Ghanaian rapper Medikal has weighed in on Black Sherif clinching the Artiste of the Year title at the 2026 Telecel Ghana Music Awards, insisting the outcome did not catch him off guard because he believes he contributed to the foundation of the singer’s rise.
Speaking on Okay FM in a discussion with Nana Romeo, Medikal reflected on what he sees as a creative overlap between his own sound and the storytelling style that defines Black Sherif’s music. He suggested that the younger artiste had been drawn to his work well before breaking into the mainstream.
He also revisited a throwback moment from Black Sherif’s early days, pointing to an old video where the then-underground act had expressed a desire to work with him.
“I no see the video when he did it. I saw it after he came into the limelight. He wanted a collaboration, and I mean Blacko being a fan of my music is not far fetched, he’s also saying the same thing I’m saying in my music, so I’m happy he won the award,” Medikal said in a mix of pidgin and English.
He clarified that his remarks were not intended to downplay Black Sherif’s achievement, but to underline what he considers his influence on the artiste’s artistic growth and direction over the years.
Having also been nominated in the Artiste of the Year category, Medikal said he takes pride in Black Sherif’s success, describing it as a reflection of inspiration passing from one generation of musicians to another.
He further applauded younger artistes for being open about the veterans who shaped their sound. For him, the evolution of new talents drawing from established names is something to celebrate, reinforcing his view that Black Sherif’s win was “not far-fetched.”
“Black Sherif used to jam to my music and there was a video where he even wanted a feature from me. He winning the AOTY is more like I inspired him so it’s a win for me to” ~ Medikal
— Jun☥or🥷 (@PeeCeetheboss) May 15, 2026
Your favorite’s favorite is Medikal! pic.twitter.com/gd3e2ftpvo
