Ghanaian media and music star Trigmatic has noted how his new Ghana Yoo “song was heavy” for him.

The Highlife/Amapiano record features Ghanaian Highlife icon of worldwide repute Ebo Taylor, 88, and South African star Epic Minds.

Trigmatic told Zeal Nana Kweku Bliss on Class Xtra (Class 91.3 FM), he approached Ghana Yoo with such sensitivity he designed two verses and settled on the last one for the final cut.

He explained it was because of the weight of his collaborator Ebo Taylor’s legacy.

“The first time, I felt like I rushed it. I felt like, ‘It’s Ebo Taylor [and I need to do better]’. You have no idea how I eulogise Ebo Taylor,” Trigmatic said. “Ebo Taylor is a master of the art.”

To underline Ebo Taylor’s significance to music, especially in West Africa, he noted his influence on Afrobeat icon Fela Kuti of Nigeria.

“Seun Kuti has said quite a number of times that Ebo Taylor is the grandfather of Afrobeat,” Trigmatic added. “And I know it’s because Fela worked with Uncle Ebo at a point.”

Meeting Ebo Taylor

Trigmatic revealed when he first met Ebo Taylor at Felabration in Nigeria, “some five or six years ago,” he was being followed by “Aljazeera and a few international people”.  

“I hadn’t seen him before,” he confessed, explaining it was his drummer who identified Ebo Taylor to him.

Trigmatic said once “I started getting into his songs,” he was amazed by the depth of talent and significance Ebo Taylor had especially internationally. Among other things, he noted music superstars like Usher, Ludacris, Kelly Rowland and others had sampled Ebo Taylor’s music.

“He’s had so many wins that I’d want to be able to achieve, so I wanted to tap into his blessing. I followed him for a while and at the last but one Osagyefo Night, we decided to honour him because he deserves it. He also called and asked me to come to his hometown, Saltpond, so I perform on a festival he was trying to create. Which I did willingly,” Trigmatic narrated.

The entrepreneur said he assured Ebo Taylor he was not looking forward to receiving any money, saying: “Anything for you.”

“I was humbled to share the same stage” with Ebo Taylor for Felabration, Nigeria, and “another in Ghana, also,” the curator of the Osagyefo Night, meant to celebrate Pan-Africanist and Ghana’s first President Kwame Nkrumah, said.

| Vinyl Factory (Pic): Singer, guitarist and composer Ebo Taylor

Trigmatic showed immense gratitude for how “mind-blowing” it had been to work with some of the greats in music from around the world during “this part of my career”.

“These are people, I’m sure, my dad was listening to or I never would have thought I’d meet,” the multiple award-winning singer-songwriter and rapper said.