The perception that Shatta Wale’s inclusion to the Zylofon Music record label is the cause of Stonebwoy’s rift with the label may be wrong after all.
In a recent interview with Delay on The Delay Show, Stonebwoy refuted claims that he was peeved that his arch-rival, Shatta Wale, was also signed onto Zylofon Music.
Even though he admitted he had issues with the company, he said Shatta Wale was not part of the reasons for the stalemate between the two parties.
“Shatta Wale is not the reason for what is going on. I remember when the Champs incident happened I said Zylofon Media is like a service provider and they can work with any artist. After all, I am not the only artiste on the label. They are working Becca and other artists,” he said.
The Shatta factor
A school of thought has been rife that Stonebwoy felt uncomfortable with the signing of Shatta Wale, who is his arch-rival and a dance hall artiste. Shatta Wale’s addition to the Zylofon Music record label, therefore, meant that less attention would be given to him.
Shatta Wale’s signing was characterized by razzmatazz, pomp, and pageantry – a far cry from what was done for any of the signers of the company.
Even though Stonebwoy had congratulated Shatta Wale for joining the Zylofon family he also stated that he was not pre-informed by the management that they were bringing Shatta Wale on board.
In an interview he had with King Lagasse on Hitz FM, he said if Zylofon Music had already signed another dancehall artiste he would not have accepted to be on too.
… and things went sour
Since Shatta Wale joined Zylofon Media, the relationship between Stonebwoy and his record label has gone stale.
It started with the scuffle that ensued between him and some officers of his record label on March 11, 2018, at Champs Bar, a popular pub in Acrra. The officers had gone to the premises to take from him, a car purported to have been given to him by the company.
After that incident, Stonebwoy has severed his business activities from his record label. During the nominees’ jam of the Vodafone Ghana Music Awards, the management of Zoylofon Media had to issue a restraint from its lawyers to prevent him from performing at the programme.
Apparently, he had been booked for the show through his personal management – without the knowledge of the record label.
The staff of Zylofon Media had also been conspicuously missing at programmes organized by Stonebwoy.
He has, on several occasions, asked anybody who wants to book him for an event to do so through his personal manager – not Zylofon Music.
A sign of peace?
It is not clear what could be wrong with the two parties but an Instagram post-Stonebwoy recently put up suggests that peace between him and Zylofon Media is imminent.
In his post which has a picture of him and the Chief Executive Office of Zylofon Media, Nana Appiah Mensah, he asked his followers to ignore negative comments and support the ‘great vision.’
“At The End Of The Day Peace Will Prevail, Progress Shall Reign And All Things Shall Work Together For Good… I’ll Borrow Words From This Noble Man @mn_appiah With Whom This Revolution started.. #GhanaShallProsper.
I’ll entreat All The Fans Worldwide Who Have Been In support All These while To Ignore All Forms Of Negative Sentiments And Continue To Show Love And immense Support To This Great Vision!!” he wrote.
Stonebwoy is one of Ghana’s biggest dancehall artistes who is fast gaining prominence on the international music market.