Museke.com caught Hiplife legend Reggie Rockstone at the tail end of his trip to America and asked him a few questions. Below is the transcript of the interview.

Museke.com: How be Chale?
Rockstone: I’m fine.

Museke.com: How have you liked your trip to the US so far?
Rockstone: (It’s been) interesting. I have been privileged to travel and meet people all over the world, especially Ghanaians. The reaction from my people is always interesting. I document almost all of my travels, I will eventually turn them into a documentary. I have footage from everywhere in the world; conversations, reactions, etc. I carry a camcorder almost everywhere. I’ve eaten different kinds of food, it’s a different kind of environment.

Museke.com: Can you tell us about your background and family?
Rockstone: My father, who I call one of my best friends, was Ricky (Ricci) Osei, a legendary fashion designer. I grew up in a very artistic background. I was in a musical house and was not discouraged from the arts. I was known for my break dance skills, and I went to drama school for acting. I was a two-time junior taekwondo champion in Ghana. I have about four faces of Reggie – Ricky’s son, the martial artist, the dancer, the musician. I grew up all over the world, and am still growing up. I was born in England, grew up in New York, Accra, Little Rock (Arkansas), Kumasi, etc.

While answering the question, Reggie also had this say
Rockstone: I am African before I am Ghanaian. I wanted to share something that I was very informed about. Most Africans are musical. I wanted to share my experience with people (hip hop). I came home to meet a different Ghana. They didn’t understand what was being said in these hip hop songs – the slangs, lyrics, ebonics, etc. I gave it a name – hiplife - and today, it is feeding a lot of people. The soundtrack and lifestyle of Ghana is hip-life now.

Museke.com: How did you get into music and what was your first break?
Rockstone: Music was very much a part of my upbringing. It was only natural that I would emulate the music I listened to. Translated them physically into the boogies (dancing), then I translated it into my own music.
I was in a group called PLZ (Parables, Linguistics and Zlang) – with DJ Pogo, Freddie Funkstone, the group was formed in London. We put out a couple of singles and they blew up. We were on national radio, covers of magazines, newspapers, etc. That was the first break. I usually don’t call them breaks, I call them happenings. As for breaking into the Ghanaian scene, that was an actual process. Presentation was very important so I had to put some time in it. My knowledge of hip hop was a little bit more extensive than the kids I was talking to then. As for the music, my knowledge of the history was also more extensive. They may have started from Puff Daddy but I knew Kurtis Blow, etc (old school). At the same time, I was trying to nurture this new style called Hiplife. I had to make sure the tonation was not English and “not brofolized”. I had to sound authentic.

Museke.com: How did you get into dancing and who were your idols in that profession?
Rockstone: The word idol is kind of strong. People I admired included Crazy Legs (Rock steady crew), Break Dance Fame, New York City breakers. I am a beat boy.

Museke.com: Coming from a dancer’s background, do you think hiplife today doesn’t have enough showstoppers and performers?
Rockstone: Yes, but like in most movements, it comes to a standstill and something new comes out. I am just waiting for the rebirth. It will keep on evolving. Hip hop is non-conformist music. There are different kinds of rap. I am just waiting to see what happens. Not everybody is a stage artist, some are not built for the stage, some people are shy, but they may have the word play. There is a lot of bandwagonism today, a lot of these kids are not really talented. Also there is a level of corruption whereby payola can make you a star. That has messed up what we worked hard for. Now, you can just pay the deejay.

Museke.com: Which African musicians did you listen to growing up?
Rockstone: I grew up on Fela Ransome Kuti – he is the most prolific – as well as Osibisa, Hugh Masekela, etc. I also listened to Bill Wizards, I listened to everything, white music, etc. If it sounds good to the ear, that’s what it is. I listened to a lot of music of African descent.

Museke.com: Which African musicians do you admire (presently)?
Rockstone: Just a few. Blitz the Ambassador, Mensa, Wanlov da Kubolor, Kwaw Kese, Samini, VIP, Sidney (Barima). Most of the times, they have the hits and they find a way to work it on stage.

