Ghanaian pundit and artiste manager Nana Poku Ashis has praised Sarkodie for his decision to address the issue of exploitation of artists by record labels through his music.

In an interview with Ghanaweb, Ashis expressed his appreciation for Sarkodie’s efforts in shedding light on the challenges and risks faced by artists in their dealings with record companies.

“It was a good call for Sarkodie to educate the younger ones because he has been there, done that, and he knows what risks the younger ones start to take.

“He’s probably gone into deals that didn’t go well with him. So when he’s talking from that angle, I think it’s very important for the younger ones to listen to what he was saying,” Ashis remarked.

He reiterated Sarkodie’s caution about being enticed by the short-term perks provided by record labels, like cash, vehicles, and properties, which may result in enduring limitations.

“You probably would be thinking, ‘Oh, they’re giving me the money. They’ve given me a car. They’ve given me a house. You might be locked for a very long time,” Ashis cautioned.

Ashis also recommended that artists thoroughly consider their financial capabilities, aspirations, and the trajectory they intend to follow in their careers before committing to a record label.

“You need to look at your financial power. You need to look at the goals you have set for yourself. You need to look at where you are going. And if you feel that you’re strong enough to handle the little that will come your way, to become a bigger person, that you can branch off and then take everything, becoming a win-win situation for you, that’s okay. Go ahead,” he advised.

However, Ashis clarified that record labels are not inherently bad, describing them as “necessary evils” in the music industry, a statement that has added a new conversation to entertainment news in Ghana.

In the 2024 edition of the Hennessy Cypher, Ghanaian rapper Sarkodie skillfully incorporated lyrics that shed light on the exploitation of musicians by record labels.

He emphasized that many artists in Ghana have unfortunately become victims of unscrupulous record label owners, resulting in being locked up in cages.

Sarkodie shared his personal experience of evading a similar fate by recounting an incident where he was handed a daunting 1000-page document to sign.

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