Amerado
Derrick Kantanka, professionally known as Amerado, is a Ghanaian rapper and musician born and raised in Ejisu, Kumasi, in the Ashanti Region of Ghana. He attended KNUST Senior High School and is currently pursuing a degree in Political Science at the University of Ghana. Amerado first gained public attention in 2015 when he placed third in the Solid FM Freestyle Show, which led to his signing with MicBurnerz Music under the guidance of music producer and A&R Azee Ntwene. Early in his career, he was featured on a song by Mix Master Garzy promoting peace during the 2016 Ghanaian general election. In 2017, he released his debut single I AM, which was listed among the top 10 Ghanaian songs by Pulse Ghana, followed by his first EP Rapmare later that year.
Amerado’s prominence continued to grow through collaborations with top Ghanaian artists. In 2018, he was featured on Sarkodie’s hip-hop song Biibi Ba, which was nominated for Best Hip-hop Song at the 2019 Vodafone Ghana Music Awards. He was ranked among Ghana’s top 50 rappers by DJ Black in 2019, and Reggie Rockstone, a pioneer of hiplife, described him as one of the most talented rappers to emerge from Ghana in 2020. That same year, he joined Shatta Wale and other artists in Kumasi to release Ahodwo Las Vegas, further cementing his place in the Ghanaian rap scene. In August 2021, Amerado performed a freestyle and interview session on Capital Xtra with Tim Westwood in London, which was highly praised by GRM Daily as one of the best on the show.
Amerado released his second EP, Patience, on October 26, 2021, featuring artists such as Black Sherif, Shatta Wale, Fameye, YPee, and Kweku Flick. The EP, produced by Azee Ntwene, Izjoe Beatz, Samsney, and ItzCJ Madeit, reached number one on Apple Music, Audiomack, Boomplay, and YouTube. It later won Best EP at the 2022 3Music Awards, and Amerado became the first Kumasi-based artist to win Rapper of the Year at the same awards. In October 2022, he released his debut studio album G.I.N.A, which included collaborations with S1mba, Fameye, Eno Barony, Laioung, Efya, Gidochi, Lasmid, and Epixode.
Amerado has achieved several historic milestones in his career, including becoming the first rapper from Kumasi to win Best Rapper at both the Ghana Music Awards and the 3Music Awards. In December 2024, he became the third Ghanaian artist to receive a certification plaque from Audiomack for surpassing 100 million streams. He has stated in interviews that his failed aspiration to become a professional footballer ultimately led him to pursue music, a decision that has made him one of Ghana’s leading contemporary rappers.
