Reginald Yaw Asante Osei, widely known as Reggie Rockstone, is a pioneering Ghanaian rapper celebrated as “the Godfather of Hiplife.” Born on April 11, 1964, in the United Kingdom to a renowned fashion designer, Ricky “Ricci” Osei, also known as Saint Osei of blessed memory, he spent his early years in Kumasi and Accra and has lived in Ghana continuously since spearheading the Hiplife movement in 1994.

Rockstone’s artistic journey began in the early 1980s as a Hip Hop dancer, travelling between Accra, London and New York. His exposure to global Hip Hop culture shaped his style and laid the foundation for his transition into rapping in 1991. His first rise to fame came as a dancer in Accra, followed by a second wave of recognition in London as a member of the rap group PLZ (Parables, Linguistics and Zlang), known for hits like “If It Ain’t PLZ” and the EP “Build a Wall Around Your Dreams.

In 1994, he returned to Ghana and encountered a generation heavily influenced by African-American hip-hop. Drawing from this energy, he merged authentic Hip Hop beats with African rhythms and the Akan language, particularly Asante Twi, to create what would become Hiplife, a groundbreaking Ghanaian music genre. His debut album, Makaa! Maka! (1997), released under Kassa Records, featured classics such as “Sweetie, Sweetie,” “Tsoo Boi,” “Nightlife in Accra,” and “Agoo.” His work resonated widely, earning him a strong following across West Africa, Europe and the United States.

In 2004, Rockstone won the Kora Award for Best African Video and performed before a 50,000-person crowd in Ghana alongside Shaggy. He later collaborated with Jamaican dancehall star Beenie Man on the 2006 track “Chukku Chakka” and appeared in the 2007 documentary “Living the Hiplife.” He went on to serve as a judge for major competitions such as Glo X Factor Africa (2013) and Malta Guinness Street Dance (2012). In 2014, he joined the acclaimed Ghanaian group VVIP following Promzy’s departure.

Over his career span, his released several albums, including Makaa Maka (1997), Me Na Me Kae (1999), Me Ka (2000), and Last Show (2004) under Kassa Records, as well as Reggiestration (2010) under MixerPot.

Beyond music, he is a dedicated entrepreneur and advocate. In 2013, he introduced Rockstone Condoms to support HIV/AIDS prevention campaigns. He also owns a food business called Rockz Waakye.

He is married to Dr Zilla Limann, daughter of former Ghanaian President Hilla Limann. They have three children and have been married since 2001.

Reference- Wikipedia