Denning Edem Hotor (born 21st May 1986) is a Ghanaian recording artist and entertainer who performs under the name Edem.
He raps in Ewe and is the premier rapper in that language.Edem’s uniqueness is in three-fold: language, rhythmic quality and depth of lyrics.
His Early life
Edem hails from Dzogadze, a small town in Abor, in the Volta Region of Ghana. Of two kids, Edem is the only son and Wendy Sefakor Agbeviadey. The young Edem spent most of his youth in Accra and Aflao. He completed his primary and Junior High education at the Amazing Love International Schools.
As a product of the secondary school system in Ghana, he enrolled in Bishop Herman College for his senior high school education. He lost his mother at age 13. He was left with his dad, a lawyer, and his sister. He lost his dad at age 16.
His only immediate family at the moment is his sister. He grew up surrounded by music, ranging from hip hop to dancehall, reggae and highlife.
By age nine, Edem was usually caught pounding on tables, empty tins and any item that could produce good rhythm. He joined his first music group in junior high. In senior high, he formed a 6-member group called the Ringmasters.
They performed at the school as well as at funfairs elsewhere. They usually sang, rapped and danced. After senior high school, he proceeded with his quest to build a commercial career in music. He recorded in the underground with artists including Kokromoti, Nival, Trigmatic, Vyroz, M.O.B and Osibo.
Edem’s Family -Wife and Children
Edem is happily married to Tv hostess Stacey Osekere. The two are almost inseparable as they are seen everywhere together.
Rapper Edem got married secretly to his long time sweetheart, Stacey Osekere during an Easter Holidays in Teshie, a suburb of Accra.
The ceremony was attended by friends and family. He had a daughter with Stacey before they finally got married and after, God blessed them with a baby boy.
Music Career
Edem appeared on Voice of America where he talked about his “Nyedzilo” video, which features Mavin Records’very own Reekado Banks, and his videos such as “The One”, featuring Sway that talks about Africa’s liberation and his award-winning song Koene that were previously featured on Music Time Africa by Heather Maxwell and Vincent Makori.
“Wotome Woshi” which translates as “we came and they run”, his first radio hit single was released in 2006. It gained popularity in his region and his underground reputation was made a talent to look out for. It was in this same year that he got together officially with The Last Two headed by the hit maker Edward Nana Poku Osei, also known as Hammer.
He did a lot of collaborations with other artiste, the major one was with Obrafour for a TIGO Telecommunications promotion. He went on a national tour with him, sponsored by AirtelTigo( then TIGO).
After spending two years in the studio (2006 December to 2008 December), he came up with his first single “bougez” which received a lot of airplay from radio stations across the country.
He later came up with his first album which featured a lot of new as well as established acts such as Tinny, Kwaw Kesse, Sarkodie, Obour,Asem, K. K. Fosu, Tuba, Samini, Jayso, Trigmatic, EL and Gemini. Edem has appeared on major shows like Stars of the Future Season 3 Finales, Ghana Music Awards (2009) and all major university concerts.
He has become a household name in neighbouring Togo because of his distinctive style of music.His Debut Album ‘The Volta regime’ was released in late January 2009. The 13-track album with an introduction on the origin of the Ewes and skits to each cut and has lyrics in English, Ewe, Twi and Ga.
Mass Production his next album was released on 29 October 2011 which was a mixture of unique beats produced by various engineers including Hammer. The intent of this album was to make music for fans who supported him. His favourite song on the album was “Kate” which is the only song produced by Hammer of The Last Two on his album.
He claimed removal of the ‘Ayigbe’ had everything to do with growth of brand not the image as the public were speculating. ‘Ayigbe’ is a local Akan word which refers to the Ewe ethnic group that occupies most part of the Volta region of Ghana. He said he wanted people to have the pride in the ethnic group that’s why he formally used the name
Edem is one the artistes in Ghana who have mind-blowing videos with superb directing and editing. To his brand, he has videos like Delaila ft M.I, The One remix ft Sway , Only in Ghana, Wicked and Bad ft Coded (4×4) , Koene, Over Again remix and Not on my level (heyba) which featured BET’s 106 & Park, Channel O TV and Trace TV, Not on My Level has reached 49th position on Reflex FM Urban Top 100 chart in Netherlands, Edem worked with Grammy Award winner and producer JAZZWAD.
Edem appeared at live shows, significantly as the opening act for the John Legend concert at the International Conference Center in Accra in 2000. Before his debut album, he collaborated with other acts, especially with Obrafour. He went on a national tour with Obrafour.
Awards and Achievement:
Edem won the Best International Act-Africa at 2015 Black Canadian Awards. The ‘Koene’ hit singer beat Mafikizolo(South Africa), Yemi Alade (Nigeria), Davido (Nigeria), Eddy Kenzo (Uganda), Oritse Femi (Nigeria), and Teeyah (Ivory Coast) to win the award.
Edem won 2015 Vodafone Ghana Music Awards Album of the Year Books and Rhymes, Afropop song of the year with “Koene” and Video of the Year with “The One” video featuring SwayUk.
Edem topped the 2014 4syte TV Music Video Awards with 3 awards for Best Directed, Best Photography and Most Outstanding Video for “The One” featuring SwayUK directed by Gyo Gyimah.
When the nominations list for the 2010 Ghana Music Awards was released, Edem’s maiden album had earned seven nominations.
