Black Sherif

Mohammed Ismail Sharrif pka Black Sherif, is a Ghanaian singer/rapper renowned for his deep; relatable lyrics and electrifying performances. Black Sherif's music contains elements of the Ghanaian Highlife, Afro-Fusion, Hip-Hop and Dancehall.

His incredible vocal prowess and witty lyrics have given him a solid footing in the music scene and has allowed him to wield a prominent level of influence predominantly among the youth, people from all walks of life as well as his peers in the music industry.

The 22-year old's vulnerability and use of uplifting lyrics has turned him into one of the biggest exports from the African music space, a true reflection of the bustling underground scene in his home country of Ghana. His incredible stage presence and energy commands the attention of anyone listening to his potpourri of sounds.

Early life

Mohammed Sharrif Ismail, (born 9th January, 2002) p.k.a Black Sherif is regarded as one of the most influential artists from Ghana.

Black Sherif was raised in Konongo Zongo, an Islamic town in the Ashanti Region of Ghana.

As a young child growing up, Mohammed mostly lived with extended relatives due to the absence of his working parents. Blacko's nomadic lifestyle exposed him to multiple influences and different cultures at a very early age.

He had his basic education at Pinamang Educational Complex continuing his secondary education at Kumasi Academy.

Black Sherif has currently deferred from University of Ghana to focus on his music career.

Music Career

In the space of three-years, Black Sherif has garnered a plethora of ground-breaking accolades, industry acceptance and generally favorable audience reviews with his multiple singles and his widely acclaimed blockbuster debut album.

Black Sherif has grown from an emerging artist to a globally recognized entertainer.

Upon getting on the music scene in 2019, the 17-year old singer gained notability off his single ''Money'' which was released in 2020, a few months before the COVID-19 lockdown. His subsequent singles, Destiny, Ade Akye & Ankonam added to his growing profile as one of the new musical sensations to pay attention to.

Black Sherif's career ascent began following the release of his ground-breaking single; "First Sermon," in 2021. The Hip-Hop record captured the soul and hustle of every street in his home country, Ghana. The attention garnered from ''First Sermon'' inspired him to follow-up with; "Second Sermon." This song propelled Black Sherif to prominence the entire continent, due largely to the relatable message of the song, which led to a remix with Burna Boy, whose influence shone a light to his global status.

Black Sherif's eponymous hit single, 'Kwaku The Traveller'' released in March 2022 catapulted his young career with the ff notable feats;

1. No. 1 Shazam song in the world

2. Rap Radar Playlist Cover on Apple Music

3. Charting number 1 on Apple, Spotify, Deezer, Audiomack in several countries in the world with over 75 million streams in a month.

The song became an instant hit on Tiktok amassing a total of 95.1 million views in its first month.

His debut album, 'The Villain I Never Was,' garnered over a billion streams across the digital streaming platforms and enjoyed several laurels, including placing 49 on Fader's top 50 global albums for 2022. The album spawned hit singles; 45 produced by UK based producer; Jae5, Konongo Zongo, Soja, Oil in my Head, Oh Paradise and fan-favorites; Toxic Love City & Sad Boys Don't Fold.

The album was accompanied by scintillating visuals that served as the bedrock for the project.

Black Sherif has toured and performed on major stages/ festivals across the world, notable amongst these are Wireless Festival London (UK), Wireless Festival Abu Dhabi (UAE), Something in the Water (USA), Hypefest (Germany), Couleur Cafe festival (Belgium), Openair Frauenfeld (Switzerland), Way Out West (Sweden), Summerjam Festival (Germany), Rollingstone Future of Music (USA), Afronation Miami (USA), Rolling Cocoa ( USA), City Splash Festival (UK), Afronation Ghana and headlining Afrofuture in 2023. He has also headlined his own concerts in the United states of America and the United Kingdom respectively.

In 2022, the singer and his team announced a music and art festival called Mozama Disco, now known as Zaama Disco. An annual gathering of music lovers and art fanatics to celebrate youth culture and echo the need for change through entertainment. Since its inception, the festival has attracted thousands of patrons every December in Accra to celebrate Black Sherif and his incredible artistry.

Black Sherif has received validation as an artist from industry titans and colleagues in Ghana and Nigeria as well as from internationally renowned artists like DJ Khaled, Timbaland, Popcaan, Busta Rhymes, Stormzy, Jae5 among others.

Following the success of his debut album, the now 22-year old singer is readying his sophomore project, 'Iron Boy.'

Modeling Career

Black Sherif's interest in fashion dates back to his childhood, as he grew up watching his mother design outfits for her clients. His quest to enter the world of fashion piqued; the singer is no stranger to making a bold fashion statement when he's performing for his fans.

The vocal powerhouse's biggest breakthrough yet in fashion came during London Fashion Week 2024, where he modeled for a British African heritage brand, Labrum London. This was preceded by strutting for Off-White at the Paris Fashion Week 2024, setting his modeling career off to a great start.

He earned his first fashion ambassadorial deal with the Italian fashion giant, Ellesse for their AW23 Sartoria collection campaign.

Brand Ambassadorial Deals

Black Sherif spearheaded a campaign for Fan Milk Ghana for their new yoghurt product Fanyogo, in 2023, and he is currently the lead brand ambassador for smartphone giant Infinix in Ghana.

Corporate Social Responsibility

Black Sherif is driven by the desire to make change in the society in which he works, and as such, he prioritizes assisting the poor and those with less privilege. Maternal health and youth entrepreneurship are his areas of interest.

In 2023, he paid a visit to the maternity ward at the Greater Accra Regional Hospital in Ghana and settled the medical bills of some nursing mothers who had overstayed as a result of their inability to settle their bills after delivery.