Your DC Local Music Guide For May 2025: Acquaah

Welcome to another edition of our monthly music feature, where we highlight a local artist and upcoming shows from local acts.

🎙️ Spotlight: Acquaah

Self-Described Current Sound:

Fusion of Afrobeats and Rap

Background:

Born in Takoma park, then raised in Ghana, artist Acquaah now considers the DMV his homebase. After moving back eight years ago, he began working on raps during his lunch breaks. With encouragement from friends, he performed for the first time at a Tiny Sesh from the local Sesh Collective.

“Before the performance, I almost left because I had stage fright,” Acquaah recalled. “I was at the elevator about to walk away while they were calling my name.”

What made him stay was the fear itself, noting “I feel like the path of least resistance is never the way to go. If you feel scared to do something, that means you probably should do the thing.”

Since then, Acquaah has gone on to collaborate with multiple rappers, with his most popular “Dial-777-ABBA” with Cru Alxndr gaining over 40,000 streams on Spotify. His first full-length album “Ezy 2 Luv” dropped last year and highlights his rap skills while also introducing Afrobeats into his music. Currently on a break, Acquaah reflects on his inspirations and what to expect next from him.

Get To Know the Artist:

Your album “Ezy 2 Luv” focused primarily on Afrobeat tracks. What inspired this?

It is something I always wanted to do, but the time just wasn't right [before then]. I wasn't where I needed to be artistically. I hadn't met the people I was supposed to meet. Certain people or certain situations can bring out certain songs or projects.

Do lyrics usually come first or the melody and beats in the track?

The beat and melody comes first. I found out that if I sit down to write good ideas, I'm overthinking it. If I record just whatever comes to me in the moment, and then go back and listen to it I can get a better feel of the direction I want to go. And then put words to match the melody.

The track “R0llingSt0ne” has a humorous component featuring a sample of “Coming to America.” Do you strive for your music to be comedic?

One of my friends creative directed that project, and he said, “Man, it would be cool if the “Coming to America” part was included, because he wanted to give [listeners] a transition from Africa to America to represent Afrobeats. In terms of being comedic, I try to incorporate humorous aspects in the song because I don’t want to be serious all the time.

What do you hope listeners gain from your music?

I want people to experience a piece of my experience.

How does the DMV music scene inspire you?

This one artist Blaxian is going viral in the area right now, and he sounds amazing. He inspired me to be better. There's an artist named John Clark. He's a producer and rapper who makes really good music. But, overall, I try not to look too much to the outside so I can preserve the integrity of my sound.

What mainstream artists influence you the most?

It's very controversial to say right now, but Drake. I’m not going to lie. When it comes to making really good music at a high level at the quantity he does, it’s objectively good music. Some other people would be Don Toliver and the Afrobeats artists Rema.

Favorite local venue?

The Pocket and Union Stage are cool. I would one day like to perform at The Anthem.

Where do you go to gain inspiration?

I tend to retreat away from crowds and go somewhere serene like the beach. Then just live life, go to museums and hang out with friends. And the last part is to pray. I am Christian, so I believe God is the source of everything.

Last song you listened to?

“Bleed” by Malcolm Todd and Omar Apollo

What’s next for you? I saw on your IG you posted “Bunch of work coming soon,” can you elaborate?

This year I took a hiatus year from actively working on new music and doing shows, but I have a lot of great songs I’m recording and I started shooting videos. I have some really cool visuals coming up at the top of next year.