Desmond Kwesi Blackmore, known in the entertainment industry as D-Black is Ghanaian hip-hop and afrobeat musician, artist manager, and the CEO of Black Avenue Musik.
Blackmore was born on January 12, 1987, in Accra, Ghana to Ghanaian-English father John Derek Blackmore and Ghanaian mother Adeline Boateng. He received his basic education at the Ridge Church School and then proceeded to the Pope John Senior High School. He obtained a B. A in Economics from the University of Cape Coast and a BFA Theatre Arts / Music from the University of Ghana.
In 2009, he released a group album, entitled Target Practice with Kwaku T. They parted ways and went solo the next year.
A year later he released a second album, called Music, Love & Life, which proved to be more successful than the first, allowing him to go on tour across ten cities in Ghana.
In 2012 Blackmore released a third album, called The Revelation, which featured appearances from other rappers, including Sarkodie, Mo Cheddah, and Joey B. “Vera”, one of the songs from the album, was played on several Ghanaian radio stations and reached the #1 spot on the Ghanaian urban music charts. Blackmore won the “Song of the Year” and “Collaboration of the Year” awards for “Vera” at the 2013 Ghana Music Awards UK.
In July 2013 he participated at the U.K. Afrobeats Music Festival, after which he went on a USA tour in September. In February 2014, Blackmore went on a European tour in the Netherlands, Italy, and the United Kingdom. In 2014, Blackmore began working on his third album, releasing the first single from it, “Personal Person” in April.
In July 2015, “Personal Person” was the #1 song on the Ghanaian music charts. In 2016, Blackmore released his fourth album, entitled Lightwork.
He owns a number of businesses including Black Avenue Clothing, Livewire Events, and Black Avenue Films/TV
D-Black also owns the Black Avenue Muzik record label, which produces music by Wisa Greid, Freda Rhymz, Sefa, Dahlin Gage, Nina Richie, and Osayo. D-Black, among other things, owns Club Onyx, Black Avenue Films, a Clothing line, and is currently the brand ambassador for Ciroc in Ghana.
D Black is the owner of Club Onyx, a nightclub in Accra Ghana as well as ‘Oasis Lounge’ a pool and shisha Loung.
Albums
Target Practice (2009)
Music, Love & Life (2010)
The Revelation (2012)
Lightwork (2016)
Singles
“Vera” (2012)
“Personal Person” (2014)
