One of Afrobeats’ most accomplished talents, Lord Afrixana, is a Ghanaian American three-time Grammy-nominated singer, songwriter, rapper, and actor. With an ability to vividly capture experiences and share personal memories as a songwriter, he aims to transcend generations through his craft. He triumphs on a foundation built on God, family, culture, and legacy. We sat down with Lord to discuss his musical journey, creativity, new EP, hip-hop’s impact, and his vision for the future.

Who is Lord Afrixana? His story is deeply rooted in Ghana, West Africa. When Afrixana was four years old, his family migrated to Liberia and then to the United States when he turned five, seeking a more fruitful life. They landed in Greensboro, North Carolina, but soon planted their feet comfortably in Winston, Massachusetts. That is where Afrixana grew up and went to school. The nephew of a preacher, and the son of a home filled with song, Afrixana gained an early understanding of the power of music. It was then that his purpose manifested before him.

Mhonaé: Did you choose music, or did music choose you?

Afrixana: For the special ones, it always chooses them. It was something that I was around constantly. My mother and father were always singing. Plus, I am the nephew of a Pastor, so Sundays were for church. I was usually in church listening to gospel music. So, I feel that it definitely chose me.

Afrixana’s resume has amassed great success. His songwriting debut was on Jidenna’s breakout album “The Chief.” He has also worked with Bebe Rexha, Mr. Probz, and Akon. He co-wrote two songs for Beyonce’s 2019 album “The Lion King: The Gift,” which debuted at #2 on the Billboard Top 200 Charts. “Don’t Jealous Me,” which he also performed on, and “Water” were two of many hits on the masterpiece. The multi-talented entertainer also appeared in the film “Black is King.” Afrixana has since contributed songs to the TV crime series “Godfather of Harlem” starring Forest Whitaker, the EA Sports video game “Madden ’23,” and DaBaby and Davido’s 2022 summertime hit “Showing Off Her Body.”

Mhonaé: When you received the opportunity to work with Beyoncé, what were you feeling?

Afrixana: I was elated! Not everyone gets into that room. What makes it special is that it was a bit of a confirmation for me and the music I was making. At the time, I consciously decided to discontinue my Pop writing career to focus on working more on the Afrobeats side of things. When I jumped into it wholeheartedly, many people doubted it. So, it was nice to get that validation from someone like Beyoncé. She is a juggernaut in this industry! Being around for one year, let alone 30, is not easy. So, I was truly honored!

Afrobeats is a global music genre with the industry in a chokehold. Though Afrixana began his career as a songwriter in the Pop genre, where he gained much success, he intentionally decided to change to music that is home. Writing records that his people could understand and feel resonated with him. Despite doubts from peers, he trusted his gut, talent, and pen as he transitioned to a thriving Afrobeats artist. Afrixana’s new EP “Ghana Must Go” and its leading single “No Dey Tire” vividly reflect the sounds and cultures he grew up with.

Mhonaé: How would you define yourself as an artist?

Afrixana: I’m very poetry and story-driven. I try to be honest, passionate, and loving as an artist. You’ll also get a kid who grew up in the inner city and came from nothing. My daddy worked 40 hours for 30+ years. He is one of the blue-collar kids. So, I have always wanted to be someone who honored those kinds of people. I want to honor the blue-collar kids, the immigrants, the mothers, beautiful black women, love, and stories told. So, my art will always be a reflection of my life. I’m an immigrant with a really interesting story to tell. So, it’s about that journey and pulling yourself up from nothing. I feel my artistry is there to represent those kinds of stories.

Mhonaé: What inspired your new Warner Records EP “Ghana Must Go”?

Afrixana: It was one of those projects that really came together easily in terms of timing and God aligning the stars. My manager, Steve Rhythm, and I decided to make a piece artfully representative of my own story. We used the nuance of Ghana must go, which many people don’t know, as the bags many immigrants used to travel with from the 80s and on. We wanted to tell the story of an immigrant’s travel. This is the story of a kid who represents all these different emotions and expressions. This kid not only lives and breathes American culture but lives and breathes Ghanaian culture as well.

In his formative years, Afrixana was captivated by the art of hip-hop music. Lyrical legends like Nas, Mos Def, A Tribe Called Quest, Lauryn Hill, and Eminem were influential in his evolution as an artist. As hip-hop turns 50 this year, he pays homage to the genre for the impact that it has had on the industry and the culture.

Mhonaé: What about hip-hop speaks to you and influences your music?

Afrixana: The ability to be honest about your emotions and how you feel about things. For black folks, that is one of the hardest parts of our history: the inability to be authentically ourselves. I think hip-hop was explicitly designed to give us a branch that would allow us to express ourselves authentically in a way that people weren’t able to see us before. So, for me, hip-hop has been something that has allowed us to remove significantly constricting shackles that have kept us from being 100% authentically ourselves.

Mhonaé: What was it about these particular lyricists that spoke to you? 

Afrixana: Mos Def opened my eyes to wordplay. Nas opened my eyes to storytelling. Andre 3000, for me, was just art, like a walking painting, and that was the first time I saw art from hip-hop. Missy was another one. Busta was another one. Plus, in my opinion, Lauryn Hill is the greatest female MC. I love artists who create art and who are unapologetically themselves, loud, and brash. Eminem falls in that category for me as well. He is representative of hip-hop, regardless of skin color. No one can ever doubt what that man has brought to the game. Pure talent!

Afrixana (cont.): Ultimately, I pull from a lot of different people like Drake, J Cole, Kendrick Lamar, Frank Ocean, Odd Future, ASAP Rocky, and many others. Everyone has their own style. Yet, it’s not just hip-hop for me. I pull from everything! I even grew up on soft rock. So, I have a balanced palette regarding records and artists that inspire me.

Mhonaé: How do you feel about the direction that rap and hip hop is going in?

Afrixana: I am always in defense of upcoming artists and their styles because we always have to remember where we were as kids and what we were listening to, what excited us, and what we gravitated towards. When you are 15 or 16, you often try to establish your voice. So, I feel like many of these songs come from a youthful place. I just hope people give the same type of openness and acknowledgment to every style. I want a music industry that allows all current styles and sounds. We need diversity.

Afrixana has an unwavering passion that illuminates through his artistry. His mission is clear. The inner-city boy, who is the son of hardworking immigrants, the nephew of a pastor, and comes from nothing, strives to achieve it all. With EGOT (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony) dreams, he does not just want to be a musician but also a director, actor, and playwright. There are not that many Africans in that pantheon. Therefore, he wants his multi-faceted creativity to inspire Ghanaian youth to confidently step into any shoe and carry the flag forward. The journey is not easy, but his tribe of support keeps him grounded and focused on his purpose.

Mhonaé: What keeps you motivated and grounded in this industry?

Afrixana: God, my friends, and my family. Those three things are the only things that have kept me grounded. I have been doing this for a long time, and there have been plenty of moments where I wanted to quit. However, there have also been plenty of people who have stepped in and not allowed me to. They are why I maintain motivation and keep working as hard as possible.

Mhonaé: What advice would you give to other aspiring entertainers?

Afrixana: Three things. One, don’t stop. Don’t stop. Don’t stop. No matter how far away you feel you may be, you’re closer than you were yesterday. My next piece of advice is to be obsessive. It’s okay to be obsessive as long as it’s not damaging to your health or anyone around you. It takes that. What you give is what you get, so if you expect to be great, you need to do great things. Doing great things means great sacrifices because it takes a lot to get a lot. So, it might look crazy to some people, but that is fine. Be the crazy one. Lastly, do it in love. No matter what you do, do it in love, and I promise it will always, always come back to you.