“i ran for my life”, Sarkodie
Written by Prince Swaggart on November 29, 2012
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Ghana’s music industry seems to have adopted the East Coast–West Coast hip hop bloody rivalry that emerged in the 1990’s between East Coast-based rapper the Notorious B.I.G. (and his label, Bad Boy Records), and West Coast-based rapper Tupac Shakur (and his label, Death Row Records)
Mad Time Entertainment, which manages Tema-based award winning hip-hop artiste Kwaw Kesse aka Abodam, has released a very strong worded and threatening press statement directed at the Accra-based music group, VIP.
The statement, signed by Fennec Okyere on behalf of Mad Time, warned VIP that if the group felt safe in Nima, a densely populated Accra suburb, Kwaw Kesse also had a strong support base in Tema and other parts of the country and his fans might physically attack VIP if the group went to those areas.
“We are calling on VIP to affirm their belief in creative competition without the need to resort to barbaric violence.
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| kwaw kesse the king of the streets |
While VIP might feel safe in Nima, Kwaw Kesse and other entertainers also have fans from Nima to Ashaiman to Swedru and many other parts of Ghana who may want to attack VIP in retaliation.
“Violence begets violence and retaliation and in the run-up to our national elections, we urge musicians and every other sector of society to denounce and eschew violence and rather seek peaceful dialogue to resolve any differences they might have,” the statement noted.
The statement was necessitated by a misunderstanding that occurred between Kwaw Kesse and VIP during last weekend’s Joy FM Night with the Stars music contest between musicians in Tema and their Accra counterparts.
The organizers pitched Kwaw Kesse against VIP and according to the statement issued by Mad Time, Kwaw Kesse, during the show, went on stage with a banner that had the inscription VIP. The statement said Kwaw Kesse started trampling on the banner that had the name on VIP.
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This development did not go down well with VIP and they were said to have demanded an apology when Kwaw Kesse ended his performance and joined them backstage.
Kwaw stood his grounds that he owed no apology to VIP and this misunderstanding degenerated into a physical confrontation between the two groups.
So chaotic was the situation that Sarkodie and R2Bees were said to have boycotted the event and left for home without performing.
Loyalists of both groups reportedly clashed and a few properties vandalized
But in a response to the statement from Mad Time, Lawrence Nana Asiamah Hanson aka Bulldog, manager of VIP, expressed utter shock in an interview with NEWS-ONE.
“Look, as managers, we should not be using the type of language that can provoke or fuel tension in anyway.
There is a challenge at hand and as industry players we should find responsible ways of addressing the challenge rather than coming out to describe VIP as barbaric or violent or saying that your artiste has support base at some places and that may attack VIP.
“I am shocked but let me once again use this platform to call on all our fans to remain calm no matter the extent of provocation. Let us show love even when it means we would be seen as fools,” Bulldog noted.
Below is a press statement from Sarkodie, explaining why he left the Joy FM Night with the stars without performing.
With reference to recent development within the media and on other platforms following Sarkodie’s non-performance at Joy FM’s Nite with the Stars organized Saturday, 24 November 2012 at the Dome of the International Conference Center, I deem it right to set the facts straight.
Sarkodie arrived at the venue two hours earlier than scheduled in high spirit and ready to thrill attendees and give fans one of his best showings in recent times.
However, this became impossible after a confrontation between teams of Kwaw Kesse and VIP had gotten physical.
A group of armed individuals broke into the changing room of Sarkodie and R2bees, threatening to get violent if we did not reveal the whereabouts of Kwaw Kesse.
We noticed a movement of several armed groups into the main auditorium and backstage for reasons we are yet to know.
That became a huge concern for me and members of my team, fearing what could happen when Sarkodie mounts the stage.
Fearing the escalation of the situation, as there weren’t enough security personnel to bring the situation under control, we indicated to members of the Joy FM team our concern, resolving of the fracas and the safety of Sarkodie, R2bees and management members.
Unfortunately, we had to leave the show premises as nothing was done about the security situation and fearing the safety of my artiste Sarkodie, R2bees and others.
This was an act and a decision taken not as a calculated attempt to tear down the show, rather due to the security concern.
However, we are more than willing to resolve this issue with the organizers of the Night with the Stars event and hope they will grant us their platform to clarify issues going forward.
Sarkodie sincerely apologizes to all attendees on the night and cherished fans who might have been let down by this act.
Be assured that you are still and will always remain his number one priority and he is committed to thrilling you at all times.
Thank you
Ndwompa Radio 
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