Black Sherif, the Ghanaian rapper and singer from Konongo, released Sun Sherif, a six-track EP (extended play), on September 3 via EMPIRE. The project lands during a 2026 run that has placed him at the center of Ghana’s FIFA World Cup campaign and brought him a second Artiste of the Year title at the Telecel Ghana Music Awards.
The EP and its collaborators#
The six-track release follows IRON BOY, which dealt with survivor’s guilt and self-doubt. On Sun Sherif, Black Sherif presents a lighter, more assured set of songs that trace his days from early-morning thoughts to late-night reflections. He has described the project as "more than an EP," calling it an open door into the private space that shapes him.
AratheJay, a Ghanaian Afrobeats and highlife artist, appears on "Forever," a track in which Black Sherif reflects on the ease his work has earned. Full Blown, the Trinidad and Tobago duo of brothers Kory and Kevon Hart, also feature. The tracklist opens with "Expresso," which references his earlier grind and the peace that has followed.
Black Sherif previewed the EP at a listening session in London, United Kingdom, in August. At that session, he said he sounds happy.
World Cup presence#
In March, Black Sherif headlined Puma‘s Ghana kit launch in Brooklyn, New York, alongside former Ghana international Asamoah Gyan and Ghana women’s national team (Black Queens) forward Freda Ayisi. The street-level event included a 4v4 tournament and crowds dancing to "Kakalika."
Weeks before Ghana’s World Cup opener against Panama, he visited the Black Stars, Ghana’s men’s national football team, at their training camp in the United States and performed "Top of the Morning" for the players. A video of the squad singing and dancing along circulated widely on Ghanaian social media.
He later released "Find A Way" in partnership with Puma as an anthem for Ghana’s World Cup campaign. The song’s afro-centric production and vocals center on the idea that no matter how far life takes you, you never lose your roots. During the tournament, his reaction to Argentina’s comeback against Egypt was also widely shared.
Awards run#
At the 2026 Telecel Ghana Music Awards, Black Sherif led the field with nine nominations from IRON BOY, including four for the single "Sacrifice." He won Album of the Year and Artiste of the Year, the latter in a contest with Medikal. It was his second Artiste of the Year win after first taking the title in 2023.
He also received multiple nominations at the Ghana Music Awards UK’s tenth-anniversary edition and four nominations at the 2026 African Muzik Magazine Awards (AFRIMMA):
- Best Male West Africa
- Best Male Rap Act
- Album of the Year for IRON BOY
Those nominations were part of Ghana’s 21 total nominations at the continental ceremony.
Touring#
The Sun Swagger Tour has taken Black Sherif through the United States and the United Kingdom this year, including a show at New York’s Hammerstein Ballroom. Fans at multiple stops have described performances that move large crowds through his catalogue.
The tour follows the IRONBOY tour, which crossed the United States and Europe and ended with two sold-out nights at Shepherd’s Bush Empire in London.
