Sarkology

Sarkology
Studio album by Sarkodie
Released	January 2, 2014
Recorded	2012–13
Genre	Hip hop, hiplife
Label	Duncwills Entertainment
Producer	Duncan Williams (exec.), Beat Merchant, Hammer, Killbeatz, King of Accra, Lil Shaker, Magnom, Masterkraft, Nshona, Silvastone
Sarkodie chronology
T.M.G (2013) Sarkology (2014) Mary (2015)
Singles from Sarkology
"Gunshot" Released: November 12, 2012[1] "Illuminati" Released: November 27, 2012[2] "Lies" Released: May 8, 2013[3] "Bounce" Released: September 19, 2013[4] "Down on One" Released: October 10, 2013[5] "Pon D Ting" Released: December 23, 2013[6] "Ordinary Love" Released: December 31, 2013[7] "Preach" Released: January 9, 2014[8]

Sarkology is the third studio album by Ghanaian hip hop recording artist Sarkodie, released by Duncwills Entertainment on January 2, 2014.^[9] Primarily recorded in Twi, the album features guest appearances from Fuse ODG, Davido, Tiwa Savage, Banky W., Timaya, 2 Face Idibia, Efya, Mugeez, Obrafour, Burna Boy, Vivian Chidid, Vector, Silvastone, Sk Blinks, Stonebwoy, Joey B, J Town, Lil Shaker, Raquel, Sian, Kofi B and AKA. The album's production was handled by Magnom, Hammer, Killbeatz, Masterkraft and Silvastone, among others.

Buildup and release

"There’s a lot to expect on the new album, I can easily call it a Nigerian album because I have all my Nigerian friends supporting me on this album."

— Sarkodie on Sarkology^[10]

There were reports that Sarkodie was gearing up to release the album at the end of 2013. Sarkology was also reported to contain 16 tracks.^[11] According to a September 2013 report by The Ghanaian Chronicle, Sarkodie told the press that the album will contain 30 songs.^[12] Sarkodie also told the press that the album will feature production from 13 producers, including Kilbeatz, Magnom and Nshorna.^[13]

Album cover

On August 28, 2013, Sarkodie released the album's cover to the general public via the social networking site Twitter.^[14] The cover shows a young boy surrounded by school textbooks and other educational materials. The young boy is seated in a chair reading a Magazine about Sarkodie.^[15] Sarkodie also used the album's cover to promote Sark, his clothing brand.^[16] Sarkodie was in the United Kingdom for a video shoot when he released the album's cover.^[17]

Launch concert

"The Sarkology Release Concert" (a concert put together to launch the Ghanaian rapper's third studio album) was held on December 21, 2013, at the Accra Sports Stadium.^[18] Numerous Ghanaian musicians (some of whom were featured on the album) performed at the concert, including Stay Jay, Kwaw Kese, Efya, Fuse ODG, Joey B, Raquel, Ephraim, Donzy, Dee Moneey, Buda, Mr. Silver, Phoot Printz and Scizo.^[19][20] At the concert, Sarkodie and Joey B performed the latter's single "Tonga".^[21]

Singles

Efya (top) was featured on two of the album's 30 songs. Tiwa Savage (middle) and Davido (bottom) were two of the seven Nigerian musicians featured on the album.

On November 12, 2012, Duncwills Entertainment released "Gunshot", the album's lead single, featuring Davido. The song was produced by Killbeatz.^[22] The music video for "Gunshot" was released on December 11, 2012, and uploaded onto YouTube at a total length of 3 minutes and 32 seconds. It was shot and directed in Ghana by Sesan.^[23]

On November 27, 2012, Sarkodie released the album's second single titled "Illuminati". The song was produced by Magnom and recorded in Sarkodie's naitve language Twi. The music video for the single was shot in Dubai at various locations by Gyogyimah of Phamous Philms.^[24] It was uploaded onto YouTube on August 19, 2013, at a total length of 2 minutes and 58 seconds. After releasing "Illuminati", Sarkodie was jokingly rumored to have join the "secret clan".^[25]

Sarkodie released the album's third single "Lies" featuring Lil Shaker. The music video for the single was directed by Nana-Asi Hene. According to OkayAfrica, the music video "juggles images of a broken mannequin/past lover to the backdrop of Sarkodie‘s flashy whips, mansions, pools and penthouses."^[26]

