Reggie Rockstone, originating the 1990s revolutionary Ghanaian style of music called Hiplife, has noted that Stonebwoy’s Afro-Dancehall is not Hiplife.
He insinuated that Afro-Dancehall may have been influenced by Hiplife, however.
“That has nothing to do with Hiplife. That’s another fusion that he created. That’s not my road, I don’t know that [theme]. I know about the style.
“I’ve heard the style. I know what he did with that. But it doesn’t speak to the story of Hiplife. We’re talking about what he created, Afro-Dancehall.”
Reggie Rockstone
Rockstone acknowledged genres are not created in a vacuum but are influenced by old ones.
For instance, he recognized Hiphop as “the mother tree” from which came his Hiplife music, which broadly was a blend of Highlife and Hiphop.
“If we want to be truthful, most music styles borrow from everywhere. A little bit here, a little bit there. Calypso… Even Highlife itself. We would have never had Highlife without the diasporic influence. They all borrow.”
Reggie Rockstone
Though he argued that Afro-Dancehall is not Hiplife music, the rap icon respected the world over and commented on the use of Dancehall elements in Hiplife history especially in the 2000s.
“You see, rap in itself and Dancehall, what the Jamaicans deem chatting, you know, the whole style is non-conforming. You can translate Hiphop in so many forms. You can do Gospel rap… Rap is so flexible. You can [use it] to address issues… Nothing surprises me, thus.”
Reggie Rockstone
The serial entrepreneur further added what makes up a Ghanaian-friendly beat.
“So Yoggi Doggi and them, they might have been doing the Jamaican-style, Patois-driven vibration over a Highlife-type beat or Ghanaian-friendly beat. This was what Samini was very popular for.
“So when he did Linda, Linda is a perfect example, he was still doing his Jamaica theme [or] vibe on there but the music really relates to Ghanaians. So, yes, it can fall into the Hiplife category, easily.”
Reggie Rockstone
Reggae/Dancehall star Stonebwoy has taken issues with an article about 10 artists essential to Hiplife music which did not mention him.
Stonebwoy v Shatta Wale ‘Legendary Rivalry’
Hiplife originator, Reggie Rockstone commented about the rivalry between Reggae/Dancehall stars, Shatta Wale and Stonebwoy.
Rockstone said it would be hugely entertaining to see the two “mega-giants” have a music clash in the stadium as Shatta Wale has recently suggested, adding it must be civil, however.
He also asserted a 2024 Shatta Wale vs Stonebwoy event, should champion a socio-political cause instead of the 2020 version which was done purely for entertainment.
“As far as entertainment is concerned, this is the biggest thing since powdered fufu. Of course, this is going to be huge.
“The rivalry between those two is legendary, and years from now, when we’re old, we’re going to sit at drinking spots talking about this. Shouts to Stone, shouts to Shatta. These two are mega-giants.”
Reggie Rockstone
“I wish and I pray that they keep it on a level of sportsmanship and music,” the rap superstar added. “Now, in saying this, they already have [clashed] before courtesy of Asaase Radio.”
Reggie Rockstone underscored music expressions like Hiphop and Dancehall come from a culture of what they call sound clash or battling.
He revealed that it’s a very competitive art form, adding that no one should ever confuse it.
“It is nothing new to me. From Jamaica right down to the Bronx, you’ll always hear legendary stories of artists clashing,” the businessman said.
As to whether a battle will go beyond art to personal issues “is a different thing” altogether, he noted.
“They want to take it to the stadium, right? That’s a popular venue and it’s for the masses. So that’s very entertaining. Now what I would wish for them to do is to dedicate this to a cause.
“It could be for peaceful elections, poverty [alleviation]… We could take the proceeds and do something with it. They are two very powerful people so if they are coming together to do something like this, it must be for a greater cause. That’s my wisdom.”
Reggie Rockstone
On Saturday, September 12, 2020, over 40 songs between Stonebwoy and Shatta Wale were played at the maiden Asaase Sound Clash at the Mövenpick Ambassador Hotel in Accra.
