Shatta Wale, a self-described dancehall king, compared getting the support of Vybz Kartel, a legendary figure from Jamaica, to winning a Grammy.
Ghanaian dancehall artist Charles Nii Armah Mensah, better known by his stage name Shatta Wale, has been ecstatic to receive the support of legendary Jamaican musician Vybz Kartel, who called him the “King of Dancehall.”
The endorsement occurred on December 31, 2024, in Kingston, Jamaica, during Shatta Wale’s performance at Vybz Kartel’s Freedom Concert.
Vybz Kartel’s first live appearance in more than 14 years after his release from prison made the concert historic. Both for himself and his Shatta Movement supporters, who have been there for him from the start, Shatta Wale called the occasion a “dream come true.”
“It has been beautiful, and it’s like a dream come true for Shatta Movement fans because everyone knew me from day one. For me to reach the level of Vybz Kartel and perform with him is such a good feeling“
Shatta Wale highlighted Vybz Kartel’s worldwide prominence and iconic stature by comparing the endorsement to winning a Grammy Award.
“For Vybz Kartel to endorse somebody like Shatta Wale is like winning a Grammy because he is a global icon; everyone loves him, and he is one of the greatest“
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Addressing song choices
Shatta Wale explained his song selections at the Freedom Concert, even though he received some backlash for his set choosing. He disclosed that his group chose songs that connected with the Jamaican audience after examining streaming statistics.
“My team checked the streaming algorithms, and because we were in Jamaica, people were tuning into songs like ‘On God’ and the one I did with Vybz Kartel. That’s why I performed those tracks to open up the market“
He also responded to criticism because he wasn’t playing his popular song “Dancehall King,” saying,
“I know some people were wondering why I didn’t perform ‘Dancehall King,’ but that song is for Ghanaians only.“
The Jamaican dancehall icon’s support and Shatta Wale’s partnership with Vybz Kartel have cemented his status as one of Africa’s top dancehall performers.
SOURCE: PULSE GHANA
