Dancehall Artiste, not Shatta Wale born Charles Nii Armah Mensah says BET is not for Reggae Artistes and therefore that should not be Stonebwoy’s focus.
He was speaking on Accra-based UTV’s United Showbiz when he made this claim.
To him, Reggae and Dancehall Artistes should be looking at winning International Reggae and World Music Awards – IRAWMA because that’s representative of what they do and not BET.
BET according to Shatta Wale honours R&B, rappers and other categories of artistes so he will not as a Dancehall artiste worry himself to work and focus on winning BET.
“We are all focused on BET, Artiste of the Year. If you’re a big artiste you have to represent the country at BET. Let me just say this and I know maybe Stonebwoy won’t like it. Stonebwoy should be awarded at IRAWMA not BET because BET is for like R&B, Hip hop, Rappers so If Sarkodie goes to BET it’s perfect for me but when I see people competing me and Stonebwoy using BET, I go like so all the recognition I’ve received from Jamaica in my field and I believe people need to talk about it but the education is not in the system too much for us to understand that Shatta is a Dancehall artiste and Sarkodie is a hip hop artiste so BET, something people in America organize should be given to R&B .”
“I’m saying this because VGMA Nigerians don’t see VGMA. You see let me tell you something, maybe because you’re not in that world that I’m that’s why you wouldn’t understand. I’m saying that the IRAWMA is one of the biggest schemes because they started since the days of Bob Marley and they have that lineage till today. So I won’t say BET is nothing to IRAWMA but I also want to say that there are some awards you’ve closed your eyes to that’s the reason why when I’m talking about it you won’t see it as precious,” he added.
Speaking on why he does not work with the mindset that he needs to win a BET at all cost, the Shatta Movement boss said “What is my stand for BET awards? Let me tell you something, we’re always trying to miseducate the artiste. I’m not that artiste who is into BET. That’s what I’m telling you that I’m not that artiste who wants to win BET and make it seem I’ve won some big awards. If Ghanaians will be truthful and say Shatta Wale this year you work hard so go for it perfect.”
