Ghanaian Rapper Lyrical Joe Upholds Annual Tradition With '5th August 9' Release

AUGUST 5 (MUZICGH) - Ghanaian rap artist Joseph Gamor, known professionally as Lyrical Joe, released the ninth installment of his annual birthday music series today. The track, titled "5th August 9," is a long-form lyrical showcase accompanied by a music video directed by Nii Josiah and produced by his longtime collaborator Phredxter.

This release continues a tradition for the artist, as the "5th August" series has become a yearly touchstone in Ghana's hip-hop calendar, with each new song coinciding with his birthday. Characteristically, the tracks are known for their extended duration, often running between seven and twelve minutes, and feature dense, intricate lyricism including complex rhyme schemes, wordplay, and double entendres. Consequently, this format specifically targets an audience of hip-hop purists and enthusiasts of technical rap performance.

In keeping with modern release strategies, the arrival of "5th August 9" was preceded by a strategic build-up, which included the promotional single "Road To 5th August 9" in July. The anticipation was further heightened on August 3, when Lyrical Joe shared a 23-second snippet of the music video on social media (X, formerly Twitter) with the caption, "Y’all said you wanted a taste? Well, here’s a bite. Play it loud."

This high level of anticipation is largely due to the significant commercial success of its predecessor. Specifically, the 2024 installment, "5th August 8," garnered over one million views on YouTube, a notable milestone for a pure rap track exceeding ten minutes in length. Furthermore, that track earned him a 2025 nomination for Best Rap Performance at the Telecel Ghana Music Awards (TGMA).

Indeed, the "5th August" series has become a defining and critically acclaimed feature of Lyrical Joe's career within Ghana's music industry. For instance, the project was instrumental in propelling the rapper to win Best Rap Performance at the 2022 Vodafone Ghana Music Awards (now known as the Telecel Ghana Music Awards, or TGMA) and to secure the same honour at the 3Music Awards in 2024.

Read Also: Lyrical Joe Drops 'Road To 5th August 9' Ahead of Anticipated '5th August 9' Release

This latest single arrives during a notably productive period for the 30-year-old artist. On May 16, 2025, he released his 13-track sophomore album titled "I AM," which was preceded by his 2023 debut album, "Photo Album." The "I AM" project featured collaborations with Ghanaian musician E.L and radio personality Andy Dosty, with production credits from Phredxter, ATown TSB, E.L, and JuiczXxx.

In addition to these major projects, Lyrical Joe has maintained a consistent presence throughout 2025 through various non-album releases, including the rap cyphers "CRISIS" and "BM (Beast Mode) Cypher," further cementing his reputation for lyrical focus and collaboration within the genre.

Looking ahead, with the "5th August 9" project now launched, Lyrical Joe has previously indicated that his next focus will be a music video for the track "Take Me Home," a fan favourite from his "I AM" album, thereby continuing his planned schedule of releases for the year.