"Preachers" is a Ghanaian gospel group. The group is made up of three members, Obed Psych, Emani Beats and Edmund Baidoo. Since 2009, as pacesetters of the urban gospel movement in Ghana,[1] they have toured locally and internationally to preach the word of God through their music. Preachers are notable pioneers of urban gospel/hiphop genre in Ghana and continue to set the pace for the new generation of gospel music.[2]
Preachers | |
|---|---|
 Preachers performing at TV3's Music Music, June 19, 2015. L to R: Emani Beats, Obed Psych, Edmund Baidoo | |
| Background information | |
| Origin | Ghana, West Africa |
| Genres | Rap, Hip hop, Afro pop |
| Years active | 2009–present |
| Labels | Bibles Up Records |
| Members | Obed Psych Emani Beats Edmund Baidoo |
| Past members | Dennis Enim Michelle Majid-Michel |
| Website | www |
History
Group formation
Preachers started as a group of five namely Michelle Majid-Michel, Dennis Enim (lead singer at the time), Obed Awelinga-Nzuh(also known as Obed Psych, now lead singer of the group), Edmund Baidoo and Emmanuel Awuni (also known as Emani Beats). They came together as a group in 2009 to form a gospel rap group which they together named PREACHERS.[3] The name Preachers was derived from the bible verse Mark 16:15 which says "Go ye into the world and Preach the gospel to all creation". They recorded their first mixtape "Very Special" in 2010 with almost all songs produced by record producer and multi-instrumentalist KODA.
Debut album and breakthrough
Not long in time, Michelle opted out of the group to focus on her education. The remaining four Dennis, Obed Psych, Emani Beats and Edmund continued to work together as a team and blew up with their debut album "Mark 16:15"[4] in 2012. This led to their breakthrough in the music industry as their hit song Go Hard topped local charts, won them the Discovery of the Year award at the 2012 Ghana Gospel Music Awards[5] and Most Wanted Rap Song at the 2013 Christian Community Music Awards.[6] Go Hard's music video[7] also featured on top Christian Hip Hop online magazine Rapzilla.[8]
In 2013, Dennis silently left the group and Preachers released a music video for their song "E Dey Love Me"[9] which brought controversies from the cost and concept of the video to the mysterious absence of Dennis in the video.[10] Preachers have since not officially said a word about his absence. However, Preachers describe themselves today as the interminable trio which concludes that the group is now a trio.
The trio however did not stop there. They continued to grow from strength to strength winning many more local and international awards such as Afro Rap Artist(s) of the Year at the Africa Gospel Music Awards in the United Kingdom. They performed on bigger platforms and put together a formidable group called team bibles up which consists of "die-hard" fans of Preachers. Their Go Hard Tour[11] grew into the Bibles Up Tour[12] which covered more schools and made more impact than ever. They succeeded in winning the hearts of the youth and were always on major youth events.
Bibles Up Foundation
In 2014, Preachers launched their foundation called the Bibles Up Foundation, which was launched alongside their second album "The Fearless Project"[13]
The Fearless Project
In August 2014, The Fearless Project,[13] which has been the greatest album of Preachers so far was launched at Holiday Inn Hotel in Accra. The Album title is based on the bible verse 2 Timothy 1:7 "For God has not given us the spirit of fear but of power and of love and of sound mind". The album has been described as a multiple hit album because it won them several local and international awards and nominations. Their song No Juju won "Most Wanted Rap Song of the year at the Christian Community Music Awards 2014"[14] and "Most Popular Song at the Jamming Jesus Festival and Honors 2015",[15] The video for their song "Meyi W'aye" which featured Noble Nketsiah also won "Best International Music Video" at the Gospel Music Awards Italy 2014 and "Video of the Year" at the Jamming Jesus Festival and Honors 2015[15]
International tour
In May 2016, Preachers performed to a multitude in Pretoria, South Africa at the Conquerors Through Christ Ministries auditorium as part of their Bibles Up International Tour.[16] In December 2015,[17] the trio performed at Kenya's popular "Totally Sold Out Concert" at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre in Nairobi and organized a conference dubbed "Ghana Meets Kenya Summit"[18] at the Nairobi Cinema.
