The Comeback King, Bucky Raw’s Resilience and Continued Impact on Liberian Music
The journey of Liberian trapco sensation Karwoudou Cole, widely known as Bucky Raw, has been a compelling narrative of soaring highs, unexpected setbacks, and a resilient return to his roots.
Once a dominant force in the Liberian music scene, his career took a dramatic turn with his deportation from the United States in 2018. Yet, even amidst this personal challenge, Bucky Raw continued to make history, demonstrating the enduring power of his music.
Born in Monrovia, Liberia, Bucky Raw moved to the United States at the age of nine, growing up in Southwest Philadelphia. It was there that he honed his distinctive rap style, blending the raw energy of American hip-hop with Liberian colloquial English, known as Kolokqua, to create his signature “Trapco” sound. His breakthrough came in 2016 after a standout performance at the Liberian Entertainment Awards cypher. This quickly propelled him to fame, leading to the release of his debut mixtape, Country Soda, in 2017, which solidified his position as a leading voice in Liberian music.
In April 2018, Bucky Raw faced a significant personal challenge when he was arrested and subsequently deported to Liberia for violating the terms of his parole. This unexpected turn of events forced him to relocate to a country he had left as a child. However, in a remarkable twist of fate, it was around this same time, in August 2018, that his second mixtape, CS2, achieved an unprecedented milestone. The album defied geographical barriers, peaking at number 10 on the Billboard World Albums chart, making Bucky Raw the first Liberian artist to achieve such a feat. This accomplishment underscored his undeniable talent and the global appeal of his unique sound, even as he navigated a new chapter in his life.
Upon his return to Liberia, Bucky Raw embraced his new reality, continuing to produce music and reconnect with his homeland. While the immediate aftermath of deportation presented challenges, he has remained a prominent figure in Liberian music. He has won multiple awards, including Artist of the Year and Video of the Year at the Liberia Music Awards in 2019, further cementing his legacy. Beyond music, Bucky Raw has also engaged in humanitarian efforts, investing in community development projects in his mother’s hometown in Nimba County, demonstrating a commitment to giving back to the country that now serves as his base.
