D-Black

Desmond Kwesi Blackmore (born January 12, 1987), known by his stage name D-Black, is a Ghanaian multiple award winning & chart topping anglophone hip-hop and Afrobeat musician, entrepreneur, philanthropist & venture capitalist from Ghana, Africa.[1]

D-Black
Background information
Birth nameDesmond Kwesi Blackmore
Also known asDa Ghana Bwouy
Born (1987-01-12) 12 January 1987
Accra, Ghana
OriginAccra, Ghana
Genres
Occupation(s)
  • Rapper
  • songwriter
  • record producer
  • entrepreneur
InstrumentsVocals
Years active2009–present
LabelsBlack Avenue Muzik
Associated acts
WebsiteDblackgh.com

Biography

Desmond Kwesi Blackmore known in showbiz circles as D-Black is a multiple award-winning Ghanaian artist/entrepreneur who built his Black Avenue Group empire in a space of 10 years. Forbes Africa described the young mogul in their May 2019 issue as one of Ghana’s most successful music moguls and "a creative in the numbers game”.[2]

Born Desmond ‘D-Black’ Blackmore to Ghanaian & English parents, the Artist / CEO / Entrepreneur/ Philanthropist has broken boundaries in his 10 years in the entertainment industry. From releasing hit records, being nominated and winning awards, performing around the world, leading the nightlife scene with his creation ‘Club Onyx’, his revered Record Label ‘Black Avenue Muzik’, as well producing concerts across Ghana via his Livewire Events company. Desmond Blackmore (D-Black) attended Ridge Church School then to Pope John Secondary School & Jnr Seminary before the University of Cape Coast (B.A Economics) and University Of Ghana, Legon (BFA Theatre Arts / Music). In 2009, D-Black kicked off his career as an independent artist in the group “D-Black & Kwaku t” releasing a group album ‘Target Practice’. In 2010 D-Black & his rap partner both went solo. With 3 albums (Music, Love and Life, The Revelation, Lightwork’ 1 E.P (Smoke and Mirrors) and 1 mixtape (Hunger & Thirst) under his belt, he’s been nominated for over 59 awards worldwide and won 23 of these awards since then including the 2011 BET Awards.[3] D-Black is a former United Nations Celebrity Ambassador and is currently Ghana’s Tourism Ambassador.

The young 33-year-old, born on the 12th of January 1987, has taken his craft and hip hop- Afrobeats fusion style of music internationally and has performed overseas in London, New York, Boston, Dubai, Toronto, Johannesburg, Capetown, Amsterdam, Coventry, Lagos, Brescia, Washington DC, Atlanta, and more. He’s collaborated with some of Africa’s most prolific acts including Davido, Mayorkun, M.I, Phyno, Ice Prince, Seyi Shay from Nigeria, Cassper Nyovest, Bucie, HHP from South Africa, Stanley Enow from Cameroon, Stella Mwangi from Kenya and Vanessa Mdee from Tanzania as well as Sarkodie, Shatta Wale, StoneBwoy, Castro, Bisa Kdei, Efya, King Promise, Kuami Eugene E.L, Kwabena Kwabena, VVIP and more from his homeland Ghana. With several hit records including Somebody ft. Kwabena Kwabena, Get on the dancefloor, Kotomoshi ft. Zeal, Personal Person & Seihor with Castro,[4] Badder ft. Kuami Eugene, Vera ft. Joey B, Dat Ting, Obiba ft. Kidi, Red Card, and more D-Black have had an incredible career spanning almost a decade. Winning 23 Awards out of 59 nominations including nominations and wins at the 2011 BET Awards, 7 editions of the Ghana Music Awards, 9 editions of the 4Syte Music Video Awards, MTV Africa Music Awards, Channel O Music Video Awards, Sound City Awards, Ghana Movie Awards & more.[5]

