Nana Kwabena Tuffuor

Nana Kwabena Tuffuor (born March 25, 1986), better known by his stage name NANA KWABENA,[1] is an American record producer, rapper, singer, songwriter, DJ and sound engineer.[2] He is most noted for co-producing Jidenna's certified platinum single, "Classic Man."[3] In 2015, the song was nominated for a Grammy at the 58th annual Grammy Awards for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration.[4] Tuffuor also co-produced "Made To Love" by John Legend and "Yoga," featuring Jidenna and Janelle Monáe.[5]

Nana Kwabena
Nana Kwabena in Fear & Fancy Studios, 2014
Background information
Birth nameNana Kwabena Tuffuor
Also known as
  • Nana Kwabena
  • NANA
Born (1986-03-25) March 25, 1986
Cleveland, Ohio, United States
OriginGhana
Genres
Occupation(s)
Instruments
  • Drums
  • percussion
  • keyboard
  • logic pro
  • pro tools
  • vocals
Years active2009–present
LabelsWondaland
Associated acts
Websitenanakwabena.com

As a music producer, Nana Kwabena has collaborated with Jidenna, Janelle Monáe, John Legend, Kanye West, Rick Ross, Kimbra, Kendrick Lamar, Seun Kuti, Mr Eazi, Goldlink and Quavo.[4][5][6][2]

Following his younger brother's passing from Sickle Cell Disease in 2011, Nana Kwabena founded AllOneBlood in 2012, a nonprofit organization dedicated to raising awareness of the disease.[7][8][9]

Nana joined Fear & Fancy Social Club and Arts Collective in 2012.[10]

Early life and education

Tuffuor was born in Cleveland, Ohio to Dinah Akosua Tuffuor and Eugene Baffoe-Bonnie. Tuffuor's mother is an accountant and founder of an elementary school in Ghana and his father is a computer engineer and entrepreneur.[9]

Nana grew up in Philadelphia, PA. He attended high school at George School.

Nana Kwabena graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 2008 as a pre-med student with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Health & Societies and a minor in both Sociology and Africana Studies.[7][9]

After deferring his acceptance into George Washington University's Milken Institute School of Public Health for a year, Tuffuor later moved from Philadelphia to New York in 2010 to pursue his music career full-time.

Career

Following the passing of his younger brother, Kwame Apau, from Sickle Cell in 2011, Nana Kwabena founded the non-profit organization AllOneBlood. This initiative expands public awareness of Sickle Cell disease through photo and video campaigns and celebrity hospital visits. The organization aims to raise money for existing organizations dedicated to finding a universal cure for the disease.[7][11]

Tuffuor is a member of Fear & Fancy, a social club that began in California in 2006. The society, reminiscent of the social aid and pleasure clubs of New Orleans, is an international collective of entrepreneurs, activists, educators, scientists, and artists who host soirees, dinner parties, and demonstrations.[10]

Personal life

Tuffuor currently resides in East Flatbush, Brooklyn.[10]

Tuffuor supports several initiatives for social justice, especially pertaining to African Americans. He joined Janelle Monáe, Jidenna and other Wondaland artists in leading demonstrations to support the Black Lives Matter movement during the Wondaland Eephus Tour.[11]

Production credits

Elliot Yamin – Fight For Love
  • 12. "Someday" (Drum Programming)[2]

John Legend – Love in the Future
  • 02. "The Beginning" (Drum Programming)[2]
  • 04. "Made To Love feat. Kimbra" (Producer, composer, engineer, Drum Programming, Programming)[2][6][12]
  • 05. "Who Do We Think We Are feat. Rick Ross" (Additional Producer, Drum Programming)[2]
  • 08. "Save The Night" (Drum Programming)[2]
  • 14. "You & I (Nobody in the World)" (Drum Programming)[2]
  • 15. "Asylum" (Drum Programming)[2]

Wondaland – The Eephus

Jidenna
  • 00. "Long Live The Chief" (Lyrics, Arrangement, Recording Engineer)[2]
  • 00. "Extraordinaire" (Producer, composer, Arrangement, Drum Programming, Background Vocals, Synthesizers, Recording Engineer)[2]
  • 00. "Knickers" (Producer, composer, Arrangement, Drum Programming, Background Vocals, Synthesizers, Vocoders, Recording Engineer)[2]

Jidenna
  • 00. "Chief Don't Run" (Producer, composer, Arrangement, Lead Vocals, Background Vocals, Drum Programming, Programming, Recording Engineer)[2]
  • 00. "Little Bit More" (Producer, composer, Arrangement, Drum Programming, Palmas Handclaps)[2]