Museke.com: Tell us about your first album? Where was it recorded?
Rockstone: All my music was recorded in Ghana. This is the first time I shot a video (Music hold my hand aka Incomplete) outside Ghana. “Maka a, maka” was recorded in CHM, and a couple of others.

Museke.com: How many albums do you have to your credit?
Rockstone: Maka a maka, Me na me kae, Meka, Last show and the new one is called Reggiestration. It is a double album with remixes and new joints.

Museke.com: Have you featured on any other albums?
Rockstone: Yeah. Did a joint with Nkasei (Adua no ebu), joint with Tinny (Ehe hia waa), Beenie man (Chuku Chaka) and Tuface Idibia (Nfana Ibaga remix), Disastrous (Boole)

Museke.com: What about Peaches with Sway?
Rockstone: Yeah that too, but that’s on my album.

Museke.com: Which musicians would you like to work with?
Rockstone: Dead Prez, Common Sense, Jill Scott, etc.

Museke.com: What is your take on hiplife lyrics and content?
Rockstone: They are not very deep, these artistes are not saying too much (with the exception of Obrafour). People just want to make booty music. I expected a little more depth. It will come around. Lyrically, I am not too impressed in terms of content. Hip hop gives a lot of oral information, there’s a lot to be said in Africa.

Museke.com: Why don’t we have the depth, political content in Ghana, as compared to maybe Nigeria?
Rockstone: That explains what I am saying. Look at the population, we only got one political rapper, A-Plus. You go to places like Senegal, the youth are very vocal. A lot of these kids are just not political, they don’t have a proper vision of the world. They are just trying to get money through the profession.

Museke.com: What is the inspiration for the songs you write?
Rockstone: They vary. I can get inspired off a phone conversation. (Like this one :-D)

Museke.com: Your last album was in 2004 and you called it the last show. We heard that you had retired. Why so early?
Rockstone: For the last album, it got to a point, where I didn’t really want to be a part of how hip-life was going. I decided to take a back seat until further notice. I said I was retiring, but music is music. I wanted to maintain the quality that I came with. Let them miss you somewhat. It kinda took some weight off me.

Museke.com: We heard news of a remix album (Reggiestration). When is that coming out and what should we expect? Who is producing it?
Rockstone: I really don’t want to talk about when it is coming out. Everything is not on time, we live in Africa. Expect your favorite songs with new beats, showcasing the new beat makers. It will feature people like Samini, Sway, Kwaw Kese, Manifest, Sena, etc. Sena is the one singing the chorus on the new video. It’s just me and a collage of beat makers through Kassa Records.

Fan question: If you could be one piece of music you've done, what would it be and why?
Rockstone: It will probably be ‘Walk like an African’. It wasn’t a big hit, but that’s what I am about. My people come first. I was packaging it in a way where I tried to put a message across. That is the reason why I will choose that track.

Museke.com: How is Kassa Records going?
Rockstone: It’s still Reggie Rockstone, first artiste on it. There is a whole catalogue of kids that we’re looking to work with. We want to do it the right way. We can’t leave you half-way, I wanted to take it one at a time. Mobile Boys will probably be the first.

Museke.com: Have you been approached by foreign labels?
Rockstone: Plenty of times. The day of the label is gone. We got the internet now, you don’t really need the label. If you get distribution, you’re good. Labels are not like they used to be.

Fan question: Who are your five favorite hiplife artistes right now (other than you)?
Rockstone: Mobile Boys are very talented. I don’t want to miss somebody so I will skip this one.

Museke.com: What do you make of all the media beefs between hiplife artistes?
Rockstone: It’s a male dominated art form, there’s bound to be some action. People don’t always agree with each other. It’s natural. As to whether, it’s real or not, it’s neither here or there.

Fan question: Why do you think you’ve made it this far and other Ghanaian artistes haven't?
Rockstone: I don’t know if I can really speak for them. I’ve been here longer than them. It’s been quite extensive, have been in showbiz long enough for my name to spread out here. I am pretty social, I travel a lot and music travels everywhere. You do a show, and someone is watching in America. As far as being the originator of hip-life, that’s the most significant. I am still putting out quality music, if and when I choose.