Black Avenue Muzik

D-Black is the CEO of the highly revered independent Black Avenue Muzik record label. Under his Black Avenue Group of Companies, the young mogul owns Black Avenue Muzik, one of Ghana's most renowned record labels & music studios, home to the multiple award-winning BET Best African act nominee D-Black himself, the chart-topping producer of the year at the 2015 VGMA's DJ Breezy, the sensational multiple award-winning Sefa and upcoming acts Ms. Forson, Osayo & sultry female rapper Nina Ricchie, as well as chart-topping music producer Rony, Turn Me Up. Black Avenue Muzik was also home to Tonga hitmaker and VGMA 2014 Best New Artist of the Year Joey B as well as other upcoming acts whose agreements with the label were annulled after a year in 2019 including Freda Rhymz, Dahlin Gage & Wisa Greid.[6] Black Avenue Muzik won record label of the year at the 2018 Ghana - Naija Entertainment Awards in Lagos, Nigeria.[7] and were nominated for the record label of the year at the 2019 Ghana Entertainment Awards in New York. [8]

Black Avenue Clothing

Founded in 2012 with its next line out soon, Black Avenue Clothing is a design company, marketer and importer of men and women's apparel that D-Black owns. BAC was created with the view of designing comfortable and affordable quality street gear for the young and trendy youth who have embraced hip-hop/hiplife / afrobeats as a way of life. D-Black markets this line with influential artists/ musicians from Ghana.[9]

Livewire Events

D-Black is also the CEO of Livewire Events, an events management company founded in 2015 that produces social and corporate events. Livewire Events in 2015 produced Ghana’s biggest and most successful Boxing Fight at the Kumasi Sports Stadium between Bukom Banku vs Ayittey Powers with performances from chart-topping Ghanaian acts Sarkodie, Shatta Wale, Efya and more.[10] Selling out over 20,000 tickets to that event alone. The Aqua Safari Island Rave, Night Train Beach Jam and more are Livewire engineered projects as well. Livewire Events flagship events include the annual Celebrity Soccer Weekend. They have also put together festivals including the 2018 Kundum Festival Jam in Axim for the Ministry of Tourism.[11]

Black Avenue Films/TV

D-Black started to wade into the waters of film and television investing in Black Avenue TV / Film Inc, producers of the award winning ‘Why Should I Get Married’ movie starring an award winning cast made up of John Dumelo (Ghana), Maria Nepembe (Namibia), Princess Shyngle (Gambia), Eya (Ghana), Prince David Osei (Ghana). He also executive produced ‘THE EFGH SHOW’ hosted by Peace Hyde in 2015.[12]

Club Onyx

Before hitting 30, D-Black successfully introduced Ghana and numerous of fun lovers to the plushest nightclub in the city of Accra, his creation 'Club Onyx'.[13] Nestled in the heart of Accra in the plush Cantonments neighborhood across the Presidential residence (Flagstaff House), Club Onyx has hosted numerous of Ghanaian, Nigerian, Southern African celebrities and held some of the year’s most amazing parties.[14]

Oasis Lounge

By 2018, D-Black had also opened up ‘Oasis Lounge’ a plush pool and shisha Lounge located in Cantonments, Accra known for its ambiance Friday Night Raves & Sunday barbecue nights next to Club Onyx.[15]

Volcano

D-Black opened up media firm Volcano early this year, located in the Black Avenue Group Office Complex in North Kaneshie, Awudome Estates. VOLCANO is an advertising agency providing full-scale marketing, advertising, design & production services. Founded with the aim to consistently garner successful outcomes for clients through high quality creative and aggressive marketing strategies through the power of celebrity. He is also set to launch the Desmond Blackmore Foundation geared at helping needy creatives receive education and tools needed to enhance their craft as well as host the maiden edition Black Avenue Muzik Brunch later in 2020.

