Rapper Kwesi Arthur has opened up about the early stages of his career, revealing that he signed a record deal he did not fully understand at the time, during a period when he was still finding his footing in the industry.
His comments come after recent disagreements with his former management over contractual matters.
Speaking in an interview with UK-based Wonderland Magazine, the Ghanaian artiste said one of the biggest changes he would like to see in the music business is greater fairness for creatives across the board.
Kwesi Arthur explained that he entered into an agreement in his younger years without proper legal support or a full grasp of the terms involved.
He now wants that experience to serve as a warning to others navigating the industry, stressing the importance of proper guidance before signing any contract.
“Just fairness in the music industry. Unfortunately, I signed a deal when I was young and hungry and I didn’t really understand the terms. I didn’t have legal counsel or the right legal advice.
“I want to use my experience as a lesson for other artists who are younger than me, and even older too, to just be aware and get the right guidance before they put their name on paper. I want to advocate for fairness for artists in every creative industry,” he said.
Beyond the contract discussion, the 2018 nominee for the Viewers’ Choice: Best New International Act at the BET Awards also reflected on his journey as an independent artiste and how it has shaped his creative output.
According to him, working independently has been both liberating and demanding, but it has ultimately allowed him more control over his music and direction.
“Oh, it feels amazing. Even though it gets challenging sometimes because we’re doing a lot of things in-house, it’s very freeing too. I can really do what I want, and I love the freedom in that. I feel like I’ve done innovative things through my independence.
“It has allowed me to explore different platforms and reach people in ways that I don’t think I would’ve been able to do under a traditional label. It has allowed me to just completely come into myself, on my own terms,” Kwesi Arthur indicated.
