R2Bees
{{Short description|Ghanaian music duo}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = R2Bees
| image =
| caption =
| birth_name =
| current_members =
- Faisal Hakeem
- Rashid Mugeez
| origin = Tema, Ghana
| genre = {{hlist|Afrobeats|hip hop|hiplife|highlife}}
| occupations = Singer-songwriter
| instrument =
| years_active = 2007–present
| label = {{hlist|R2Bees|Starboy}}
| website =
}}
R2Bees is a Ghanaian hip hop and hiplife duo from Tema, comprising two cousins, Faisal Hakeem and Rashid Mugeez. They were nominated for the 2013 BET Awards.{{cite web | url=http://entertainment.myjoyonline.com/pages/news/201305/106038.php | title=R2bees nominated for BET awards | date=14 May 2013 | accessdate=14 May 2013}} In March 2019, the duo released their third studio album, Site 15.{{cite web|url=https://www.theafricandream.net/r2bees-2019-release-3rd-studio-album/|title=3rd studio album, Site 15|accessdate=16 March 2019}}
Career
=2007–2012: ''Da Revolution I''=
R2BEES's first single, "Yawa Gal", was released in August 2008. They then went on to release "I Dey Mad", which featured Unda melodies. The song topped most Ghanaian Radio Music Charts for weeks. In 2010, R2Bees released "Kiss Your Hand" as their third single.
In 2009, R2Bees released a 17-track album Da Revolution, which has already released songs; "Yawa Girl", "I dey Mad", "T.E.M.A", "Kiss Your Hand" with new songs; "Radio", "One more Chance" and "Africa" with production from KillBeatz (Joseph Addison) as well as guest appearances from Wande Coal, Sarkodie, Samini, Kwaw Kese and a host of others.{{cite web | url=http://entertainment.myjoyonline.com/pages/news/200912/39646.php | title=R2Bees debut album | date=22 August 2009 | accessdate=22 August 2009}}
=2013–present: ''Da Revolution II: Refuse to be Broke''=
Their second studio album, Refuse To Be Broke – Da Revolution II, was released on 29 March 2013. The album had guest appearances from Wizkid, Sherifa Gunu, Davido, Tinchy Stryder and Voicemail. The album's production was handled by KillBeatz.{{cite web | url=http://m.modernghana.com/music/20893/3/r2bees-launches-it-second-album-the-revolution-ii.html | title=R2Bees debut album | date=29 March 2013 | accessdate=31 March 2013}} R2Bees released their first official single for 2014, "Lobi". The highlife influenced song video was released on 25 September 2014.
Recognition and music style
R2Bees often sing and rap in their native language Twi and Pidgin. R2Bees is one of the top purveyors of Ghanaian hip pop subgenre hiplife, which mixes rap with sounds of highlife (African pop music) and reggae. In 2012, R2Bees was featured in the Forbes list of "African celebrities to watch in 2013".{{cite web | url=http://mobile.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/artikel.php?ID=260957 | title=Sarkodie & R2Bees makes forbes' list of African Celebrities to watch in 2013 | accessdate=1 January 2013}} R2Bees have performed on the same stage with international musicians such as American R&B singers Mario and J Holiday.{{cite web | url=http://www.modernghana.com/music/15523/3/atumpan-stay-jay-r2bees-chase-for-marioj-holid.html | title=R2Bees for Mario & j holiday concert | accessdate=30 June 2011 | date=29 June 2011}}
Discography
=Studio albums=
- Da Revolution I (2009)
- Da Revolution II: Refuse to be Broke (2012)
- ''Omar Sterling – Victory Through Harmony (2017)
- Site 15 (2019)
- Back 2 Basics (2021){{cite web |title=R2Bees - Back 2 Basics (Full Album) |url=https://www.dcleakers.com/r2bees-back-2-basics-full-album/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211125163458/https://www.dcleakers.com/r2bees-back-2-basics-full-album/ |url-status=usurped |archive-date=25 November 2021 |website=DCLeakers |access-date=26 November 2021}}
Awards and nominations
=[[BET Awards]]=
{{awards table}}
|-
|rowspan="1"|R2Bees
|rowspan="1"|Best International Act: Africa
|{{nominated}}
{{end}}
=Ghana Music Awards=
{{awards table}}
|-
|rowspan="3"|2015
|rowspan="1"|R2Bees
|{{nominated}}
|-
|rowspan="1"|Lobi
|{{nominated}}
|-
|rowspan="1"|Killing me softly
|{{nominated}}
|-
|rowspan="5"|2014
|rowspan="3"|R2Bees
|{{won}}
|-
|Hiplife/ Hip Hop Artiste of the Year{{cite web | url=http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/artikel.php?ID=308169 | title=List of winners at the Vodafone Ghana Music Awards 2014 | publisher=Ghana Web | date=4 May 2014 | accessdate=4 May 2014 | author=Victor, Adebayo Adeyemi}}
|{{nominated}}
|-
|{{nominated}}
|-
|rowspan="2"|"Slow down"
|Best Collaboration of the Year
|{{nominated}}
|-
|{{nominated}}
|-
|rowspan="9"|2013
|rowspan="3"|R2Bees
|{{won}}
|-
|Hiplife/ Hip Hop Artiste of the Year{{cite web | url=http://m.modernghana.com/music/21415/3/vodafone-ghana-music-awards-2013-and-its-full-list.html | title=Vodafone Ghana Music Awards winners | publisher=Ghana News Report | date=19 May 2014 | accessdate=19 May 2013}}
|{{won}}
|-
|{{won}}
|-
| Slow down
|Best Collaboration of the Year
|{{won}}
|-
|Life
|{{won}}
|-
|"Odo"
|{{won}}
|-
|rowspan="1"|Bayla Trap
|Hip Life/Hip Hop Song of the Year
|{{nominated}}
|-
|rowspan="1"|Odo
|{{nominated}}
|-
|rowspan="1"|Mugeez
|{{nominated}}
|-
|rowspan="3"|2011
|rowspan="2"|Kiss your hand
|Afro pop song of the year{{cite web | url=http://mobile.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/entertainment/artikel.php?ID=206668 | title=2011 Ghana Music Awards winners | date=9 April 2011 | accessdate=10 April 2011}}
|{{won}}
|-
|{{won}}
|-
|rowspan="1"|R2Bees
|Hip pop/Hiplife artist of the Year
|{{nominated}}
{{end}}
=The Headies=
{{awards table}}
|-
| style="text-align:center;"|2013
|rowspan="2"|R2Bees
|rowspan="2"|Best African Artiste{{cite web | url=http://www.vanguardngr.com/2013/12/olamide-wins-big-headies-2013-full-list-winners/ | title=Olamide wins big @ Headies 2013 + full list of winners | publisher=Vanguard | date=27 December 2013 | accessdate=27 January 2014}}
|{{n/a}}
|-
| style="text-align:center;"|2014
|{{nominated}}
{{end}}