IF BEEF; THEN GET THE HELL OUT OF THE GAME

What’s Beef?

From obscurity many seek acceptance in mainstream music; from minority ethnic groups many want to be appreciated as a part of the big whole. This has called for the use of varied means to seek relevance and recognition. Many employ “beef” as a tool; however, urbandictionary defines beef as.

“To start a fight, to get into argument with another person, or group of people”.

We all know the results of fights & arguments in the context of beef in hip-hop…

The Surge in Beef

There is a surge in artistes seeking national recognition, global domination and the bliss that comes with being a success musically; however, we all agree that the convention is hard work and a respect for the craft. Hard work, love and respect for the craft is what has seen artistes like Sherifa Gunu, Wiyaala, Atongo Zimba, Rocky Dawuni, King Ayisoba, Delle and several other musicians originally from the savanna of Ghana soar and continue to stay relevant in an industry that is yet to fully develop.

The Struggle for recognition

Many would argue that the bulk of music from the savanna is ethnic and traditional in nature however a generation of hip-hop lovers have gradually crept into the scene; though often popular in their respective regions & towns, efforts by artistes like Soorebia, Saani, S.K.Y the Tamale Boy, Macassio, Fancy Gadam and several others are gradually making inroads into the mainstream music scene in Ghana.

Whilst the whole struggle to make “us” part of the mainstream music industry goes on, other artistes have chosen to beef albeit from absolutely obscure corners of the country.

Why an unknown artiste spends money in a studio to rain insults on another is way beyond my comprehension. Why an underground artiste would go to a studio to pay money and record a response to a diss song beats my imagination. Could it be the warped notion that beef is an element of hip-hop?  Could it be the warped assumption that every hip-hop artiste is a gangster of a gangbanger?

History of Beef

A look at past events across the world would give you the results of “beef,” great artistes have had their lives cut short, amazing Dj’s and producers have died as a result of beef.  Successful careers have been dumped in the bin because of beef.

My focus is on 2 different artistes purportedly at loggerheads. For some time now they’ve directed a lot of energy into lyrically slaying each other, something I attribute to cowardice. If 2 grown men cannot talk reasonably over silly accusations but rather project “gangsterism” in their songs, then they don’t really understand the concept of life and living together. In fact, they might not even be fully immersed in their quest to become success stories in the music arena.

Rap Naygar & Fasetwo are both amazing artistes, even nicer is the fact that they come from the same part of the country; so, what informs their constant dissing of each other claiming to have some street credibility when none of them has a taste of what the streets look and feel like? For underground artistes to dedicate so much energy to nonsense, then they must have reached a “Kanye West” status but NO, I doubt if other than singles any of these guys have sold any laudable number of albums.

In this era of globalization trivialities like beef have no place, you are either seeking success or seeking to be taunted as a failure. Even worse is to have failed for pursuing absurd stupidity.

I am in no way trying to ridicule the 2 artistes; I just need them to understand that an ability to insult and threaten in songs does not validate your existence as a musician. What validates your existence is an ability to dutifully deliver mind-blowing music capable of making you into a Grammy nominee.

“The VGMA’s sef no see you, why would u waste time play a thug”

Any further pursuance of this 1990 mentality is only going to make you an area champion who only gets to mount small stages and spit “venom” only to go back home penniless, your existence as a music act will be confined to either Chiana or Navrongo.  If you fail to recognize that as ambassadors of your respective towns, it is behoved on you to be responsible individuals then GET THE HELL OUT OF THE GAME.