R2Bees
Ghanaian music duo
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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.[1] In March 2019, the duo released their third studio album, Site 15.[2]
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.[3]
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, Nana Boroo and Voicemail. The album's production was entirely handled by KillBeatz.[4] The album's lead single "Ajeei" featuring Nana Boroo and Sarkodie was released on 20 July 2011. A remix EP was released on 13 August 2012.[5][6] The second single, "Dance", features Wizkid, was released on 10 February 2012.[7] Da Revolution II's third single "Odo" was released on 24 July 2012.[8][9] "Life (Walaahi)" was released as the album's fourth single, and is an introspective track about R2Bees' life and the "general state of being".[6] The album's fifth single "Bayla Trap" featuring Sarkodie was released on 2 November 2012. The music video for "Bayla Trap" was released on 29 November 2012; it was shot on location in Tema and directed by 6miludo Media.[10] It received a nomination for Hip Life/Hip Hop Song of the Year at the Vodafone Ghana Music Awards.[9] The sixth single released off the album, "It's Alright", was released on 19 March 2013.[11] The Wizkid-assisted "Slow Down" released on 8 April 2013 as the album' seventh single. Its music video, directed by Gorilla Films, released on 1 July 2013.[12] "Slow Down" was nominated for Best Collaboration of the Year and Vodafone Song of the Year at the Vodafone Ghana Music Awards.[9] 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".[13] R2Bees have performed on the same stage with international musicians such as American R&B singers Mario and J Holiday.[14]
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)[15]
Awards and nominations
BET Awards
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| BET Awards 2013 | R2Bees | Best International Act: Africa|[16] | Nominated |
Ghana Music Awards
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | R2Bees | Group of the Year[17] | Nominated |
| "Lobi" | Highlife Song of the Year[17] | Nominated | |
| "Killing Me Softly" | Afro Pop Song of the Year[17] | Nominated | |
| 2014 | R2Bees | Group of the Year[18] | Won |
| Hiplife/Hip Hop Artiste of the Year[19] | Nominated | ||
| Artist of the Year[19] | Nominated | ||
| "Slow Down" (featuring Wizkid) | Best Collaboration of the Year[18] | Nominated | |
| Vodafone Song of the Year[18] | Nominated | ||
| 2013 | R2Bees | Artiste of the Year[20] | Won |
| Hiplife/Hip Hop Artiste of the Year[20] | Won | ||
| Group of the Year[20] | Won | ||
| "Slow Down" (featuring Wizkid) | Best Collaboration of the Year[20] | Won | |
| "Life (Walaahi)" | Vodafone song of the Year[20] | Won | |
| "Odo" | Highlife Song of the Year[20] | Won | |
| "Bayla Trap" (featuring Sarkodie) | Hip Life/Hip Hop Song of the Year[20] | Nominated | |
| "Odo" | Male Vocal Performance[20] | Nominated | |
| Mugeez | Songwriter of the Year[20] | Nominated | |
| 2011 | "Kiss Your Hand" (featuring Wande Coal) | Afro Pop Song of the Year[21] | Won |
| Collaboration of the Year[22] | Won | ||
| R2Bees | Hip Hop/Hiplife Artist of the Year[22] | Nominated |