Kojo Funds

Of British birth with Ghanaian and Dominican ancestry, the singer-songwriter Kojo Funds is recognized for introducing the term Afroswing to capture his fusion of rap, dancehall, R&B, and additional African and Caribbean elements. Known for aggressive verses set against tuneful, Auto-Tune-saturated phrasing, he surfaced in the mid-2010s and secured a number-40 slot on the U.K. album chart through his first full-length release, Golden Boy, in 2018.

Born Errol Bellot and raised in East London—the same district that gave rise to grime pioneers Dizzee Rascal, Kano, and Wiley—Kojo Funds entered music in 2014 by trading freestyles with associates, whose support prompted him to pursue the craft professionally. His initial recording, the 2014 track “Want from Me,” showcased the melodic rap approach and highlighted dancehall’s influence on his sound. The 2016 collaboration “Dun Talkin’” with Abra Cadabra marked his breakthrough, after which he appeared on multiple 2017 singles, among them Yxng Bane’s silver-certified “Fine Wine” and Mabel’s Top Ten entry “Finders Keepers.” That year he also earned a Best Newcomer nomination at the MOBO Awards.

Golden Boy arrived in 2018 and reached number 40 on the charts. The following year brought the singles “Take Off,” a joint release with Stefflon Don, and “I Like,” featuring WizKid, plus a guest spot on Kano’s Hoodies All Summer. Into 2020 he issued the more Afro-pop-oriented “Vanessa” and followed it with “Duppy,” a street-focused Afroswing cut that took aim at competing MCs.