Ghanaian Afrobeat artiste, Yeboah Emmanuel, who is popularly known as AY Poyoo, is on the verge of releasing his much anticipated album titled Rejected Stone on April 24.
As he prepares for the big launch of his album, AY Poyoo has narrated how he survived poverty, life on the street and exploitation by those he trusted in his country, to signing with one of the best music record labels in Nigeria, Tree Money Yard (TMY) Empire Records.
AY Poyoo has established himself as one of the most talented singers in Africa, but his rise to fame was not without a back story—inspiring enough to make anyone not want to give up on their dream and sufficiently sad to make a box office movie out of it.
Born on June 5, 2000, the first of two siblings wanted to do only one thing—sing. He grew in a family surrounded by struggles, and as children; they had to fend for themselves. Even while he bagged the best results in junior high school in Ghana, he could only further his education at a technical institution where everything about automobile vehicles was taught.
Poverty soon transformed into hostility between AY Poyoo’s parents who eventually divorced and his father’s decision to remarry heralded oppression on him and his younger brother. At a point in his life, he took interest in comedy—to survive.
“Growing up was very rough for me and my parents, I came from a poor background. Mommy doesn’t have Daddy don’t care, broken homes were ruling my family and me, and my junior brother ( Simon ) was on the street hustling for food to eat. You know the responsibility you have as the first son. A few years later, my little brother and I went to stay with my dad and my stepmother. It was horrible so after some time we decided to escape from the abuse”, he revealed.
“After escaping, I went to stay with my grandmother to continue my education at JHS (Junior high school). Then I moved to Accra. I had the best (BECE) results but because of money no dey I couldn’t go to where the computer placed me. My mom then discovered a technical institution where they teach everything about automobile vehicles. So, I have to go. That was where the spirit of music found me. I didn’t like the school but because I had the opportunity to showcase my talent as an entertainer I was able to spend four years in the school. After school, all my friends went to do attachments in some companies but I went back to the street to to chase my music career.
“This is where I started this face of GH rap thing and Akwasi Tymer was the brain behind the whole thing (manager). I had the talent but he was the one directing me. (early 2020 to late 2021 )After we released my first official song “I’m a goat” ( Aponkye ) in my local dialect ( Twi ). It was a big song all over the world but because there was Covid-19, I did not have enough shows and events to play. All that we depended on was the revenue and it got to sometimes bill was too much so I approached Tymer that the way things were going we needed to get investors else my career would die. My man wasn’t happy then but he as me to do whatever I wanted to do. This is where I had the chance to talk to Aborga ( My former Label boss)”.
In his country, he suffered rejection and people who are well-placed to help get his career back on track could not see beyond what was in it for them. He fled to Nigeria and signed with Tree Money Yard Epire Records (TMY), which has given him a space to dream of stardom.
“I started getting attention again with Omeboy and on my way, I met Mr Emmanuel ( Ghanaboy) who was also a comedian and a rapper. On the second of October 2023, we decided to go to Nigeria so we started making inquiries. Because we were going with Omeboy the journey became complicated. On 15th November 2023, we started our journey from Circle ( Accra ) around 6 pm. That was my first time crossing the border so I was happy, but it was also a risk. On 16th October 2023, I landed at Murtala International Airport ( insorlo). “I never knew I could not hide in Nigeria, that is when I realized who AY Poyoo be.
“Long story short, God is so wonderful. After some weeks of battling with life on Lagos Street, I was finally signed under an Empire (Tree Money Yard empire) so I moved to Chevron. Business has begun, and things are moving on. Depression is gone, a new face of life,” AY Poyoo concluded.
TMY Record is making plans to release AY Poyoo’s new album titled Rejected Stone on April 24. It promises to be a grand album launch and AY Poyoo is bracing up for his big date with destiny.
