Ghanaian rapper Edem has paid tribute to Hiplife veteran Tsikago, crediting him as the trailblazer who first introduced the Ewe language into rap music.

In a heartfelt Facebook post, Edem reflected on a childhood memory of hearing Tsikago perform at Moyawe Beach in Denu during his time at Amazing Love Primary School. According to the rapper, the experience left a lasting impression on him long before he rose to prominence in Ghana’s music scene.

Edem vividly recounted how the bassline from Tsikago’s popular track “Davi Medekuku” echoed across the ocean waves and reached his dormitory while he lay on his bunk bed one calm evening.

“I could hear the bass line from the popular song ‘Davi Medekuku’ piercing through the ocean waves into my dormitory while I rested on my bunk bed wishing to see him,” he wrote.

Edem ended the tribute with a salute to the veteran artist, praising him for igniting what has now become a major musical movement.

“Salute the pioneer,” he wrote, acknowledging Tsikago’s role in sparking a wave that has turned Ewe rap into a national phenomenon.

Today, Edem himself is widely credited with taking Ewe rap to the national stage, building on the foundation laid by Tsikago and inspiring a new generation of artists to embrace their language and cultural identity in hip-hop.

Among the contemporary acts continuing the movement are Keeny Ice, Agbeshie, and Hecta, who all incorporate their Ewe heritage and language into modern pop and rap music.

Responding to Edem’s tribute, Tsikago, who now spells his name differently from his earlier stage name “Chicago,” expressed deep appreciation for the recognition.

“It is deeply humbling to see that the ‘spark’ I struck at Moyawe Beach reached your dormitory at Amazing Love Primary,” he wrote. “I salute you for carrying the torch of Ewe Rap to a national wave for our language with such brilliance.”

The exchange between the two artists highlights the generational link in Ghanaian music, showing how early innovators helped shape a cultural movement that continues to influence the country’s hip-hop landscape today.