Ghanaian rapper Edem has called on industry players to give equal playing field to all artistes.
Edem has been in the news for his recent comments that he has been marginalized and underrated over the years because he hails from the Volta Region.
But Speaking to Giovani and Anita Erskine on Starr Drive on Wednesday, November 15, Edem explained that though he was underrated in the past, he doesn’t want the same to be done to up and coming rtistes.
“I opened up a conversation on the radio which I think is delicate and sensitive because somebody had to open up that kind of conversation for us to begin as a people to think and dialogue about it. I said I am underrated which means I feel music is not appreciated in the industry circles the way it should be and I said I have been marginalized because it’s in the past and that doesn’t mean that if I have been able to sail through, I should sit down and watch upcoming artistes go through the same thing”.
Edem added the perception has led to artists being paid lesser than they deserve.
“Because of this perception that these things create, people try to play into it on the side of taking advantage of it and you might walk into a business set up trying to close a deal and because of that perception they might want to offer you lesser than what you deserve, so we have to give everybody a level playing field so that the perception that makes people act that way is dispelled…. And this is not about attacking any personality it’s about systems, I’m talking stereotype perceptions built over the years”.
Edem over the weekend held Edemfest, an annual musical concert put together by him. Over 10,000 fans were in attendance.
Some of the artistes that performed were VVIP, Tinny, MzVee, Manifest, Gemini, Yaa Pono, Worlasi and Agbeshie.