Albums, mixtapes and singles
Music videos
Awards
| Year | Award | Category | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Africa Gospel Awards | Rap Hip Hop Artiste Of The Year | Nominated [29] |
| Rap Hip Hop Song Of The Year | Nominated | ||
| Afropop Song Of The Year | Nominated | ||
| Group Of The Year | Nominated | ||
| Ghana Urban Gospel Music Awards | Artist of the Year | Nominated | |
| UG Song of the Year | Nominated | ||
| Album of the Year (Level Up) | Nominated | ||
| Group of the Year | Nominated | ||
| Music Video of the Year | Won | ||
| 2018 | Shine Awards | Group of the Year | Nominated[30] |
| Africa Gospel Music & Media Awards | Afro Rap Artist(s) of the Year | Nominated[31] | |
| 2017 | Groove Awards | Western Africa Artist of the Year | Nominated[32] |
| Africa Gospel Music & Media Awards | Afro Rap Artist of Excellence | Nominated[33] | |
| 2016 | Ghana Music Awards UK | Gospel Artist of the Year | Nominated[34] |
| Groove Awards | Western Africa Artist of the Year | Nominated[35] | |
| Christian Community Music Awards | Most Wanted Rap Song | Won[36] | |
| Vodafone Ghana Music Awards | Gospel Artist(s) of the Year | Nominated[37] | |
| Best Group of the Year | Nominated[37] | ||
| Music Video of the Year (Crazy) | Nominated[37] | ||
| 2015 | MTN 4Syte TV Music Video Awards | Gospel Video of the Year | Nominated[38] |
| Jamming Jesus Festival and Honors | Album of the Year (The Fearless Project) | Won[15] | |
| Most Popular Song of the Year (No Juju) | Won[15] | ||
| Most Influential Artist | Nominated[15] | ||
| Music Video of the Year (Meyi W'aye) | Won[15] | ||
| Collaboration of the Year(Meyi W'aye) | Nominated[15] | ||
| 2014 | Gospel Music Awards Italy | International Music Video of The Year (E Dey Love Me) | Won[39] |
| International Group of the Year | Won[39] | ||
| International Song of the Year (No Juju) | Nominated[39] | ||
| International Gospel HipHop/Rap of the Year | Nominated[39] | ||
| Christian Community Music Awards | Most Wanted Rap Song of the Year | Won[14] | |
| Africa Gospel Music Awards | Best Video (E Dey Love Me) | Nominated[40] | |
| Africa Gospel Music Awards | Afro Rap Artist(s) of the Year | Won[41] | |
| Group of the Year | Nominated[42] | ||
| Video of the Year (My Days) | Nominated[42] | ||
| 2013 | Christian Community Music Awards | Most Wanted Rap Song of the Year (Go Hard) | Won[6] |
| Black Entertainment, Fashion, Film and Television Awards | International Artist of the Year | Nominated[43] | |
| 2012 | Ghana Gospel Music Awards | Discovery of the Year | Won[5] |
| Africa Gospel Music Awards | Afro Rap Artist(s) of the Year | Nominated[44] |
Concerts and tours
- 2017 Level Up Album Launch [citation needed]
- 2016 Preachers And Buddies Concert [45]
- 2016 Preachers in Pretoria, South Africa[46]
- 2016 Ghana Meets Kenya Summit, Nairobi, Kenya[47]
- 2015 Crazy Video Premiere Party[48]
- 2015 Bibles Up School Tour[12]
- 2014 Preachers at 5 Anniversary Concert [49]
- 2014 The Fearless Project Album Launch [50]
- 2013 Bibles Up Tour[51]
- 2012 Go Hard Campus Tour[11]