Discography

Albums
  • Target Practice (2009)
  • Music, Love & Life (2010)
  • The Revelation (2012)
  • Lightwork (2016)
  • Hunger & Thirst Mixtape (2017)
  • Smoke & Mirrors E.P (2019)

Singles
  • "Move" w/ Kwaku T (2009)
  • Breathe" w/ Kwaku T (2010)
  • "Somebody" ft. Kwabena Kwabena (2011)
  • "Get On the Dancefloor" ft. D Cryme (2011)
  • "Ma Me Five" (2011)
  • "Asabone" ft. Reggie Rockstone (2011)
  • "My Kinda Girl" ft. Sarkodie (2012)
  • "Change Your Life" ft. E.L (2012)
  • "Vera" ft. Joey B (2012)
  • "Black Clouds' ft. Waje (2013)
  • "Conference Call" ft. Kwaw Kese, Sarkodie (2013)
  • "Woara" ft. Kesse (2013)
  • "Setewaa D3nky3" (2013)
  • "Party Gbee" (2013)
  • "Carry Go" ft. Davido (2013)
  • "Personal Person" ft. Castro (2014)
  • "Seihor" w/ Castro (2014)
  • "Kotomoshi (2015)
  • "Champ" ft. M.I Abaga (2016)
  • "Omega" ft. Sarkodie (2016)
  • "Bottles" ft. Medikal (2017)
  • "Julie" ft. Bisa KDei (2017)
  • "Makoma" ft. Mayorkun (2017)
  • "Nobody" ft. King Promise (2018)
  • "Badder" ft. Kuami Eugene(2019)
  • "Dat Ting" ft. Joey B (2019)
  • "Obiba" ft. Kidi (2019)
  • "Miracle" (2019)
  • "Falaa" ft. Medikal (2019)
  • "Heaven Or Hell" ft. Sefa (2019)
  • "Stay" ft. Simi (2019)

Awards and nominations
YearEventAwardSongResults
2009Channel O Music Video AwardsBest West AfricanMoveNominated
2010Ghana Music AwardsHip-Hop / Hip-life Song of the YearBreatheNominated
Music Video of the YearBreatheWon
Museke African Music AwardsMusic Video of the YearBreatheNominated
African Music Awards, LondonMusic Video of the YearBreatheWon
Channel O Music Video Awards, South AfricaBest Hip-hopBreatheNominated
Best Music VideoBreatheNominated
Sound City Music Awards, NigeriaBest CollaborationSomebodyNominated
Best New VideoBelieveNominated
4SYTE Music Video AwardsBest Overall VideoBreatheNominated
Best Storyline in a VideoBreatheWon [16]
Best Directed VideoBreatheNominated
Best Collaboration in a VideoBreatheWon
Best Group VideoBreatheNominated
2011Ghana Music AwardsHip hop/ Hip-life Artist of the YearNoneNominated
Hip hop Song of the YearGet on Da DancefloorWon
Songwriter of the YearSomebodyNominated
Collaboration of the YearSomebodyNominated
Album of the YearMusic, Love & LifeNominated
BET AwardsBest International Artist of the Year (Africa)-Nominated [17]
Ghana Gospel Industry AwardsAlternate Gospel Song of the yearSomebodyNominated
Alternate Gospel Video of the yearSomebodyWon
Channel O Music Video AwardsBest African WestGet on Da DancefloorNominated
4Syte Music Video AwardsBest Photography in a videoSomebodyNominated
Best Hip-hop VideoGet on da dancefloorNominated
Best Collaboration in a videoSomebodyNominated
Best Edited VideoGet on Da DancefloorNominated
Music Video AwardsBest African ActGet on Da DancefloorNominated
Ghana Hip-hop AwardsMale Hip-hop Artiste(of the Decade)-Nominated[18]
The Next Big Thing Award-Won
Hip-hop album (of the Decade)-Nominated
Best CollaborationBreatheNominated
Hip-hop Artiste of the year-Won
2012Ghana Music AwardsHip-hop Song of the yearMy Kinda GirlNominated
Music Video of the yearMy Kinda GirlNominated
Album of the YearThe RevelationNominated
HSH AwardsMost Influential Artiste-Won
Hip-hop World AwardsBest International Artiste-Nominated
Channel O Music Video AwardsBest West Africa videoFallingWon
MTN 4SYTE Music Video AwardsBest CollaborationFallingWon
2013Ghana Music AwardsArtist of the year-Nominated
Song of the YearVeraNominated
Hip-life Song of the YearVeraNominated
Hip-hop Song of the YearFallingNominated
Hip-hop/Hip-life Artiste of the Year-Nominated
Ghana Music Awards UKSong of the yearVeraWon
Collaboration of the yearVeraWon
Channel O Music Video AwardsBest Africa WestVeraNominated[19]
2015Ghana Music AwardsHip-life Song of the YearSeihorWon
20164Syte Music Video AwardsMale Video of the YearKotomoshiWon
4Syte Music Video AwardsHiplife Video of the YearKotomoshiNominated
4Syte Music Video AwardsBest Directed Video of the YearKotomoshiNominated
4Syte Music Video AwardsMost Influential Artist of the YearD-BlackNominated
2017Ghana Movie AwardsSoundtrack the YearD-Black ft. EfyaWon
4Syte Music Video AwardsHiplife Video of the YearBottlesWon [20]
4Syte Music Video AwardsMale Video of the YearBottlesNominated
4Syte Music Video AwardsPhotography Video of the YearBottlesNominated
201840 Under 40 AwardsEntrepreneur the Year (Hospitality)D-Black (Club Onyx)Won
2019Ghana Entertainment Awards AwardsArtist / Entrepreneur of the YearD-BlackWon

