Soundway reissues the first known Ghanaian hip-hop single in Free Youth’s 1985 ‘We Can Move’
Originally self-released in 1985, Soundway reissues the highly sought-after single “We Can Move” from Free Youth. This is the first known hip-hop single to come out of Ghana.
Released slightly prior to the emergences of hip-life (hip-hop meets highlife), this track blends together early American-influenced hip-hop and boogie with Afro-funk and tropical highlife grooves. The track was recorded by three main members that were in their early 20s at the time, brothers Terry “Sir Robot” Bright and Abednego “King Abed” Ayim Bright, and their friend Lenny “Nii Addy” Dimple. The group got their start in the early eighties, dancing and performing in clubs in Accra, which is the capitol of Ghana. Sometimes they would even be joined by hip-life pioneer Reggie Rockstone, who became a friend who they would even barrow outfits from. They were heavily inspired by music they were hearing coming out the states like Sugarhill Gang, Shalamar, Kool & The Gang, Cameo, and Rick James.
After the group gained buzz locally, George Alhassan offered to help them release their music as an executive producer and get them signed. Taking Alhassan up on this offer, the group recorded numerous tracks at Ghana Films Studios. Since the group did not write any of their music down, they miraculously beatboxed and sang their parts to hired session musicians who then recorded the backing music. Out of this session, “We Can Move” was chosen as the group’s first single, with advertising jingle for Freedom Video Centre on the flip.
Alhassan further convinced the group to send the master tapes to Netherland in hopes of getting a record deal, however unfortunately that deal never panned out and the group had a fully out with the executive. Shortly after this period, the group learned that 2,000 copies of the 7” had been pressed and were being sold out of the Netherlands without their consent. The group never received any revenue from this release, and furthermore the single was never made available in their home country of Ghana. Even when the master tapes were arranged to be sent back to the group, they were “coincidentally” badly damaged on their return (hmm …). Disheartened by all these events, Free Youth eventually disbanded with both Lenny and Abed moving to London. Terry continued to follow his passion of dance, and later became an assistant lecturer in dance at the University of Ghana.
With this first ever twelve-inch release of “We Can Move,” Free Youth can finally receive the global attention they deserve for being early African and Ghanian hip-hop innovators. Fully restored and remastered, the b-side track of the original single has been replaced by a great instrumental rendition of the title track. Overall, this is truly essential release, a early pre-cursor to the hip-life movement, and easily one of the best tropical club party jams released this year.
Free Youth — ‘We Can Move’ 12″
(Originally Released: 1985 / self-released)
(Reissued: 2019 / Soundway)
A SIDE: We Can Move
B SIDE: We Can Move (Drymbago 2019 Instrumental Version)
