D-Black

D-Black built Black Avenue Muzik into one of Ghana's notable independent labels, signing acts such as Joey B and DJ Breezy, and won the Ghana-Naija record label of the year award in 2018.

Background

Desmond Kwesi Blackmore was born on 12 January 1987 to Adeline Boateng and John Derek Blackmore, who is Ghanaian-English. He attended Ridge Church School and Pope John Senior High School and Minor Seminary, then studied economics at the University of Cape Coast and theatre arts and music at the University of Ghana. He has three children.

Music

He started out in the duo D-Black and Kwaku T, whose album Target Practice came out in 2009, before both went solo in 2010. His albums are Music, Love and Life, The Revelation and Lightwork, along with the EP Smoke and Mirrors and the mixtape Hunger and Thirst. He has worked with Davido, Phyno, Cassper Nyovest and Vanessa Mdee, and at home with Sarkodie, Stonebwoy and Efya. He won Hip Hop Song of the Year at the 2011 Ghana Music Awards.

Business

Besides the label, he runs Black Avenue Clothing (2012), the events firm Livewire, which staged the 2015 Bukom Banku and Ayittey Powers fight in Kumasi, and a film and TV arm. He has been a brand ambassador for Ciroc in Ghana.