Kobby Salm Says Youth Trends Drive His Fusion of Gospel and Afrobeats

By Esther Korantemaa Offei

Ghanaian urban gospel artist Kobby Salm has explained that his decision to blend gospel music with Afrobeats, hip-hop and other contemporary styles is driven by a desire to effectively reach young people with the message of salvation.

Speaking in an interview on ZED FM’s Highway 10.19, the rapper said trends play a significant role in shaping his sound because his primary audience is the youth. “I won’t lie about it, trend does. We serve the youth, and the youth are moved by trends,” he admitted.

According to Kobby Salm, understanding what young people listen to is key to communicating the gospel. “God has blessed me with a message of salvation,” he said. “If what the youth are listening to is Afrobeats, then how do I package the message in a way that they will listen to me?” He noted that this approach influences the genre he adopts for particular songs.

While he is widely known for his urban gospel sound, the artist stressed that his music is not limited to one style. He cited his 2020 album, In the Midst of Comfort, which features a mix of hip-hop, ballads and traditional Pentecostal worship songs. “Most times, when we want to address a particular age group, we use a particular sound to address them,” he explained.

Kobby Salm also credited his creativity to divine inspiration, saying both music and visual concepts often come to him together. “God is the giver of the music. When He gives it, it comes in a pack,” he said. He added that while some songs come with clear video ideas, others are developed collaboratively with directors.

Describing himself as naturally creative, the musician said the gift extends beyond his own songs. “I can listen to another song and immediately imagine how it can be improved,” he said, attributing that ability to God’s grace.