Dear Bandana,
I don’t even know if you still
respond to the name Bandana anymore, but I had to use it to make a point, to let you know that, I have been around from when you stepped on the scene with Moko Hoo till now.
From the time you dropped your first
single featuring Tinny, which made waves on the Ghanaian music scene, stopping
everyone in their tracks, a lot has happened in-between. You have been in the
news for everything but good reasons. You are either caught up in a video
smoking weed which is usually not a Hi-grade
or insulting Event Organizers and any other perceived entity standing in your
way in the full glare of the public.
It is time to focus on the man
in the mirror because the only person you hurt is you and your future, as long
as your music career is concerned. Nobody will contract a perceived
irresponsible icon to be their brand ambassador, which is bound to affect their
image and reputation nor support your cause. It is good identifying with the
grassroots but isn’t that typical of anyone who is not at the top yet? It is time
you look at the bigger picture.
Honestly, Apart from your hard
work which is not usually acknowledged by the larger audience, I must say you
rose to prominence because of the empathy many of us had on you after your rants
and raves at the aftermath of the Vodafone Ghana Music Awards. Some of us
thought you deserved some acknowledgement to serve as a platform for you to
work harder, but I think the little recognition which could be assumed as fame
has gotten into your head.
The earlier you realize that you
are in a competitive world and playing by the rules of showbiz (show business)
the better for you to start pulling your acts together. It is high time you
realize that you are in a competitive world with scarce resources where no one
will dole their money to manage or produce an ailing and non-performing artiste;
an artiste that is so cocooned in his own world without being mindful of the
values its society holds dear.
How many people do you expect to
buy and play a song that has pussy, suck your morda and other unprintable
words in them? How many brands can you become an ambassador for, let alone talk
about being a model for the upcoming artistes?
Maybe, your management is not
helping enough, but it is time to build a brand. It is time you build a brand
that has the potential of convincing everyone that, you are a work in progress.
Many of us believe in your raw talent and hail you as the self-acclaimed Dancehall
king that you are, simply because you have paid your dues to the genre. When others
were swaying to play other genres, like Afro Pop, Azonto and Alkayida, just
because it was what was in vogue and bankable, you remained faithful to the
genre.
As much as beefing in showbiz is
a thriving force for record boost and sales, your beef with Samini Dagaati, the
Music man, is needless and uncalled for. It is probably making you lose sight
of the main act which is how to brand and present yourself to the public. Your
presentation is very necessary as long as the business part of the show is
concerned.
I know you are in business. I
know you need some money to defray your cost, to build a brand and to probably
start recording in platinum studios. Fact that, you don’t play your gigs in
orphanages and on the street alone shows that you are not in a charitable
venture but business. You have to take yourself serious.
It is undisputed that you are now
the acclaimed Dancehall king “inna di whole Ghana’ not necessarily because of
your hits but fact that, it is all you have known and represented, but you
really need to relax and learn one or two things from Samini, who is nationally
and internationally known, versatile and appealing on all fronts. Samini has worked
with a lot of musicians which eventually has given him an in-depth experience
and exposure you can tap from and make it to the very top. Sit back and sift
through the comments and opinions of the very masses that will make or break
you and tailor your game according to their needs.
However, I must congratulate you
for making it to the levels of Samini. Fact that you are being compared to him
on the big stage alone is even a feat you can bank on. It means, the people
have recognized your efforts. It means the people are divided on who to support.
Do not make Samini your standard, work on the contents of your song, your image
and personality as far as the public is concerned and you can become the
official poster child for Dancehall in Ghana.
Shatta Wale, we love you for your
perseverance, we love you for thriving against all odds. We love you for
whipping a renewed enthusiasm in the music industry and for bringing the Dancehall
genre to the fore. Once more, we love you for making the music scene vibrant
again. Shatta Movement for life!
Your Biggest Fan
No comments:
Post a Comment