The album's fourth single, titled "Bounce", was released on September 19, 2013. It was produced by Magnom. The music video, recorded at a total length of 3 minutes and 59 seconds, was directed by Sesan.^[27]

"Down on One", the album's fifth single, was released on October 10, 2013. It features vocals from Fuse ODG, and was produced by Killbeatz. The music video for "Down on One" was shot and directed in the U.K by Moe Musa. It was uploaded onto YouTube at a total length of 3 minutes and 47 seconds.^[28]

"Pon D Ting", the album's six single, was released on December 23, 2013. The song was produced by Masterkraft and the music video was directed in South Africa by Sesan.^[6] The music video was shot when Sarkodie flew to South Africa for the 2013 edition of the Channel O Music Video Awards.^[29] Sarkodie commented on the music video, saying: "I’m very excited about this video shoot and song. It’s a long overdue collaboration between my good friend, Banky W and I."^[30]

On December 31, 2013, Sarkodie released the album's seventh single "Ordinary Love" featuring Tiwa Savage. The song was produced by Beat Merchant.^[31][32] Efya was initially intended to be on the track but due to strategic reasons, Sarkodie decided to work with Tiwa Savage. Sarkodie said: "I had this song, and the hook was ready waiting for Efya. You know we've had lots of collaboration back-to-back and I wanted someone different. I'm on Tiwa's album, so it was just right for us to do another song on my album. Tiwa was there, I sent her the song, and she laid good vocals on it which was also perfect."^[33]

On January 9, 2014, Sarkodie released the album's eighth single titled "Preach". The song features UK based recording artist and record producer Silvastone. An accompany music video for "Preach" was released on February 3, 2014. It was uploaded onto YouTube at a total length of 4 minutes and 13 seconds.^[34]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Mensah and Debrah	9/10[35]

Upon its release, Sarkology received mostly positive reviews from music critics. Jacob Roberts-Mensah and Ameyaw Debrah gave the album 9 out of 10 stars, extensively adding: "He does very well on this album to further blur the lines between GH Rap/Hip-life and Hip-hop not necessarily being boxed in or defined by either genre and managing to dip in and out of each one whenever he wants to."^[35][36]

Accolades

Sarkology won the "Album of the Year" category at the 2014 Ghana Music Awards.^[37] It was also nominated for "World’s Best Album" at the 2014 World Music Awards.^[38]

Year	Awards ceremony	Award description(s)	Results
2014	Ghana Music Awards	Album of the Year	Won
	World Music Awards	World’s Best Album	Nominated

