an awesome experience.
The finale event, dubbed Closeup Coolbreeze Break The Barrier Concert, will also feature the likes of Kuami Eugene, Kidi, Kurl Songx, Teephlow, B4Bonah, amongst others, who are themselves examples of young artistes who have broken the barrier into main stream music. To attend the event, buy 2 tubes of Closeup Coolbreeze toothpaste at the Accra Mall or Junction Mall and obtain a ticket. For more information visit CloseupGhana on social media.
The Closeup Coolbreeze Break The Barrier Concert is proudly brought to you by Closeup Coolbreeze Toothpaste- for 12hours of freshness.
