In This Biography
Genesis Owusu Biography, Career, Age, Networth, Family
Ghanaian-Australian rising star Kofi Owusu-Ansah known as Genesis Owusu is one of the most intriguing new artists whose hard-to-categorize music incorporates elements of alternative rock, hardcore rap, and easygoing funk.
His songs address important societal concerns like cultural appropriation and police brutality while being both joyful and reflective. Owusu’s track “Don’t Need You” garnered broadcast from U.K. and U.S. tastemakers in 2020 after first gaining recognition in Australia with early releases including the 2017 EP Cardrive and his incredibly energizing live performances.
“Smiling with No Teeth” (2021), Owusu’s debut studio album, was a huge hit and reached the ARIA chart peak at number 27. He received four awards at the 2021 ARIA Music Awards including Album of the Year, Best Hip Hop Release, Best Independent Release, and Best Cover Art.
Owusu has clearly worked hard to perfect his craft, and he is undoubtedly creating a life filled with achievement that will position him as one of the best of his age.
Discography
Studio albums
| Title | Album details | Peak chart positions |
|---|---|---|
| AUS |
||
| Smiling with No Teeth |
|
27 |
Extended plays
| Title | EP details |
|---|---|
| Cardrive EP |
|
| Missing Molars (SWNT Deluxe) |
|
Singles
As lead artist
| Title | Year | Album |
|---|---|---|
| “Sideways” | 2017 | Non-album singles |
| “Awomen Amen” | 2018 | |
| “Wit’ da Team” | ||
| “WUTD” / “Vultures” | 2019 | |
| “Good Times” / “Simmer Down” | ||
| “Don’t Need You” | 2020 | Smiling with No Teeth |
| “Whip Cracker” | ||
| “I Am” | Non-album single | |
| “The Other Black Dog” | Smiling with No Teeth | |
| “Gold Chains” | 2021 | |
| “Drown” (featuring Kirin J Callinan) |
||
| “Same Thing” | Missing Molars (SWNT Deluxe) | |
| “The Fall” | ||
| “Waitin’ On Ya'” | Smiling with No Teeth | |
| “GTFO” | 2022 | TBA |
| “Get Inspired” |
As featured artist
| Title | Year | Album |
|---|---|---|
| “We On” (Kirklandd featuring Genesis Owusu) |
2016 | Non-album single |
| “Unwritten Laws” (Maina Doe featuring Genesis Owusu) |
2019 | |
| “Funny Business” (Citizen Kay featuring Genesis Owusu) |
2020 | |
| “Coliseum” (Tim Shiel featuring Genesis Owusu) |
||
| “Dream No More” (Billy Davis featuring Ruel and Genesis Owusu) |
2021 | This Is What’s Important |
| “Back Seat” (Anna Lunoe featuring Genesis Owusu) |
TBA | |
| “There’s Only One” (Winston Surfshirt featuring Genesis Owusu) |
2022 | TBA |
| “Cheque” (Tasman Keith featuring Genesis Owusu) |
A Colour Undone | |
| “Guap Pop” (Agung Mango featuring Genesis Owusu) |
Man On the Go |
Awards and nominations
AIR Awards
The Australian Independent Record Awards (commonly known informally as AIR Awards) is an annual awards night to recognise, promote and celebrate the success of Australia’s Independent Music sector.
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Smiling with No Teeth | Independent Album of the Year | Won | |
| Best Independent Hip Hop Album or EP | Won | |||
| “Smiling with No Teeth” | Independent Song of the Year | Won |
APRA Awards
The APRA Awards are held in Australia and New Zealand by the Australasian Performing Right Association to recognize songwriting skills, sales, and airplay performance by its members annually
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | “The Other Black Dog” | Song of the Year | Nominated | |
| Genesis Owusu | Breakthrough Songwriter of the Year | Won |
ARIA Music Awards
The Australian Recording Industry Association Music Awards (commonly known as the ARIA Music Awards, the ARIA Awards, or simply the ARIAs) recognise excellence, innovation, and achievement across all genres of Australian music. Owusu has won four awards from twelve nominations.
