Black Sherif (Mohammed Ismail Sherif) is a Ghanaian rapper and singer from Konongo in the Ashanti Region. He performs in Twi and draws on highlife, Afrobeats, hip hop and UK drill, and is signed to Road Boys Association and Empire.
Background
Black Sherif was born on 9 January 2002 in Konongo and raised in Konongo-Zongo. His career began in 2019, when he released “Cry for Me” on YouTube, followed by “Mariana” later that year. His debut single, “Money”, came out in May 2020. His official YouTube channel describes his sound as a blend of Ghanaian highlife, Afrobeats and drill.
Releases
- “First Sermon” (May 2021) and “Second Sermon” (July 2021): the songs that built his audience. A remix of “Second Sermon” featured Burna Boy.
- “Kwaku the Traveller” (March 2022): his breakthrough, which topped the Apple Music charts in Ghana and Nigeria.
- The Villain I Never Was (5 October 2022): debut album.
- Take Care of Yourself Blacko (2023): a double single.
- Iron Boy (3 April 2025): second album.
Recognition
His awards include the 3Music Awards in 2022 (Breakthrough Act and Song of the Year for “Second Sermon”), and in 2023 the BET Hip Hop Award for Best International Flow, The Headies’ West African Artiste of the Year and the Vodafone Ghana Music Awards’ Artist of the Year. In 2025 he was nominated for a BET Award in the International Act category. He has played the 25th MOBO Awards in London, Palladium Times Square in New York and several festivals, and since December 2022 has held an annual “Zaama Disco” concert in Accra.
Where to start
Begin with “First Sermon” and “Kwaku the Traveller”, then listen to The Villain I Never Was and Iron Boy.
Sources
- Wikipedia: Black Sherif
- Apple Music for release dates
- Official YouTube channel for the description and Instagram link
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