Thatboykwame
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2018}}
{{Use Australian English|date=December 2017}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = thatboykwame
| image =
| image_size =
| landscape =
| alt =
| caption =
| birth_name = Rich Amevor
| alias = Kwame (2016–2024)
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=y|1997|9|6}}
| birth_place = Auckland, New Zealand
| origin = Western Sydney, Australia
| genre = Hip Hop/Rap
| occupation = {{flatlist|
- Rapper
- Producer
}}
| instrument = Vocals
| years_active = 2016–present
| label = independent
}}
Rich Amevor (born 6 September 1997), known professionally as thatboykwame (and previously as Kwame), is an Australian rapper and record producer. He has released four EPs: Lesson Learned in 2017, Endless Conversations in 2018, Please, Get Home Safe in 2020 and thatboykwame in 2022.
Early life
Rich Amevor{{cite web|url=https://lifewithoutandy.com/news/music/interview-get-familiar-with-kwame-the-local-rapper-who-spat-that-freestyle-at-asap-ferg/ |title=Interview: Get Familiar With Kwame, The Local Rapper Who Spat That Freestyle At ASAP Ferg |work=Life Without Andy |last=Au |first=Christopher Kevin |date=5 October 2016}}{{cite web|url=http://www.purplesneakers.com.au/2018/02/interview-kwame/ |title=GET TO KNOW: KWAME |work=Purple Sneakers |last=Jones |first=Emma |date=February 2018}} was born to Ghanaian parents in Auckland, New Zealand, and migrated to Australia at the age of two with his family.{{cite web |last=Byrne |first=Declan |date=18 July 2018 |title=Get to know Kwame: the 20 year old rapper opening Splendour |url=https://www.abc.net.au/triplej/news/musicnews/get-to-know-your-splendour-opening-act-kwame/10008392 |work=Triple J Music News}} thatboykwame grew up in Glenwood,{{cite web |url=https://myaccount.news.com.au/sites/dailytelegraph/subscribe.html?sourceCode=DTWEB_WRE170_a_GGL&mode=premium&dest=https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/newslocal/rouse-hill-times/meet-the-hills-artist-taking-over-the-hip-hop-world/news-story/c57a216f9a7f13f8bfcb41dabc53765f&memtype=anonymous |title=Meet the hills artist taking over the hip hop world |work=The Daily Telegraph|url-access=subscription}} in the Blacktown District, New South Wales of Western Sydney. He started making music at 16.
Career
thatboykwame first rose to prominence following a 2016 ASAP Ferg concert in The Metro Theatre, at which he was invited on stage to perform freestyle rap.{{cite web|url=http://thankguard.com/post/151318956156/watch-kwame-syd-climbs-out-of-the-crowd-grabs |title=WATCH: KWAME (SYD) climbs out of the crowd, grabs A$AP Ferg's mic and shocks LISTEN OUT. |work=Thank Guard Magazine |last=Ruklis |first=James |date=3 October 2016}} Taking on thatboykwame as his professional name, he released his debut single "I Get It" in October 2016. In March 2017, he released his debut EP Lessons Learned, about which he said "I talk about things that I've dealt with... feeling low sometimes, like you're not worth anything, and I just pour that out through an artistic form in hopes that people will relate to it".{{cite web|url=https://fbiradio.com/kwame-a-fateful-freestyle-lessons-learned-the-future/|title=Kwame: A Fateful Freestyle Lessons Learned and The Future|website=FBI Radio|date= July 2017|accessdate=9 March 2020}}
In March 2018, thatboykwame released his second EP, Endless Conversations. He said "Every track [is] a conversation in itself, as well as part of a bigger whole, like those undercurrents that are always there in relationships... Each track builds on the last, following a progression that gives form to the story as I explore the pressures of life and relationships as a creative".{{cite web|url=http://sniffers.co.nz/article/sydneys-kwame-hits-back-endless-conversations-ep|title=Sydney's Kwame hits back with Endless Conversations EP |website=Sniffers|date=22 March 2018 |accessdate=9 March 2020}}
Through Triple J Unearthed in 2018, Kwame won a competition to open Splendour in the Grass, and received the J Award for Unearthed Artist of the Year. In November 2018, his single "Clouds" was premiered by Zane Lowe on Beats 1.{{cite web|url=https://amnplify.com.au/kwame-is-triple-j-unearthed-artist-of-the-year-plus-zane-lowe-to-premiere-clouds-on-apple-musics-beats-1/ |title=KWAME is triple j Unearthed Artist of the Year plus Zane Lowe to premiere "Clouds" on Apple Music's Beats 1 |work=Amnplify |last=Bruce |first=Dave |date=25 November 2018}}{{cite web|url=https://musicfeeds.com.au/news/triple-j-unearthed-kwame-2019-clouds-tour/ |title=Triple J Unearthed Artist of the Year Kwame Announces 2019 "Clouds" Tour |work=Music Feeds |last=Williams |first=Tom |date=28 November 2018}}
In September 2019, he released "STOP KNOCKIN' @ MY DOOR", the lead single from his third EP.{{citation needed|date=June 2020}} He supported a range of artists on tour, including Migos, 6lack, Skepta, AJ Tracey and Peking Duk.
In July 2022, Kwame formed group BBGB with BLESSED, B Wise, Manu Crooks and Lil Spacely. BBGB released their debut single "Tough Love" on 15 July 2022.{{cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/en_au/news/music/b-wise-blessed-manu-crooks-and-more-unite-as-bbgb-drop-first-song-tough-love-3268884|title= B Wise, BLESSED, Manu Crooks and more unite as BBGB, drop first song "Tough Love"|website=NME|date=14 July 2022|access-date=15 July 2022}}
His debut album anXXXiety attackkk was released on 5 July 2024.
Musical style
His music has been described as having the experimentalism of all genres through unique storytelling, production, lyricism, visuals and theatrical components that seamlessly create a captivating experience by the principles of open-endedness and nonlinearity.
Discography
=Albums=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
|+List of albums, with release date and label shown ! Title ! Details |
| scope="row"| anXXXiety attackkk!
|
|
|---|
=Extended plays=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
|+List of extended plays, with release date and label shown ! Title ! Details |
| scope="row"| Lessons Learned
| |
|---|
| scope="row"| Endless Conversations
|
|
| scope="row"| Please, Get Home Safe
|
|
| scope="row"| thatboykwame
|
|
=Singles=
==As lead artist==
==As featured artist==
Awards and nominations
=J Award=
References
{{Reflist}}
Further reading
- {{cite web | title=Kwame | website=triple j Unearthed | date=10 June 2018 | url=https://www.triplejunearthed.com/artist/kwame}}
External links
- {{Official website|https://www.thatboykwame.com/}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kwame}}
Category:Australian male rappers