Savage 4 has officially released Abonten, a high-energy collaboration featuring Novelist and Smallgod, marking a defining moment for Ghana Grime, also known as GHRIME.
The track is the first release from the GHRIME Riddims series, which forms part of the wider Grime Frequency project. The body of work was created over seven days in Accra during the festive period.
Produced by Novelist and executive produced by Smallgod, Abonten goes beyond being just a song, positioning itself as a statement. It signals the emergence of Ghana Grime, a sound that blends the raw foundations of UK grime with Ghanaian street culture, language and energy.
The title Abonten, meaning “outside” in Twi, is a slogan long associated with Smallgod and sits at the core of the record’s message. The song celebrates freedom, movement and the lived realities of young people who spend much of their lives outside, hustling, creating, surviving and enjoying life on their own terms.
With its unapologetic urgency and raw energy, the track captures the pulse of the streets. It also marks a historic moment, as it is the first time Smallgod has appeared vocally on a record, adding symbolic weight to the release.
His appearance alongside Novelist and Savage 4 connects generations, cultures and cities, linking Accra to London and back.
“This project was about creating something real, fast, and honest,” Savage 4 said. “Abonten represents our reality and the freedom of being outside — no rules, no limits.”
As the opening chapter of Grime Frequency, Abonten sets the tone for a series of releases aimed at defining, documenting and exporting GHRIME as a new genre and cultural movement rooted in Ghana, with global ambitions.
Listen to ‘Abonten’ HERE.
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