E.L

Elom Adablah (born 28 June 1989), known by his stage name E.L, is a Ghanaian rapper, singer and producer. He was the biggest winner at the 2016 Ghana Music Awards, where he took Artiste of the Year and Hiplife/Hip Hop Artiste of the Year, and he is known for the BAR (Best African Rapper) mixtape series.

Early life

He grew up in Dansoman, Accra. He attended St. Martin De Porres School and then Jack and Jill School in Roman Ridge, before going to Presbyterian Boys' Secondary School (PRESEC), Legon, where he discovered music. He went on to study economics and political science at the University of Ghana.

Career

In his first year at university he signed to Jayso's Skillions Records and helped co-produce the Skillionaires Demotape. When Skillions broke up after he graduated, he went solo, first working from a studio in Asylum Down and later from one in Osu. Signed to BBnZ Live, he released his debut double album, Something Else, on 1 June 2012.

The B.A.R followed on 20 May 2014, featuring Edem, Sarkodie, Joey B, C-Real and others, and grew into a series that reached BAR V in 2018. His second studio album, Elom (2016), included Mi Naa Bo Po, Watch The Way You Dey Waka and Nkrumah Pt. 2 with Obrafour. In 2019 he released The Linkop, a joint album with Ayisi, and in 2020 the Songs For Girls 3 EP and two Leaks tapes.

His singles include Obuu Mo, Kaalu, One Ghana, Auntie Martha, Shelele and Koko. He has also produced for other hip hop, hiplife and R&B acts, and in April 2016 he performed alongside Stonebwoy at a Lauryn Hill-headlined concert at the Kings Theatre in New York.

Awards

At the 2016 Ghana Music Awards he won four awards, more than any other act: Artiste of the Year, Hiplife/Hip Hop Artiste of the Year, Afropop Song of the Year for Mi Naa Bo Po and Music Video of the Year for Shelele.