With only a few exceptions, pop CDs from Ghana and Ivory Coast are difficult to find through major US and international retailers. However they are available through retail outlets in immigrant communities as well as specialty retailers online.
Hiplife
Hiplife albums are available almost exclusively through specialty retailers. ARAE International in California offers a wide selection at: http://www.musichaven.com. In addition, a number of hiplife albums have recently become available at iTunes.
Zouglou and Coupé-décalé
A reasonable selection of pop music from Ivory Coast is available from several US-based online retailers: for physical CDs, Sterns Music at http://www.sternsmusic.com/ and Pan-African All Stars at http://www.panafricanallstars.com/, and for downloads, Calabash Music at http://www.calabashmusic.com. A few major artists have full albums worth picking up, but a lot of the best and most representative music appears on compilations.
Contributed by: Siddhartha Mitter Discography for The Hip Hop Generation in Africa: Ghana & Ivory Coast showHere are a list of albums heard on Afropop Worldwide's The Hip Hop Generation in Africa: Ghana & Ivory Coast:
Magic System "Premier Gaou 1+1" (Sonodisc, Next Music 2002) V.I.P. "Ahomka Womu" (Zongo Junction Music, Ltd. 2006) Reggie Rockstone "Me Na Me Kae" (Kassa Records 1999) Eric Agyeman "Highlife Safari" (Original Music 1979, Stern's Africa 1992) Alhaji K. Frimpong "Kyenkyen Bi Adi Mawu!" (West African Sound Production Ltd. 1996) Obrafuor "Pae Mu Ka" (Home Base Records) Sidney "Scenti No" (Zongo Junction Music, Ltd. 2006) Sidney "Abuskeleke" (Zongo Junction Music, Ltd. 2006) Mzbel "16 Years" (Zongo Junction Music, Ltd. 2006) Tinny "Makola Kwake" (Zongo Junction Music, Ltd. 2006) Tinny "Akwei Polo" (Zongo Junction Music, Ltd. 2006) Alpha Blondy "Revolution" (Shanachie 1987) Les Poussins Choc "Ivoir New Feeling" (Lusafrica) Petit Yode et l'Enfant Siro "Victoire" Collectif 1+1 "Generation Ya Foye, Coupe Decale, Vol. 1" (X-Pol Music 2004) Douk Saga "Generation Ya Foye, Coupe Decale, Vol. 2" (X-Pol Music 2004)