Museke.com: How have you been received when you perform outside of Ghana?
Rockstone: Music is music. If it’s good, it’s good. Sometimes you have to work extra hard, if there is a language barrier. I will pick a song to accommodate a crowd. Haven’t gone anywhere where nobody knew me.

Museke.com: What challenges do you face in the Ghanaian music industry?
Rockstone: My biggest problem is payola. Always despised that and been outspoken about it. The fact that someone doesn’t have money to pay the deejay and so the music will never get heard is wrong. A lot of new artistes are hypocrites and a lot don’t want to sacrifice. Some are outspoken about it (payola) but go behind the rest of us to pay the deejays anyway. They call you ‘too-known’ if you complain.

Museke.com: What about piracy and distribution?
Rockstone: Piracy is part and parcel. Everybody suffers. Payola is kinda young, and it is going to affect the music. When we get over that, then we can touch on piracy. Distribution is very important, but you want to get quality music before you think of distributing it. We need to distribute quality music.

Fan question: What are your plans (future) for Ghanaian music?
Rockstone: I really couldn’t tell you, I guess people will be very surprised. I was ahead of my time, and people were just catching up to me. I have lots of different kinds of styles on there (the album Reggiestration). A lot of old songs that they (fans) grew up with are going to be on there. There are some really hot new joints.
I may want to do documentaries, movies, and also put other artistes out. I am trying to get a lot of collaborations with our brothers in the outside world. Hip hop is African.

Museke.com: What do you think of Ghanaian movies? Has the chance come for you to work with them?
Rockstone: Ghanaian movies are crap. Yes, but most of them were not even worth my whistle. There is a lot of work that needs to be done in African movies. It amazes me, how much of this is being consumed. I have to put out a quality script.

Museke.com: How can Ghanaian music expand and sell outside?
Rockstone: First of all, making some good music. We have to organize ourselves and think global; the world is a village. We have to make music not only for Ghanaians. Put things in place.
At the government level, they need to start recognizing this movement. Ghana has never had a movement like hiplife. This is a movement, the politicians use the music for their campaigns, but they don’t see it as what it should be seen as. Music sells. This is some of the stuff that Black people are good at.

Museke.com: Do you have any present engagements and works other than music?
Rockstone: I inherited a lot from my father, a fashion line, diamond mine, etc. I am managing his estate, doing the best I can.

Museke.com: What are your hobbies and pastimes?
Rockstone: I love the movies, love dancing, partying, debates, documentaries. I don’t read as much as I used to.

Museke.com: Do you have a website?
Rockstone: I have more than one coming soon. If you google my name, a lot of stuff comes up. Stuff like this makes me wonder, I am on Wikipedia.

Museke.com: Yes, you are quite famous. Tell us about the Music hold my hand (Incomplete yet) song/video.
Rockstone: It’s a collage of thoughts, lyrics. I chose it personally and shot the video for it out of about 40 tracks. I am a big fan of Sena, it’s a privilege to work with her.

Museke.com: What is your take on the different forms of hiplife (raglife, crunk music, etc)?
Rockstone: Ghanaians emulate the brothers in the Diaspora. We come from the same blood line, it’s the pulse and the beat of now. Maybe the hip hop is coming through now. They got tired of the Appietus in the mix now. But they still use the dialect.

Museke.com: Until recently, English songs by Ghanaians weren’t very popular hits (hip hop/R&B). But that has changed with 5Five, 4x4, etc? What happened?
Rockstone: Ghana is a English-speaking country. A Ghanaian would address you in English. I am not surprised. I am bilingual, I never had a problem with expressing thoughts in English. It expands the game, it’s not a bad thing, as long as you still got your indigenous rhythm. Good music is good music.

Museke.com: Give us your Parthian shot – last words.
Rockstone: Thanks, to my fans, am most grateful for being there. I never really cared about the non-believers. They can say a lot of things. The one thing you can’t say about me is that I haven’t contributed immensely to my people. I am a very outspoken person, I will tell you what I think. “Maka a, maka”, that pretty much explains it. For the believers, wait till the album is done.