He set up a small studio in his room for him and his friends as an escape from much of the turmoil on the streets of South London at that time. He quickly realized this was a great way to have a positive influence on others and as a result moved his recordings to a local community center

The Roots

Nana Richard Abiona was born in South London, England to Ghanaian parents. He later moved to Ghana and became well versed in his African heritage. He was given the stage name Fuse ODG (Off Da Ground) because of his blend of musical styles.

Although he returned to London for secondary schooling, Fuse ODG always felt a passion for his home in Ghana. From his teen years in South London, he has been creating music. He set up a small studio in his room for him and his friends as an escape from much of the turmoil on the streets of South London at that time. He quickly realized this was a great way to have a positive influence on others and as a result moved his recordings to a local community center where he helped to develop different Arts programs for kids and teens growing up in the area.

fuse_odg1_bassandbrands

Fuse ODG’s debut album, TINA (This Is New Africa), came out in October of 2014 with 3Beat Records. His innovative collection of music has helped to create a unique sound. “Azonto” (feat. Itz Tiffany), a single from his debut album, created a dance craze with its upbeat sound.

Similarly, the remix for “Antenna” (feat. Wyclef Jean) helped Fuse ODG break into mainstream. The main goal for this album and his music overall is to cultivate a new mindset of Africa in the hearts of many. Like he says at the end of his videos, “TINA is re-programming the world’s mental image of Africa, its people, and its diaspora.”

The Musical Influence

Fuse ODG talks about feeling stuck between his two cultures after moving back to London, but he recalls the tapes of Ghanaian artists he brought with him. Rappers such as Obrafour, Reggie Rockstone, and Lord Kenya combined with the Western rap and hip hop he listened to growing up. This fusion of sounds calls to mind his own name “Fuse,” as that is clearly what he does with his music.

The Sound

Fuse ODG successfully meshes Western culture’s rap and pop with Ghanaian pop sounds, Afrobeat, Dancehall, and Reggae vibes. His goal is to create a combination of modern sounds with old school groove and feeling. The video for “Letter to TINA,” off of his debut album does just that, while sending a message of the change Fuse ODG is trying to create.

He sings:

“Tired of the way they portray you in the media,
So I’m trying to bring change in the way they see ya.
Mother who gave birth to the children of Africa.
Now we’ve grown making moves on our own,
Need to let the world know that your home is a healer.”

The Road

Link Up Fuse ODG