Track listing

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
1.	"Dear Rap"	Michael Owusu Addo		2:22
2.	"Elijah" (featuring Obrafour)	Michael Owusu Addo Michael Elliot Darko	Hammer	5:16
3.	"Halleluyah" (featuring Vivian Chidid)	Michael Owusu Addo Vivian Chidid		4:00
4.	"Illuminati"	Michael Owusu Addo	Magnom	2:46
5.	"Rap Attack" (featuring Vector)	Michael Owusu Addo Olanrewaju Ogunmefun		3:59
6.	"Sizeless (Skit)"	-		1:26
7.	"Original"	Michael Owusu Addo		4:07
8.	"Xxl" (featuring Mugeez)	Michael Owusu Addo Rashid Mugeez		3:49
9.	"Preach" (featuring Silvastone)	Michael Owusu Addo Silvastone	Silvastone	4:11
10.	"Y'all Already Know"	Michael Owusu Addo	Nii - King Of Accra	3:05
11.	"Pon D Ting" (featuring Banky W.)	Michael Owusu Addo Olubankole Wellington	Masterkraft	4:11
12.	"Special Someone" (featuring Burna Boy and AKA)	Michael Owusu Addo Damini Ogulu Kiernan Forbes		4:18
13.	"Down on One" (featuring Fuse ODG)	Michael Owusu Addo Nana Richard Abiona	KillBeatz	3:47
14.	"One Chance" (featuring Timaya)	Michael Owusu Addo Enetimi Alfred Odom	KillBeatz	4:04
15.	"Gunshot" (featuring Davido)	Michael Owusu Addo David Adeleke	KillBeatz	3:51
16.	"Wobaadanaa" (Lil Shaker)	Michael Owusu Addo		4:13
17.	"Adonai" (featuring Sk Blinks)	Michael Owusu Addo Sk Blinks	Nshona Muzick	4:02
18.	"Bounce"	Michael Owusu Addo	Magnom	3:45
19.	"Currency" (featuring Stonebwoy)	Michael Owusu Addo Livingston E. Satekla	Magnom	4:46
20.	"2 Paddies" (featuring Joey B)	Michael Owusu Addo Darryl Bannerman-Martin		3:08
21.	"Good Relationship" (featuring J Town)	Michael Owusu Addo Stefen Menson Michael Owusu Addo		3:47
22.	"Lies" (featuring Lil Shaker)	Michael Owusu Addo Lil Shaker	Lil Shaker	3:58
23.	"Ordinary Love" (featuring Tiwa Savage)	Michael Owusu Addo Tiwatope Savage	Beat Merchant	3:30
24.	"Hold on" (featuring Raquel)	Michael Owusu Addo Raquel Ammah		4:18
25.	"Marry Me" (featuring Sian)	Michael Owusu Addo Sian		3:53
26.	"Odo Yede" (featuring Kofi B)	Michael Owusu Addo Kofi Boakye		3:34
27.	"Whatever You Do" (featuring Efya)	Michael Owusu Addo Jane Fara Awindor
28.	"War" (featuring 2 Face Idibia)	Michael Owusu Addo Innocent Ujah Idibia	Magnom	3:28
29.	"Small Small" (featuring Lil Shaker)	Michael Owusu Addo Lil Shaker		4:40
30.	"Devil in Me" (featuring Efya)	Michael Owusu Addo Jane Fara Awindor		4:33

Personnel

• Nana Richard Abiona - Featured artist
• Michael Owusu Addo - Composer
• David Adeleke - Featured artist
• Tiwatope Savage Balogun - Featured artist
• Darryl Bannerman-Martin - Featured artist
• Olubankole Wellington - Featured artist
• Enetimi Alfred Odom - Featured artist
• Hammer - Producer
• Innocent Ujah Idibia - Featured artist
• Jane Fara Awindor - Featured artist
• Rashid Mugeez - Featured artist
• Michael Elliot Kwabena Okyere Darko - Featured artist
• Damini Ogulu - Featured artist
• Vivian Chidid - Featured artiste
• Olanrewaju Ogunmefun - Featured artist
• Silvastone - Producer, featured artist
• Sk Blinks - Featured artist
• Sarkodie - Primary Artist
• Livingston E. Satekla - Composer
• Stefen Menson - Featured artist
• Stonebwoy - Featured artist
• Lil Shaker - Producer, Featured artist
• Raquel Ammah - Composer
• Raquel - Featured artist
• Sian - Featured artist
• Kofi Boakye - Featured artist
• Kiernan Forbes - Featured artist
• Magnom - Record producer
• Hammer - Record producer
• Killbeatz - Record producer
• King of Accra - Producer
• Masterkraft - Record producer
• RedEye - Mixing, Mastering

Release history

Region	Date	Format	Label
Ghana	January 2, 2014	CD, Digital download	Duncwills Entertainment

References

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2. "Audio: Sarkodie 'Illuminati' [Download]". OkayAfrica. 27 November 2012. Retrieved 14 February 2014.
3. "LIES – SARKODIE FEAT LIL SHAKER (SARKOLOGY)". MADC. 9 May 2013. Retrieved 15 February 2014.
4. "Sarkodie-Bounce". Expose Ghana. 20 September 2013. Retrieved 15 February 2014.
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6. "Pon Di Ting- Sarkodie ft Banky W". Expose Ghana. 23 December 2013. Retrieved 15 February 2014.
7. O, Ovie (31 December 2013). "Sarkodie – Ordinary Love ft. Tiwa Savage". Retrieved 15 February 2014.
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32. ""Ordinary Love"! African Music Stars Sarkodie & Tiwa Savage Dish to Ameyaw Debrah About Their Upcoming Projects". Bellanaija. 6 June 2013. Retrieved 15 February 2014.
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