Shatta Wale has stirred fresh debate about influence within Ghana’s dancehall space, insisting his imprint runs deep among some of the genre’s biggest names.
Speaking during a TikTok live session on April 8, 2026, the outspoken artiste positioned himself as a foundational force behind how several performers approach their craft, particularly when it comes to lyrical delivery on stage. He pointed to figures like Stonebwoy and Iwan as part of a wider group he believes drew from his style.
Shatta Wale traced this influence back to his early days as Bandana, a period he says saw him experiment with and popularise freestyle-driven performances within the local dancehall scene.
“From Stonebwoy to Iwan, Epixode, Jupitar, and the rest, I taught them. That is why I always say when people compare Sarkodie to Jay-Z, they end up underrating Sarkodie unnecessarily,” he said.
He did not stop there. The musician also took aim at the streaming performance of some of his peers, including Samini, arguing that their numbers reflect what he considers weaker lyrical execution.
“You don’t know history, so keep quiet. That is why they don’t have numbers when it comes to streaming,” Shatta Wale further stated.
Watch his remarks below.
@officialwords1 This account is strictly don’t promote violence content. Hmmmmm#tiktokghana🇬🇭fyp #officialwords #fypviraltiktok🖤シ゚☆♡ #fypage #fyppppppppppppppppppppppp ♬ original sound – OffiCial WorDS@1👊🏿
