Ghanaian rapper Kwesi Arthur is kicking off 2024 with a bang, announcing the release of his first project of the year, “This Is Not The Tape III.”
Scheduled to drop on January 17th, the project marks Arthur’s first solo release since rumours of his split from the Ground Up Chale collective surfaced.
In a recent video posted to his social media platforms, Arthur made the announcement himself, saying, “Happy New Year my people. So I’m here to announce to you This Is Not The Tape III is dropping on the 17th January, and this time you’re getting it directly from me. Yes, me. So I want y’all to head up to EVEN. We have other special surprises waiting for you on there.”
The upcoming project comes amidst speculation about Kwesi Arthur’s departure from Ground Up Chale, a music collective that helped launch his career and a shocking rift with longtime friend and collaborator, Big Homie Flee.
While neither Kwesi Arthur nor the group have officially confirmed the split, Arthur’s announcement of a solo project and his use of the phrase “directly from me” suggest a potential change in his musical direction.
Happy New Year. https://t.co/VvfH2VjTqY pic.twitter.com/2Afa5k2KQN
— KWESI ARTHUR (@KWESIARTHUR_) January 11, 2024
In October of last year, Kwesi Arthur publicly apologized to Big Homie Flee, for lyrics in a song that appeared to be aimed at him. The apology, posted on social media, marked an attempt to mend fences after a public falling out between the two.
Big Homie Flee has been a significant figure in Arthur’s career, playing a key role in his early hit “Grind Day” and even designing merchandise for Arthur’s U.S. tour. Their apparent rift added fuel to the rumours of Arthur’s separation from Ground Up Chale, as the collective is home to both artists.
Whether “This Is Not The Tape III” marks a definitive break from Ground Up Chale or not remains to be seen. However, one thing is clear: Kwesi Arthur is ready to start 2024 on his own terms.
With a new project on the horizon and a potential reconciliation with Big Homie Flee, Kwesi Arthur seems poised for another big year.
