Ghanaian rapper Sarkodie has addressed the excitement surrounding his song ‘Brag,’ in which he name-drops several Nigerian artists and Black Sherif.
Released in May 2024, ‘Brag’ from his upcoming mixtape “The Championship” ignited a rap battle between Ghana and Nigeria. Sarkodie mentioned Nigerian stars Davido, Wizkid, and Burna Boy in the track, leading to a spirited response from Davido, who supported his artist Dremo in countering Sarkodie’s claims.
Sarkodie dismissed Dremo’s rebuttal, prompting Ghanaian rappers like Lyrical Joe, Don Itchi, Wan Nana, Phrimpong, and CJ Biggerman to defend Sarkodie, fueling a massive lyrical contest. Lyrical Joe’s ‘1960,’ referencing Nigeria’s independence year, was a notable reply.
In an interview with VoxAfrica, Sarkodie expressed his amusement and appreciation for the buzz, highlighting that such organic publicity is invaluable. He clarified that his mentions of Wizkid, Davido, and Burna Boy were not intended as insults but to emphasize his longevity in the music industry.
“I love it because it’s great PR,” Sarkodie said. “For Wizkid, David, and Burna, I would never jab them because if I want to jab somebody, it has to be rappers. They are not rappers.”
Sarkodie praised the artists he mentioned, especially Black Sherif, whom he considers a close friend. He emphasized that the song’s references were to illustrate his long-standing presence in the industry, not to provoke.
The rapper enjoys the energy and conversation the song has generated, bringing attention back to hip-hop. He mentioned that the buzz surrounding ‘Brag’ is perfectly timed with the release of his mixtape “The Championship” on May 24, 2024.
“I’m super proud that there’s energy out there, especially as far as hip-hop is concerned,” Sarkodie said. “Even if we sat down to plan this PR, we wouldn’t get this. Organic PR is the best kind of PR you can get.”
Sarkodie reiterated that if he were to take jabs, they would be directed at fellow rappers, not singers who have achieved consistent fame.
“If I’m jabbing anybody, it has to be rappers. And I don’t care about that; with that, I can go all out,” he said. “The biggest jab will be the fact that I didn’t mention any rapper because nobody is as consistent and famous as these singers.”
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