Entertainment of Tuesday, 5 August 2014

Source: Hitz FM

Okraku Mantey jabs Kenya for outburst over playing his old music

Programmes Coordinator of Hitz FM, Mark Okraku Mantey, has said that former hip-life artiste, Lord Kenya cannot instruct or prevent DJs from playing his secular music.

He was reacting to comments by Abraham Philip Akpor popularly known as Lord Kenya who cautioned radio presenters and DJs across the country to stop playing his hip-life songs which he describes as 'ungodly'.

Lord Kenya said once he has repented from his old lifestyle, anything “worldly” should not be associated with him because he is now a born again.

“They should stop playing the music – it’s my intellectual property and I have seen the light now so the DJs should stop enjoying my songs on air,” he noted.

Some DJs, including Bills Gborgli (Papa Bills) and Samuel Nartey (DJ Awana) of Adom FM and Hitz FM respectively, who spoke to Hitz FM, disagreed with Lord Kenya.

Speaking in an interview with Hitz FM, Mark Okraku Mantey said, ‘Sika Baa’ was produced by Zapp Mallet and himself (Mantey), and that, people have bought the songs over the years, and he has no right to tell them not to play it.

He said he owned 70% stake in Lord Kenya's first two albums.

He maintained that Lord Kenya, now a pastor, can’t say that someone shouldn’t play his secular songs.

Lord Kenya is noted for several popular hit songs including ‘Driver Susu Ko’, ‘Sika Baa’, ‘Okafuo Didi’, ‘Sika Mpo Nfaneho, and ‘Born Again’.

He has won several awards notable among them are ‘Artiste of the Year’, ‘Hiplife Artiste of the Year’, and ‘Hiplife Album of the Year’ at the Ghana Music Awards 2001, and ‘Best Ghanaian Rap Music Award ‘at the Anansekrom Festival in Canada 2000.