Derrick Sarfo Kantanka, (born 14 February 1995), best known as Amerado, is a Ghanaian rapper and singer from Kumasi. He is the curator of Yeete Nsem, Ghana's first news casting rap series.
Early life and education Derrick Kantanka was born and raised in Ejisu, Kumasi, in the Ashanti Region of Ghana. He attended KNUST Senior High School. Amerado is currently pursuing a degree in Political Science at the University of Ghana.
Music career After placing third at the Solid FM Freestyle Show in 2015, Amerado caught the attention of music producer, sound engineer and A&R, Azee Ntwene, who signed the rapper to his label MicBurnerz Music. Amerado was featured on a song by Mix Master Garzy intended to promote peace around the 2016 Ghanaian general election. The following year, Amerado released his first single I AM, which Pulse Ghana included among their top 10 Ghanaian songs in January 2017. He released his first EP Rapmare that November. In 2018, Amerado was featured on Sarkodie's hip-hop song "Biibi Ba", which was nominated for the Best Hiphop Song at the 2019 Vodafone Ghana Music Awards.
On 8 August 2019, Ghanaian disc jockey DJ Black released a list of the country's top 50 rappers, ranking Amerado in the forties. On 1 October 2020, Reggie Rockstone, a significant figure in the Ghanaian music genre hiplife, described Amerado as one of the most talented rappers to emerge from Ghana.
In 2020, Amerado joined Shatta Wale and other rappers in Kumasi to release Ahodwo Las Vegas. In August 2021, Amerado had a freestyle and interview session with Tim Westwood on Capital Xtra in London. GRM Daily reported his freestyle session as one of the best on the show.
Amerado released his second extended play Patience on 26 October 2021, featuring Black Sherif, Shatta Wale, Fameye, YPee and Kweku Flick, with production from Azee Ntwene, Izjoe Beatz, Samsney and ItzCJ Madeit. The EP peaked at 1 on music streaming platforms Apple Music, Audiomack, Boomplay and YouTube. The EP was adjudged the BEST EP at the 2022 3Music Awards. Amerado is the first Kumasi-based artist to win the Rapper of the Year award at the 3Music Awards. In May 2020, Audiomack listed Amerado in Top 10 African Artists to look out for which also featured A-Reece, Nandy, Joey B and others.
On 25 October 2022, Amerado released his debut studio album, G.I.N.A, which featured S1mba, Fameye, Eno Barony, Laioung, Efya, Gidochi, Lasmid and Epixode.
According to a post published by Peacefmonline.com, Amerado is the first rapper from Kumasi to win the Best Rapper award at both the Ghana Music Awards and the 3Music Awards.
Amerado in an interview with Jackson Mvunganyi of VOA stated that, his failed aspiration to become a football star led him to do music. On 4 December 2024, he became the third Ghanaian artiste to receive a certification plaque from Audiomack for hitting the 100 million streams milestone.
Style Amerado raps and sings mostly in the Twi dialect of the Akan language of Ghana, but he sometimes uses English as well. His stage name, Amerado, which means 'Governor' in Akan, was chosen to assert his command of the music scene.
Brand ambassador Amerado is the brand ambassador for Ghana-made chocolates, an initiative of the Ghana Cocoa Board. He wrote the song "Ghana Chocolate" to promote the campaign. He has also worked with Vodafone Ghana, AirtelTigo, HD Plus, GoTV, Cheezzy Pizza and other brands.
Live performances
Amerado's notable live performances include the Vodafone Ghana Music Awards, S-Concert, Rapperholic Show, the 2019 Ghana Music Awards UK, VGMA Xperience Concert, Ghana DJ Awards, the Ghana Party in the Park, UK, Accra in Dusseldorf (Germany), Ghana Music Awards USA and 2024 Ghana Music Awards. He was the headliner for the 36th GhanaFest held in Chicago (USA).
My Motherland Concert On 28 December 2023, Amerado hosted his maiden concert at the Okese Park in Ejisu dubbed My Motherland Concert. The concert which hosted thousands of fans had support from fellow artists like Fameye, Kwadwo Nkansah, Lasmid, Eno Barony, Fancy Gadam, Kweku Darlington and others. The second edition, which attracted over 8,000 attendees, featured performances by Sista Afia, Joyce Blessing, Strongman, Yaw Tog, Kofi Jamar, and several other artists. On 28 December 2025, Amerado held the third edition of the concert attracting over 15,000 to 20,000 fans as reported by MyJoyOnline, it was co-headlined by Okyeame Kwame and JZyNO who were new faces on the bill.
