5 Ghanaian musicians to add to your playlist [Nov 2025]

Ghana’s music scene just keeps getting richer and these five artists are shaping the sound of now. Whether you’re into heartfelt highlife, street-poetry rap, or soulful Afrobeats, here’s a snapshot of rising (or already rising) stars to keep an eye on.

King Promise

Real name: Gregory Bortey Newman

Why he’s one to watch: King Promise has built a reputation as one of Ghana’s smoothest crooners, blending highlife, Afrobeats, and R&B. His lyrical style is emotional and polished, and he’s won big most recently Artist of the Year at the Telecel Ghana Music Awards.

Latest work: In June 2024 he released his third album, True to Self, via 5K Records / Sony Music UK  it explores both his personal journey and love life, with a mix of life reflections, calm tracks, and bangers.

Vibe to check out: He’s got that “big room but still intimate” feel  perfect for late-night drives or reflective playlists.

Wendy Shay

Real name: Wendy Asiamah Addo

Journey: She trained as a nurse and worked as a midwife in Germany before making the jump into music.  She signed with RuffTown Records in 2018.

Sound: A bold fusion of Afrobeats, Highlife, and Hiplife. Her songs are confident, sometimes playful, and very much her own.

Impact & achievement: One of Ghana’s strongest female voices. She’s not just about hits she also gives back. According to her narrative, music is her way of “nursing people” emotionally.

Key tracks: “Uber Driver” (her debut) is a defining one.

Black Sherif

Real name: Mohammed Ismail Sherif (aka Blacko or Kwaku Frimpong)

Background: Raised in Konongo-Zongo in the Ashanti Region. His upbringing was tough  his parents were often abroad, so he lived with his aunt, and he’s spoken about how that shaped his worldview.

Breakthrough: He dropped “First Sermon” in 2021, followed by “Second Sermon,” which gained widespread acclaim.  His real breakout was “Kwaku the Traveller” (March 2022), which hit #1 on Apple Music in both Ghana and Nigeria.

Music style: A powerful blend  highlife, hip-hop, drift, reggae, and UK-drill influences.

Recent move: He released his second album, Iron Boy, in April 2025.

Why he shines: His storytelling is raw and honest, digging into personal and societal struggles, but also threading hope throughout.

Medikal

Real name: Samuel Adu Frimpong

Origin: From Sowutuom, Accra.

Style & reputation: Known for rapid-fire, clever rap and witty wordplay. He mixes local slang, Pidgin, and Ghanaian rap bravado.

Career notes: He’s been around for a while (active since 2014), has multiple albums and EPs, and is respected in the hip-hop scene.

Personal touches: Medikal used to dream of being a doctor, which reflects in his stage name.  His career also comes with its ups and downs he’s been open about controversy, which gives his music an extra edge.

Why he’s still relevant: He’s not just a legacy act he keeps evolving, dropping projects that resonate with both street and mainstream audiences.

Gyakie

Background: Born into a musical family and started spending time in studios extremely young.

Breakout moments: Her single “Forever” from her 2020 EP Seed got huge traction in Ghana, Kenya, and Nigeria.  She later remixed it with Omah Lay.

Label & recognition: She’s signed to Sony Music (UK & Africa) a big step for her international career.

Latest: Her second EP My Diary dropped in 2022 and features Davido.  In 2024, she released a new single “December.”

Why to watch: Her voice is soft but powerful. She can do R&B, soul, Afrobeats. She’s building her place not just in Ghana but on the global stage.

Bottom line: These five artists represent different corners of Ghana’s music: from street-wise rap (Black Sherif), to smooth highlife-Afrobeats (King Promise), to female powerhouses (Wendy Shay, Gyakie), to rap veterans (Medikal). They’re either already making major moves or are on the cusp  great additions to any playlist.