Audio By Carbonatix
Rapper Sarkodie has revealed that many radio stations weren’t ready to play his songs when he started his music career.
According to him, his songs didn’t make sense to the media houses because they perceived them to be out of style.
In an interview with DJ Semtex on the 'Hip Hop Raised Me' podcast, he said the traditional media was not ready because Ghanaians were rooted into the authentic Highlife genre, hence many rappers weren’t given the support they needed.
"Mainstream radio wasn’t ready to play my record because it didn’t make sense we were just rapping on some beats they didn’t see it to be commercial.
"At that time it was dominated by Highlife… It’s our authentic Ghanaian genre and if you do that [as a musician] people will love it," Sarkodie said.
"Mainstream radio wasn't ready to play my records" Sarkodie
— DJ Semtex (@DJSemtex) October 9, 2021
African Rap legend @Sarkodie breaks down how he cut through & built his own fanbase.
Exclusively on the #HipHopRaisedMe podcast ⬇️
Apple https://t.co/4sBqhriPUo
Spotify https://t.co/H3tMYDiuaQhttps://t.co/LcHAZdN37W pic.twitter.com/eOPOnNmVo4
According to Sarkodie, the emergence of the internet propelled his musical journey into the limelight.
"And I was a rapper so I was coming in hard doing hip hop beats but you can’t say people don’t want this so you give it to them.
"Because it was controlled people and the internet came in and we started putting in the work and even old people started listening to rap songs," he said.
Talking about Afrobeats, Sarkodie said it’s hard to control the narrative when the people know what they love.
"I see Afrobeat is dominating now because of the internet you cannot control it so they will go to the Wizkid sold-out show," he said.
Latest Stories
-
Both sides willingly presented themselves for Bawku mediation process – Asantehene
1 minute -
I’m not here to say who was right or wrong – Asantehene on Bawku peace process
7 minutes -
Asantehene presents Bawku Peace Mediation Report to Mahama
25 minutes -
Analysis: Ghana’s oil exports drop by over $1bn in the first 10 months of 2025
39 minutes -
Supreme Court slams EC officials for absenteeism in critical Kpandai re-run case
40 minutes -
Ghana’s problem is not Debt, it is production
52 minutes -
Inconvenient Truth: Educated, yet Strangely Useless
1 hour -
ECOWAS approves $2.8m each for Ghana, 4 others to fight terrorism
1 hour -
Ghana strengthens sickle cell care with national screening and management guidelines
1 hour -
Kpandai: NDC to proceed with campaign, suspension doesn’t mean cancellation – Computer
1 hour -
Idris Elba to redevelop Geese Park into landmark conference centre – GTA boss reveals
1 hour -
Ghana suffer 1-0 loss against South Africa in international friendly
2 hours -
When barriers to healthcare push people to treat themselves
2 hours -
Fire outbreaks decline by 13% in Ashanti Region between 2024 and 2025
2 hours -
Mahama considers major role for Alan Kyerematen
2 hours