Awards and nominations YearEventAwardRecipient/Nominated workResultRef2026Telecel Ghana Music AwardsReggae/Dancehall Song of the YearPharaohPendingHighlife Song of the YearObi AdiPending2025Ghana Music Awards USASongwriter of the YearAbronomaHighlife Song of the Year2 ThingsAbronomaCollaboration of the YearBlessingHiplife/Hiphop Artist of the YearHimselfTelecel Ghana Music AwardsReggae/Dancehall Song of the YearAnkonam RemixHighlife Song of the YearAbronoma2024Eastern Music AwardsMost Influential Act GHHimselfMost Viral Song GHKwaku AnanseGhana Music Awards UKBest Highlife Song of the YearMost Popular Song of the YearBest Rapper of the YearHimselfHip Hop Song of the YearThe HardestHip Hop Artist of the YearHimselfArtist of the Year3Music AwardsViral Song of the YearKwaku AnanseHighlife Song of the YearKwaku AnanseHip Hop Song of the YearThe HardestHiplife/Hip Hop Act of the YearHimselfRap Performance of the YearThe HardestSong of the YearKwaku AnanseGhana Music Awards USAArtist of the YearHimselfHiplife/Hiphop Artist of the YearCollaboration of the YearKwaku Ananse RemixMost Popular Song of the YearKwaku AnanseSongwriter of the YearRapper of the YearThe HardestHighlife Song of the YearKwaku AnanseTelecel Ghana Music AwardsHiplife/Hiphop Artist of the YearHimselfCollaboration of the YearKwaku Ananse RemixRap Performer of the YearThe HardestHiphop Song of the YearThe HardestMost Popular Song of the YearKwaku Ananse2023Eastern Music AwardsMost Influential Act in GhanaHimselfGhana Music Awards UKBest Rapper of the YearObiaa BoaHiplife/Hiphop Artist of the YearHimselfBest Collaboration of the YearGraceHiplife/Hip Hop Song of the YearGhana Music Awards USARapper of the YearObiaa BoaHiplife/Hiphop Artist of the YearHimselfVodafone Ghana Music AwardsHiplife/Hiphop Artiste of the YearHimselfHiplife Song of the YearGraceCollaboration of the YearRap Performer of the YearObiaa BoaHiphop Song of the Year2022Central Music AwardsGhana Popular Song of the YearGraceEastern Music AwardsMost Influential Act in GhanaHimselfGhana Music Awards UKBest Collaboration of the YearAbotr3 (Patience)Best rapper of the YearThe ThroneHiplife/Hip Hop Song of the YearAbotr3 (Patience)Hiplife/Hip Hop Artist of the YearHimselfGhana Music Awards FranceEP of the YearPatience EPReggae/Dancehall Song of the YearSing AlongRapper of the Year Abotr3 (Patience)Best Collaboration Abotr3 (Patience)Producer of the Year (Samsney)Abotr3 (Patience)Most Popular Song of the YearAbotr3 (Patience)Hip Hop Song of the YearAbotr3 (Patience)Hiplife /Hip Hop Artist of the YearHimselfGhana Nigeria Music Awards FestivalRapper of the YearAbotr3 (Patience)New Artist of the YearHimselfGhana Music Awards USAHiplife/Hiphop Artist of the YearHimselfRapper of the YearBest RapperVodafone Ghana Music AwardsHiphop Song of the YearAbotr3 (Patience)Best Rap Performer of the YearThe ThroneHiplife/Hiphop Artist of the YearHimself3Music AwardsRapper of the YearHimselfEP of the YearPatience EPHiplife Song of the YearAbotr3 (Patience)Hiplife/Hiphop Act of the YearHimself2021Ghana Music Awards UKHiplife/Hiphop Artist of the YearHimselfBest Rapper of the YearHimselfNew Artist of the YearHimself4Syte TV Music Video AwardsBest Hiphop VideoBest RapperGhana Music Awards USANew Artist of the YearHimselfHiplife/Hip Hop Song of the YearTwa SoHiplife/Hip Hop Artist of the YearHimselfReggae/Dancehall Song of the YearBox Of MemoriesRapper of the YearHimselfVodafone Ghana Music AwardsRap Performer of the YearHimselfNew Artist of the YearHimselfEntertainment Achievement AwardsBest Music VideoBest Rapper3Music AwardsBest Rapper of the YearHimselfDigital Act of the YearHimselfGlobal Music Awards AfricaMost Influential Ghanaian Act of the YearHimself2020Muse