VIP

VIP is made up of Abdul Hamidu Ibrahim (Lazzy) Emmanuel Promzy Ababio (Promzy) Joseph Nana Ofori (Prodigal) Their initial involvement with music started way back in the early nineties, at Nima a suburb of Accra.

As a group they easily embodied the greatness and perseverance that reflected a tough, unforgiving and ambitious Ghetto life. They met to see "who is who"in rap competitions. Little did they know that one day they would become superstars.

When the Netherlands Royal couples, His Royal Highness Willem Alexander and Princess Mixima visited Ghana, VIP innovatively composed a song entitled "Friends" for the august occasion also referred to as "LASTING IMPACT" which took VIP for a live musical performance in Denhaag, Netherlands.

VIP was nominated for the Ghana Music Awards 2002 as the Hip-Life Rap Music Group of the Year. Many people have marvelled at their performance on stage and the most current is the fantastic and unprecedented one they did at the National Theatre during the Ghana Music Awards Night. They also toured the nation with great Osibisa band.

Swimming in fame, they have won several awards such as "Artiste of the Year", "Song of the Year", "Hiplife Artiste of the Year", "Hiplife Song of the Year" and "Hiplife Album of the Year" all in 2004 "Ghana Music Awards". Their hit song "Ahomka Womu"also won the "Best Music Video Directing", which went to Felix Dakat.

Having however grabbed the prestigious "Artiste of the Year Award", Lazzy, Promzy and Prodigal, making up the VIP crew represented the nation Ghana at the "2004 Kora Awards" in South Africa which they really made Ghana so proud, and performed alongside with Malian renowned musician Salifu Keita, among others. That same year 2004, VIP represented Ghana as ambassadors in Greece, Athens as part of the fundraising activities for the 2004 Olympics Games.

VIP were also among a few selected Hip-Life artistes that performed alongside the maestro and Grammy Awards winner, Shaggy of Jamaica, when they later toured Ghana for the Christmas 2003 festivities. The two days concerts took place at the Accra International Conference Centre on January 1st, 2004, and at the nation's Wembley, "Ohene Djan Sports Stadium" on 2nd January 2004, which pulled one of the biggest crowds ever seen in the nation's entertainment history. VIP, Goodies and Hostess Ambassador Juli Endee in a radio interview in Monrovia, Liberia. VIP were flown by United Nations chartered flight to Liberia and Sierra Leone where they participated in the "Peace and Reconciliation Concerts" organised by the United Nations and Liberian Government.

A "Thank you" concerts were also organised by United Nations and the Government of Sierra Leone February, 2005. The Group again flew to South Africa to win another Award as the "Best Group in AFRICA"in March, 2005.

In addition to that, VIP performed at the NESCAFE AFRICAN REVELATION (NAR) finals at the Independence Square, Osu, Accra, on March 19, 2005.

VIP together with all the artistes under Goodies Music Production Label at the forefront in "FIGHTING HIV/AIDS THROUGH MUSIC" the crusade launched by Goodies Foundation and Goodies Music Production in Collaboration with Ghana AIDS Commission, Commission for Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) and the Musicians Union of Ghana (MUSIGA) organised a forum to educate all musicians about the HIV/AIDS pandemic so that they can disseminate the message to the people. They actively participated in the numerous seminars, rallies, concerts, and charitable initiatives by Goodies Music Production, Goodies Foundation and West Africa AIDS Foundation, as well as those organised by many other organisations like Vintage Vision Limited. They are currently the biggest Group in Africa and Award Superstars for Channel O Music Video Award 2005.

The trios VIP the nations most glamorous group launched their latest album "PUSSY CAT" at Busynet in Accra. The event was organised by Goodies Music Production, Metro TV, Goodies Foundation, in collaboration with Musicians Union of Ghana (MUSIGA), Ghana Health Services, Ministry of Education and Sports, Ministry of Tourism and Modernisation of the Capital City, Prodigy International Production Association /Panafrica-Ghana, Trak Mastas International and VIP Fan Club Nima Branch. The corporate and media launched was a spectacular one which saw most of the promising artistes at the function. A public launch will be announced later.

The uniqueness about this album is that, it features collaboration between VIP and three prominent international non-Ghanaian artistes namely; Tony Tetuila and 2 Face of Nigeria, and Awadi from Senegal. In addition, it also features reigning local artistes like K.K Fosu, Castro and Tinny. The group also featured on their latest album entitled "I DO" of Afro Moses, a Ghanaian musician based in Australia, and on the latest album entitled "FIGHT NO MORE" of Ambassador Juli Endee of Liberia.

Internationally, VIP has performed in the United Kingdom, Amsterdam, Denhaag, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Nigeria and South Africa.