GuiltyBeatz - Biography, Career Achievements, Songs, Production Credits and Accolades

Ronald Banful, professionally known as GuiltyBeatz, is a Ghanaian DJ and record producer born on January 17, 1990, in Palermo, Italy. He rose to prominence in the music industry with his production of several notable tracks, including "Bad Girl" by Jesse Jagz featuring Wizkid, "Sample You" by Mr. Eazi, and the hit single "Akwaaba," which featured Mr. Eazi, Pappy Kojo, and Patapaa.

GuiltyBeatz's production style, which fuses Afrobeats with diverse global sounds, has earned him recognition both locally and internationally. His work on "Akwaaba" particularly resonated, becoming a massive hit across Africa and contributing to the popularization of the Afrobeats genre globally. This track, along with his other productions, has established him as a key figure in the African music scene.

Early Life and Background

GuiltyBeatz, born Ronald Banful in Palermo, Italy, relocated to Ghana at the age of six. His early exposure to music began when he received his first piano at just one year old, sparking a lifelong passion for music. By the age of 12, GuiltyBeatz was already creating his own beats using the "Music DJ" application on his Sony Ericsson phone, marking the start of his journey into music production. His talent was first recognized during rap battles in Junior High School, where he crafted beats for fellow students.

At the age of 17, GuiltyBeatz's music production skills advanced significantly when he received his first personal computer. With this tool, he delved deeper into beat-making, mastering the use of Fruity Loops (now FL Studio). He honed his craft by recreating popular beats from the American music industry, steadily improving his production skills. In addition to producing beats, GuiltyBeatz is a self-taught pianist, having developed his skills through inspiration from his surroundings. This self-taught expertise in both beat production and piano playing has helped him stand out in the Ghanaian music industry, giving him a unique edge as both a producer and instrumentalist.

Career Beginnings and Achievements

In April 2010, GuiltyBeatz signed with the Ghanaian record label Star Productions, marking a significant milestone in his music career. After this, he transitioned to using Logic Pro for music production and collaborated with a range of Ghanaian artists, including Sarkodie, R2Bees, Efya, DCryme, Atumpan, Stonebwoy, Pappy Kojo, Jeed Rogers, Chase, Mr. Eazi, and Bisa Kdei. His talents have also attracted collaborations outside Ghana, working with Nigerian artists such as Jesse Jagz, Wizkid, Wande Coal, and Cabo Snoop from Angola. He expanded his reach to the UK, collaborating with talents like Mr Silva, Sway, Tribal Magz, and Moelogo.

GuiltyBeatz actively began his production career in 2010, producing across a variety of genres like hip-hop, hiplife, highlife, dancehall, and Afro-pop. Despite his versatility, his passion remains in Afro-pop and Afro-fusion. In 2018, he added DJing to his brand and released multiple singles. His debut single, "Chance," featuring Mr. Eazi, was released in 2016.

In 2018, GuiltyBeatz released "Akwaaba," a song featuring Mr. Eazi, Patapaa, and Pappy Kojo. The track became his breakthrough hit and was ranked first on Face2Face Africa’s list of "Top 10 Most Popular African Songs of 2018," bringing him widespread recognition, several awards, and nominations.

In 2019, GuiltyBeatz received international acclaim for his work on Beyoncé's album ‘The Lion King: The Gift’. He produced three tracks on the album: "Already," "Keys to the Kingdom," and "Find Your Way Back," further solidifying his global influence as a top Afrobeat producer.

Discography

EPs

2020 - Different

Songs

2016 - Chance (Fre Me)

2016 - Nobody Dey

2017 - You Can Go

2018 - Fire

2018 - Akwaaba

2019 - Genging

2019 - Pilolo

2019 - Freedom

Production Credits

2011 - Tell Me Your Name

2013 - Getaway

2013 - Bad Girl

2014 - Gidigidi

2017 - No Way

2017 - Abena

2018 - Die From Your Love

2018 - 1 Man 1000

2019 - Do You

2019 - Ogye Me Din

2019 - Hapiness

2019 - Bra

2019 - Snack

2019 - Thank You

2019 - Bogada

2019 - Bounce

2019 - Already

2019 - find Your Way Back (Circle of Life)

2019 - Keys to the Kingdom

2021 - If Orange Was a Place

2023 - Me & U

2024 - Love Me Jeje

Accolades

Best African Collaboration of the Year, 2018

Song of the Year, 2018 

Afropop Song of the Year, 2019

Best African Collaboration, 2019

Producer of the Year, 2019

Viral Song of the Year, 2019