Tic Tac

Tic Tac, also known as TiC, performing at the Presec at 80 Mega Concert, 2018.
Image: Kobby ghun. CC BY-SA 4.0. Source.

Summary

Tic Tac is a Ghanaian rapper associated with hiplife, later performing under the shortened name Tic. His career includes storytelling hits and collaborations linking Ghana with other West African popular-music scenes.

Life and career

He began in the group Natty Strangers in 1997. Guest appearances preceded Philomena, his 1999 solo debut. Masem and Wope followed, broadening the catalogue and collaborative network. In an interview with Citi News in 2018 he explained the change from Tic Tac to Tic as a new phase in his musical presentation.

Music and style

Narrative skill and energetic rap delivery are important to his early hiplife identity. 'Philomena' belongs to a generation shaped partly by youth performance platforms such as the National Theatre's talent events. Those settings encouraged local-language rap and helped young performers build audiences.

Works and performances

'Menka Bio', 'Wope', 'Fefe Na Efe' and 'Kangaroo' are representative listening points. Work with Ivorian singer Meiway and Nigerian performer Tony Tetuila widened the scope of Wope. The use of 'Kangaroo' in football celebrations during the 2008 tournament provides another example of a song moving into public dance and everyday recognition.