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Atlanta, GA: His phenomenal rise to stardom in the international music scene did not come without persistence and, like a man possessed, his every show is characterized by an electrical performance, forcing cheering fans on their feet, “till the soul is exhausted”.
Whenever there is a discussion among Liberian and African music fans, the name that ostensibly pop up without any effort, is Liberian international, Dominic Brapoh, with the adorable nick-name Lucky Shango.
“This latest CD is meant to pull fans on their feet,” he told me when I visited him at his residence in Lawrenceville, Georgia, to outdoor his latest CD/DVD, with the title: I Mu Decali Je, a mixture of English and his native Kru.
“I call on my fans to come see something,” he told me as the rendition goes, “it is a new style of dance and I urge them to get on their feet.” Meanwhile, the title song hummed at the background as we discussed his latest hit presently on sale at wherever African music is sold in the United States.
On the DVD rendition, which is attached, free with the CD, the former Mighty Barrolle and Lone Star’ international striker is seen, “doing his own thing,” as he described it, and the echoes of the electrifying sound, blazing at the background.
A Clip of Shango's "I Mu Decali Je"
“I used to sing as a boy,” he says, “I never thought it could have taken me thus far.” The soft spoken goal-getter was one of the life-wires during his playing days, and was called upon whenever there was the urgent need for a goal. He was a hard-running striker who was always brought in, in the second half, and with his enormous energy would engineer a goal in the first fifteen minutes.
“Fans would cheer on till the wee hours of the night,” he said. “It was wonderful.”
“Despite my performance,” he says, without regret, “other players were credited for the goal, and I was left with nothing.”
He said he was never embittered by it, and always took consolation in songs.
“Like my playing days,” he says, “I am very persistent.”
That can answer for his success, as he says, he is climbing the ladder of music fame gradually, and God has always been his defender, hence recognizing God in the first title of the latest CD.
“I WILL PRAISE YOUR NAME” is his recognition of what God has done in his life which is done in a delightful performance.
With other titles like BOUNCE THAT TUMBA, LET ME SHOW YOU SOMETHING, DJ AND THAT’S LUCKY SHANGO, the artist leaves you with the only option of joining in the party.
“I’m excited about this production,” he told me, “I love the material.” He composed all the nine songs on the CD, assisted in the arrangement by G-Man and Clarence Kamara.
“They are good masters of their work,” he said, “what else can one ask for?” He did not think I should answer the question, for he followed that up with a smile, enjoying himself. This proves right the saying that the laborer delights in his labor.
The 9th title is a dedication to a man he described as, “My Mentor, A Good man,” and this is no one than Mr. John Wotoe Karpeh.
In his soft voice, he said, “I urge him to accept his flowers for his tireless effort in my music career.”
Liberian and African music fans will find delight in this edition, which recognizes the artist determination to reach to the star, if they will give him a push.
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