Hiplife star Barima Sidney, known for his hits like ‘Tinana’ and ‘Papa No,’ recently opened up about his hiatus from music and the challenges he faced.
In a candid interview on Joy Prime’s Prime Morning show, Sidney shared how harsh criticism and personal struggles led him to take a break from the music scene for several years.
The catalyst for his departure was the controversy surrounding his song ‘Papa No,’ which was misconstrued during Ghana’s 2020 elections.
The backlash he received took a toll on him, prompting him to step back and reflect.
“At a point, I was heartbroken when the ‘Papa No’ thing came up. The lashing was too much, and I remember somebody saying I wait for things to trend so I can use them for songs. And I was like, do you think it’s easy for you to compose a song instantly? No, it makes you very creative instead, but then people took it some other way around. So, I decided to be quiet,” he recounted.
Sidney revealed that the criticism was particularly hurtful as it questioned his creativity and intentions as an artist.
Managing himself without proper guidance also contributed to his difficulties, leading him to perform at events for free and neglecting his financial well-being.
It was only after a conversation with fellow artist Shatta Wale that Sidney realized the importance of valuing his work and not underselling himself.
“Shatta told me something one time when we met. He’s my unofficial finance manager. He gave me advice a couple of years ago, and I think it happened. We were doing shows for free because of ‘paddy paddy’; we were following the love. So, shows that we were supposed to charge money, but we don’t do it because we feel like their friends, and that was when Shatta told me to collect the money. Truly, it got to the point where, when I needed help from them, they said no. Then I realised Shatta was right.”
Now, Sidney has made a comeback with a new single titled ‘BBF,’ featuring rapper King Paluta.
He expressed his determination to stay away from politically charged songs and controversial topics, focusing instead on positivity and personal growth.
His message to fans and fellow artists is one of resilience and perseverance in the face of adversity. Sidney’s journey serves as a reminder to never give up and to use challenges as opportunities for self-improvement and renewal.