Ghanaian music star Mohammed Ismail Sherif Kwaku Frimpong, widely recognized as Black Sherif, has achieved a historic milestone by becoming the first Ghanaian artist to exceed 500 million streams on Boomplay, a top digital music platform in Africa.
Boomplay celebrated the achievement with a post on X (previously known as Twitter), stating: “KILOS MILLIONS! Special congratulations to Iron Boy the pacesetter @blacksherif_ and fans for hitting a record of 500 million total streams on #Boomplay.”
Reacting to the news, Black Sherif expressed deep gratitude to his supporters. “This is a dream come true. I am beyond grateful for the love and support from my fans, both in Ghana and around the world. This is just the beginning, and I can’t wait to share more music with you all,” he said.
Black Sherif’s meteoric rise to fame began in 2021 with the release of his breakthrough single, “First Sermon,” which was quickly followed by “Second Sermon.” These tracks established him as one of Ghana’s most promising young talents. His ability to consistently release hit after hit has been nothing short of remarkable, with each new track outdoing the last in terms of popularity.
The success of the “Kilos Milos” star has garnered significant attention. In 2023, Black Sherif received the prestigious Telecel Ghana Music Awards Artiste of the Year title, reinforcing his prominence in the Ghanaian music scene.
He also earned the Artiste of the Year accolade at the 3 Music Awards and made history by winning the “Best International Flow” award at the 2023 BET Hip-Hop Awards, becoming the second African artist, after Ghanaian rapper Sarkodie, to receive this honor.
A recent Grammy article spotlighted Black Sherif as an influential figure in the Hiplife genre, a fusion of hip-hop and traditional Ghanaian highlife.
The piece commended his distinctive sound, lyrical prowess, and unique style, noting his rise to fame with the 2019 track “Money” and his international breakthrough with “First Sermon” and “Second Sermon.”
The “Second Sermon Remix,” featuring Burna Boy, further propelled his career, leading to hit tracks like “Kweku The Traveller,” “Soja,” and a memorable verse on Odumodu Blvck’s “Wotowoto Seasoning.”
Black Sherif’s journey has taken him to major global stages, including the MOBO Awards, Wireless Festival, and the 2023 AfroNation, solidifying his status as a global music sensation. With his recent Boomplay milestone, Black Sherif continues to open doors for Ghanaian artists on the international music scene.