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References
  1. "Who Is Desmond Kwesi Blackmore? –News Ghana". Newsghana.com.gh. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  2. https://www.forbesafrica.com/arts/2019/06/21/the-creative-in-the-numbers-game
  3. https://www.bet.com/topics/d/d-black.html
  4. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8EprVCFQ6KY/
  5. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BET_Award_for_Best_International_Act:_Africa/
  6. https://museafrica.com/d-black-confirms-exit-of-4-artistes-from-black-avenue-muzik/
  7. https://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/entertainment/Black-Avenue-Muzik-emerge-best-record-label-at-Ghana-Naija-Showbiz-awards-699045/
  8. http://livefmghana.com/2017/02/21/d-black-signs-wisa-two-new-acts-label/
  9. https://newsghana.com.gh/d-black-to-launch-the-trendy-comfortable-and-affordable-black-avenue-clothing-brand /
  10. https://newsghana.com.gh/bukom-banku-ill-stop-ayittey-powers-in-round-5/
  11. https://www.ghanamusic.com/news/events/2018/09/20/musical-concert-climaxes-successful-kundum-festival/
  12. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=47HyHsVKwT8
  13. https://www.pulse.com.gh/entertainment/music/nightclubs-in-ghana-these-are-the-best-10-nightclubs-in-ghana/eyjldyq
  14. https://enewsgh.com/2019/10/02/accras-flyest-nightlife-destination-club-onyx-celebrates-their-3-year-anniversary/
  15. https://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/SportsArchive/DSTV-to-hosts-Money-Fight-at-Club-Onyx-Oasis-Lounge-573094
  16. "Good Year For D-Black With Several Awards Nominations" Ghanacelebrities.com
  17. "Best International Act: Africa". BET Awards 2001.
  18. Full Nomination list for Ghana Hiphop & R&B Awards 2011...J-Town, Obrafour, Kweku T and more included. Modern Ghana.
  19. "D-Black shoots world class video for 'Change Your Life' in SA" Archived 2015-12-22 at the Wayback Machine Ghana Music.com
  20. https://www.nydjlive.com/full-list-4syte-tv-music-video-awards-2017-winners-4sytetvmvas17/
D-Black
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