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | “WUTD” / “Vultures” | Best Soul/R&B Release | Nominated | |
| 2020 | “Don’t Need You” | Nominated | ||
| 2021 | Smiling with No Teeth | Album of the Year | Won | |
| Best Artist | Nominated | |||
| Best Hip Hop Release | Won | |||
| Best Independent Release | Won | |||
| Smiling With No Teeth Album Tour | Best Australian Live Act | Nominated | ||
| Andrew Klippel, Dave Hammer for Genesis Owusu – Smiling with No Teeth | Producer of the Year | Nominated | ||
| Kofi Anash & Bailey Howard for Genesis Owusu – Smiling with No Teeth | Best Cover Art | Won | ||
| 2022 | “GTFO” | Best Independent Release | Nominated | |
| Genesis Owusu & The Black Dog Band | Best Australian Live Act | Nominated | ||
| “GTFO” (Genesis Owusu, Uncle Friendly) | Best Video | Nominated |
Australian Music Prize
The Australian Music Prize (the AMP) is an annual award of $30,000 given to an Australian band or solo artist in recognition of the merit of an album released during the year of award. It commenced in 2005.
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Smiling with No Teeth | Australian Music Prize | Won |
J Awards
The J Awards are an annual series of Australian music awards that were established by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation‘s youth-focused radio station Triple J. They commenced in 2005.
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Smiling with No Teeth | Australian Album of the Year | Won | |
| “The Other Black Dog” (directed by Riley Blakeway) | Australian Video of the Year | Won |
National Live Music Awards
The National Live Music Awards (NLMAs) are a broad recognition of Australia’s diverse live industry, celebrating the success of the Australian live scene. The awards commenced in 2016.
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Himself | Live Hip Hop Act of the Year | Nominated | |
| 2018 | Nominated | |||
| 2019 | Nominated | |||
| ACT Live Voice of the Year | Won | |||
| 2020 | Live Act of the Year | Nominated |
Rolling Stone Australia Awards
The Rolling Stone Australia Awards are awarded annually in January or February by the Australian edition of Rolling Stone magazine for outstanding contributions to popular culture in the previous year.
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Smiling with No Teeth | Best Record | Won | [70] |
| Genesis Owusu | Best New Artist | Nominated |
Vanda & Young Global Songwriting Competition
The Vanda & Young Global Songwriting Competition is an annual competition that “acknowledges great songwriting whilst supporting and raising money for Nordoff-Robbins” and is coordinated by Albert Music and APRA AMCOS. It commenced in 2009.
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | “Gold Chains” | Vanda & Young Global Songwriting Competition | 1st |
External References
- ^ Wehner, Cyclone (5 March 2021). “Genesis Owusu – ‘Smiling With No Teeth’ review: a transcendent conceptual opus”. NME. Archived from the original on 7 June 2021. Retrieved 7 June 2021.
- ^ Martin, Josh (27 January 2021). “Genesis Owusu: ‘I’d rather be a legend on my own little island than compete for a throne'”. NME. Archived from the original on 5 March 2021. Retrieved 14 March 2021.
- ^ Bloul, Scherry (12 August 2015), “Rapper Genesis Owusu hits right beat to make Triple j Unearthed High top five”, The Canberra Times, archived from the original on 14 October 2019, retrieved 14 October 2019
- ^ Buckley, Nick (1 March 2019), “Genesis Owusu: Black, Red, White and Rap”, Broadsheet, archived from the original on 14 October 2019, retrieved 14 October 2019
- ^ Newstead, Al (15 March 2019), First Spin: Genesis Owusu’s ‘WUTD’ & ‘Vultures’, a tasty double dip of hip hop fusion, Triple J, archived from the original on 14 December 2021, retrieved 14 October 2019
- ^ Jump up to:a b c d Sharma, Geeta (20 February 2018). “A warm cup of Kofi: meeting Genesis Owusu”. Curieux Magazine. Archived from the original on 15 March 2018. Retrieved 25 November 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ Jump up to:a b Streader, Kate (2018). “For rapper Genesis Owusu, the personal is political”. Beat Magazine. Archived from the original on 19 March 2019. Retrieved 25 November 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ Jump up to:a b Fuamoli, Sosefina (15 October 2015). “Citizen Kay takes us through new album With The People track-by-track!”. The AU Review. Archived from the original on 11 October 2018. Retrieved 25 November 2021.
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