4×4 is a Ghanaian hip hop musical group formed in 2000 by Captain Planet (Sylvanus Dodji Jeoffrey) and Coded, formerly Abortion (Raphael Edem Avornyo) with the help of Ronnie Coches and Bright Bling Sparkles (Buk Bak). They are reputed to have brought crunk to Ghana. In 2007, Captain Planet and Coded were joined by a new artist named Fresh Prince (Prince Tamakloe).
EARLY CAREER
Jeoffry and Avornyo were discovered by Buk Bak as participants in the Kiddafest TV programme showcasing young musical talent. The name 4×4 reflects the four people who led to the creation of the group (Ronnie, Bright, Abortion, and Captain Planet). The duo released their debut album Siklitele under Buk Bak in 2003. In 2009 4X4 Featured Prince Tamkole(Fresh Prince) in a record call hot girls .com..later that year he was admitted to that group.
4×4 released their second album Contestant No. 1 in 2007, with the single ‘HotGirls.com’ featuring a new artist, Fresh Prince (Prince Tamakloe). The song is reputed to have introduced crunk to Ghanaian culture, and earned the group an Ghana Music Award nomination in 2008. “HotGirls.com” was a success, and Fresh Prince eventually joined the band.
In 2009, 4×4 released another album World Trade Center. which went platinum.The title song went to number one on the singles chart in Ghana and is the first and currently only Ghanaian song to make the Urban Charts in Africa. The single “Waist and Power” has also received over 600,000 hits on YouTube.
MUSICAL STYLE AND INFLUENCES
Captain Planet claims to have pioneered Ghanaian vernacular rap, using Akuapem Twi rap, Ga, Ewe, and Pidgin English. Abortion contributes a ragga or dancehall style, which fuses singjaying and deejaying with Captain Planet’s rapping to create an innovative form of hip life. The group was and continues to be mentored by Ronnie Coches and Bright Bling Sparkles (Buk Bak).
DISCOGRAPHY
Albums
- Siklitele, 4×4, 2003
- Contestant No. 1, 4×4, 2007
- World Trade Center, Paradise Entertainment, 2009
Singles
- “HotGirls.com” (2007)
- “World Trade Center” (2008)
- “Waist and Power”
AWARDS
| Year | Award | Details | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Pop Song of the Year | “Hot Girls dot com” | Nominated |
| 2010 | Afro Pop Song of the Year | “World Trade Center” | Won |
| 2011 | Afro Pop Song Of The Year | “Miss Doctor” | Nominated |
| 2012 | Artiste of the Year | Nominated | |
| Hiplife/Hip Hop Artiste of the Year | Nominated | ||
| Hiplife Song of the Year | “Yesi Yesii” | Nominated | |
| Best Group of the Year | Won | ||
| Album of the Year | Waist and Power | Won | |
| Hiplife Song of the Year | “Yesi Yesii” (Director: Phamous Philms) | Nominated |