Why I don’t answer calls, messages — Sarkodie

Ghanaian rapper Sarkodie has explained his approach to calls and messages from fellow musicians following complaints from artistes who claim he often fails to respond to their attempts to reach him.

Musicians, including Samini, Edem, Kofi Mole and Ras Kuuku, have reportedly raised concerns about their experiences with the award-winning rapper, prompting questions about whether he deliberately avoids communicating with his colleagues.

In a recent interview with media personality Serwaa Amihere, Sarkodie acknowledged that many people got through to him but explained that he preferred meeting people in person to spending long hours on the phone.

“A lot of people get through to me. What I don’t do is stay on the phone. That’s what I don’t do. So, I like to schedule days, and we meet because I like when we meet,” he stated.

When asked whether he intentionally refused to answer calls, Sarkodie said he was aware of the narratives surrounding his relationships with fellow musicians. He, however, stopped short of dismissing their complaints, acknowledging that he could not simply insist that all those who had expressed disappointment were wrong.

The discussion also touched on his longstanding relationship with Edem, with whom he worked on the song “You Dey Craze”. Sarkodie explained that his expectations of others could sometimes influence how he viewed their actions, even though he recognised that people approached relationships differently.

“Moving from individuals, I think my problem is because I treat everything based on how I think I would treat it, which is the wrong thing to do,” he admitted.

He stressed that he did not usually hold grudges against people simply because they were unable to do something for him.

Using his annual Rapperholic concert as an example, Sarkodie explained that if he invited a colleague who could not attend, he would not necessarily take offence, regardless of whether the person’s excuse made sense to him.

“I don’t have one person that my issue is because he wasn’t able to do something for me. The only issues I have is when you do something to me,” he stated.

According to him, what could damage a relationship was not someone’s inability to meet a request but actions such as speaking negatively about him behind his back.

Sarkodie also addressed perceptions that he was being insincere by continuing to associate and work with people who might have criticised him. He maintained that personal opinions and musical preferences should not automatically create problems between people.

To explain his position, he recounted an encounter with a fellow Ghanaian musician who appeared uncomfortable while they were on the set of a music video. The artiste later approached him privately to apologise for something he had previously said about him.

Although Sarkodie remembered the comment, he explained that he did not consider it sufficient reason to hold a grudge against the musician.

He further pointed out that people were entitled to their musical preferences, even when those preferences did not favour him.

“I’m pretty sure I have family members who might not necessarily find my music. They appreciate I am Sarkodie, you are my family member, but you don’t have to force them to like the songs,” he explained.

He maintained that he would only take issue with someone when their actions gave him a genuine reason to be upset, rather than simply because they held a different opinion about him or his music.