Desiigner
  • 00. "Timmy Turner Remix" (Additional Producer, Drum Programming)

Jidenna – The Chief
  • 01. "A Bull's Tale" (Producer, composer, Arrangement, Synthesizer, Drum Programming, Programming, Sound Effects, Recording Engineer, Mixing Engineer)[2]
  • 02. "Chief Don't Run featuring Roman GianArthur" (Producer, composer, Arrangement, Lead Vocals, Background Vocals, Drum Programming, Programming, Recording Engineer)[2]
  • 03. "Trampoline" (Producer, composer, Arrangement, Drum Programming, Programming, Sound Effects, Recording Engineer)[2]
  • 04. "Bambi" (Co-Producer, composer, Arrangement, Drum Programming, Programming, Mixing Engineer)[2]
  • 05. "Helicopters / Beware" (Producer, composer, Arrangement, Background Vocals, Synthesizer, Drum Programming, Programming, Recording Engineer, Mixing Engineer)[2]
  • 06. "Long Live The Chief" (Lyrics, Arrangement, Recording Engineer)[2]
  • 07. "2 Points" (Co-Producer, Arrangement, Drum Programming, Programming, Recording Engineer)[2]
  • 08. "The Let Out featuring Nana Kwabena" (Producer, Featured Artist, Lead Vocals, composer, Arrangement, Synthesizer, Drum Programming, Programming, Recording Engineer)[2]
  • 09. "Safari featuring Janelle Monáe, St. Beauty and Nana Kwabena" (Co-Producer, Featured Artist, Lead Vocals, Vocal Production, composer, Arrangement, Programming, Recording Engineer)[2]
  • 10. "Adaora" (Producer, composer, Arrangement, Synthesizer, Drum Programming, Programming, Mixing Engineer)[2]
  • 11. "Little Bit More" (Producer, composer, Arrangement, Drum Programming, Palmas Handclaps)[2]
  • 12. "Some Kind of Way" (Producer, composer, Arrangement, Synthesizer, Drum Programming, Programming, Recording Engineer)[2]
  • 13. "White N****s" (Producer, composer, Arrangement, Drum Programming, Programming, Sound Effects, Mixing Engineer)[2]
  • 14. "Bully of the Earth" (Producer, composer, Arrangement, Drum Programming, Programming, Recording Engineer, Mixing Engineer)[2]

References
  1. "Instagram". Instagram. Archived from the original on May 8, 2017.
  2. "Nana Kwabena Tuffuor | Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved January 22, 2016.
  3. "AFRICA IN YOUR EARBUDS #67: JIDENNA & NANA KWABENA". Okayafrica. October 20, 2015. Retrieved November 1, 2015.
  4. Aborga, Alfred. "Flowking Stone Hits The Studio With Grammy Nominee; Nana Kwabena Tuffour". Loud Sound Ghana. Retrieved January 22, 2016.
  5. admin. "VIDEO: Nana Kwabena, Jidenna's "Classic Man" Producer dances to Gasmilla's Telemo – Ghana Flow". Ghana Flow. Retrieved January 22, 2016.
  6. "John Legend Is 'Made To Love'". HuffPost. Retrieved January 24, 2016.
  7. "Gala benefits CHOP sickle cell center". The Philadelphia Tribune. Retrieved January 22, 2016.
  8. "Everything seems to be 'OK' with Nana Kwabena Tuffour – Revealed!". Ytainment Arena. Retrieved January 22, 2016.
  9. "CLASSIC MAN CRUSH MONDAY #MCM: Nana Kwabena – LoveBrownSugar". LoveBrownSugar. Retrieved January 24, 2016.
  10. Buford, Kathryn. "INTERVIEW: "The door that opens you: Why Whippa Wiley brings you magic, fear and fancy."". afropunk.com. Archived from the original on December 13, 2015. Retrieved January 22, 2016.
  11. "Nana Kwabena". Soul Sofa. Retrieved January 24, 2016.
  12. "John Legend Debuts EDM-Influenced Single 'Made To Love' Feat. Kimbra". Retrieved January 24, 2016.
  13. "Photos: Jidenna takes his 'classic man' style to Dubai with producer, Nana Kwabena Tuffuor". AmeyawDebrah.Com. Retrieved January 22, 2016.
  14. http://hiphopdx.com, HipHopDX -. "Jidenna Speaks On Being Dubbed 'The Millennial Version Of Andre 3000'". HipHopDX. Retrieved January 22, 2016.
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