Bangerz of the QuarterHiplife Song of the QuarterTwa SoOne Awards GhanaRapper of the YearHimselfCOPO AwardDiscovery Lyricist of the YearHimselfGhana Entertainment Choice AwardsBest Rapper of the YearHimselfAshanti Music AwardsInfluential Act in AshantiHimselfBest collaboration of the YearTwa SoArtist of the YearHimselfBest Rapper of the YearHimselfGreater Accra Music AwardsNon-Gama Artiste of the YearHimselfEastern Music AwardsInfluential Act in GhanaHimself2019Emerging Music Awards GhanaEmerging Artist of the YearHimselfMost Popular Artist of the YearHimselfRapper of the YearRedemption FreestyleHiplife Artist of the YearHimselfGhana Music Awards UKUncovered Artiste of the YearHimself3Music AwardsNext Rated ActHimself2018Ghana Music Awards SAMost Promising ArtisteHimself3RD TV Music Video AwardsBest Newcomer VideoKumasi Awards NightArtiste of the YearHimselfBest Rapper of the YearHimself2017Artiste of the YearHimself
Co-nominee / co-winner YearEvent AwardRecipient/Nominated workResultRef2019Vodafone Ghana Music AwardsHip-hop Song of the YearBiibi BaBest Video of the Year4syte TV Music Video AwardsOverall Best Video of the YearBest Hiphop Video of the YearBest PhotographyBest Directed Video20203Music AwardsHip Hop Song of the Year
Videography YearTitleDirectorRef2016Peace Forever (as a featured act)Yaw Skyface2017I AML2MBeast AttitudeL2MAt My BackQuophi Asiama2018Redemption Freestyle IA Certain YORedemption Freestyle IILixil MontageMenpeMotion MasterBiibi Ba (as a featured act)Bab Direction2019DedeFilm God2020Twa SoGordon AppiahBox of MemoriesGordon AppiahKyerɛ MeGordon AppiahA Piece on PeaceDirector KKumerica (as a featured act)Kobby ShotsAhodwo Las Vegas (as a featured act)PKMIBest RapperGordon Appiah2021Taxi DriverSivoMe Ho Y3SivoYounger K.ASARP.the.KR8toRDeath SentenceSARP.the.KR8toRWe OutsideDirector ZizySika BesuGordon AppiahAbotr3(Patience)Gordon Appiah2022MetuaXbills EbenezerThe Finish Line (as a featured act)Takyi NativeObiaa BoaBra ShizzleGraceBra ShizzleNyame DadaBra Shizzle2023The HardestPrince DovloRap Is Still Alive (with Strongman)Kobby ShotsKwaku AnanseBra ShizzleKwaku Ananse RemixGordon Appiah2024AbronomaGordon AppiahTin Ton TanCreative HouseDate rushGordon AppiahPlaymanDirector ZizyAnkonamDirector ZizyAngryBra Shizzle2025The Last PrayerThe BoldzSacrifice, Bury The Pope, Money Journey & Status Quo (Against All Odds EP)Gordon AppiahObi AdiThe Boldz2026AsedaSniper BoyGame OverOD FEXSika MframaKojo Myles
Discography Selected singles I Am At My Back Beast Attitude Mix Master Garzy – Peace Forever (as a featured act) Edem – Kporda Remix (as a featured act) Redemption I Redemption II Menpe Pistol Cabum Gods ft Kuami Eugene & Koo Ntakra Sarkodie – Biibi Ba (as a featured act) Twa So ft Fameye Box of Memories Kyer3 Me ft Okyeame Kwame Shatta Wale – Ahodwo Las Vegas (as a featured act) Best Rapper Dawgi ft. Sarkodie Indelible Flow Taxi Driver Me Ho Y3 Younger K.A Death Sentence We Outside ft Kofi Jamar The Throne Metua ft Kuami Eugene Eno Barony – The Finish Line (as a featured act) Obiaa Boa Back to Sender Grace ft Lasmid Fa Me Saa ft Kwaku DMC The Hardest Kwaku Ananse Kwaku Ananse Remix ft Fameye Abronoma Tin ton tan Sista Afia – 2 Things (as a featured act) Date Rush Shatta Wale – Blessings (as a featured act) Playman ft King Paluta Ankonam Remix ft Samini Nana Acheampong – Ase Mene Wo (as a featured act) I Am Aware Angry The Last Prayer Merry Go Round Asor ft JZyNO Pharaoh Obi Adi Aseda ft Kweku Flick, Kofi Jamar, Strongman, Bro Sammy, YPee, Oseikrom Sikanii and Okyeame Kwame Game Over ft Fuse ODG Obiaa Nte Mase Return Of The Lunatic Fortune and Flesh Wo Ex Bedwa
Extended Plays
Rapmare (2017) Patience (2021) Young And Strong (2023) The Gold Coin (2024)