- Stonebwoy sparks debate over GRAMMY article's hiplife music history
- He questions Black Sherif and King Paluta's relevance to 90s hiplife
- Stonebwoy expresses disappointment over his own exclusion from the article
Dancehall artist Stonebwoy has ignited a debate over the recent GRAMMY article that traced the history of hiplife music in Ghana. The piece, which detailed the genre’s evolution from the late 1990s to the present, acknowledged seminal figures such as Reggie Rockstone, Mzbel, and Obrafour, but also included Black Sherif and King Paluta. Stonebwoy has raised concerns about this inclusion.
The article highlighted Black Sherif and King Paluta for their contributions to elevating Ghanaian music globally, a point that Stonebwoy contested. He argued that the relevance of these artists to the hiplife genre, particularly its 90s roots, was questionable since they had not yet entered the mainstream during that period.
“What are the roles of Blacko and Paluta in hiplife?” Stonebwoy questioned. “One may argue that they tap inspiration from hiplife, but so do I.”
Stonebwoy further expressed his discontent over the omission of his name from the article, suggesting it was part of a broader agenda to undermine his contributions to the music industry. “It’s not about my name being on the Grammy platform,” he said. “I’ve had more articles written about me there. But the story should capture the true essence of Ghanaian music, especially hiplife, which is our foundation. The article didn’t do due diligence.”
The discussion has sparked broader questions about the representation and recognition of artists within the Ghanaian music industry. Alongside Stonebwoy, other prominent figures such as Tic and Kwaw Kesse have also voiced their concerns regarding the article’s portrayal of the genre’s history.
