Ghanaian artist Cojo Rae pushes his self-described Gen Z Highlife sound forward as he drops “Aberanteɛ,” a cut from his “Gen Z Highlife” album. The record sits on a fourteen-song project that runs about thirty-seven minutes. That is a tight album, so every track carries a clear job.
“Aberanteɛ” is an Akan word for a young man or gentleman. The title fits an album named after a generation, but the build of the record matters just as much. Cojo Rae has called himself an originator of Gen Z Highlife, so the arrangement leans on that lane. “Aberanteɛ” also sits alongside “Dbee,” “Yeboo,” and “I Can’t Explain (Adiza Maame)” on the project.
Cojo Rae, born Agyapong Raymond, is based in Kumasi. He has built his name around Ghanaian expressions and a fresh take on highlife. Songs like “Aketesia,” “Jah Guide,” and “Kwesi Arthur” came before the album, while this year he linked with Jay Bahd and Strongman on “Yagye Nsam.”
Lyric details for “Aberanteɛ” haven’t been confirmed yet, so the story behind the words stays open. Even so, the placement and the title carry weight. A young artist is naming himself and his peers in his own language.
Highlife listeners who like local words in modern songs should add this one to their queue. What do you make of “Aberanteɛ”? Drop your thoughts in the comment section below.
