Does Mark Okraku Mantey ‘Hate’ Sarkodie? “I was Only Expressing Surprise At His Lyrics”, Mark cries

• Posted on March 21, 2012
• by Nana Kwesi Coomson
• 2 Comments

After the disqualification of the popular song from the camp of R2Bees which featured the tongue twisting demon, Sarkodie and Nana Boro, ‘Ajei’ was ticked by lovers of the song as award winning one which was fit to contest the categories of ‘Best Collaboration of the Year’ and ‘Popular Song of the Year’. Unluckily for those who wanted to end their joy in the song with the climax of awards from Vodafone, they were all forced to shout ‘AJEIIIIIII!’

Mark Okraku Mantey, the astute showbiz producer, who is known for his exceptional judging prowess on the popular reality show, ‘Mentor’ was tagged by Sarkodie fans as a ‘hater’ after his ‘Mentor-judgment’ on the rapperholic’s (Sarkodie) lyrics in the song (Ajei). Insults was the least rain on his personality as others went to the extent of cursing him for his ‘misquoted’ (that is what Mark says) judgment on Sarkodie’s lyrics in the ‘Ajei’ song as explicit. Fans of Sarkodie was of the view that, Paedae, a co-owner of the song used explicit words in the song, as well as Nana Boro who was also featured by the duo so why did Mark only stressed on Sarkodie’s.

The ‘plain-plain’ Mark Okraku Mantey who from Mentor is known all across Ghana as one who does not galvanize his judgment so far as he believes is the truth and fact, cried out that he was misquoted. On GMA Diaries which is hosted on GH ONE, the pre discussion of the Vodafone Ghana Music Awards, Mark was asked whether “he still stand by the fact that Sarkodie did cause R2Bees for the disqualification of Ajei?” “Surprisingly, the person who should even quote me is Nii Aryee because I said it on Nii Aryee’s show. I actually said that surprisingly, Sarkodie who is not known for such lyrics had to go on somebody’s song and perform like this” Mark retorted. He further added that if a company goes bankrupt, it is not the workers who will be blamed but the CEO of that company so he actually blame R2Bees for allowing that on their song. Clarifying that, whether he did not pay attention to Nana Boro’s explicitness, Mark said Ghanaians do not know Sarkodie for such lyrics and that, his deviation from his usual on-point lyrics made him mark Sarkodie’s lyrics instead of the entire song. He made it known that, he is not saying such lyrics should not be in songs but that would not be endorsed by the board for awarding such songs.

Like a popular parlance in Ghana goes, “It is who loves you who criticize you often to put you on your toes”. Is Mark, who has already been tagged by all Sarkodie fans as a ‘hater’ is in one way or the other helping in Sarkodie’s career as far as his constructive and objective criticisms are concerned? He has made it known that; he was only expressing surprise at the Temarappermiasis patient’s lyrics, something he is not known for and that people should bring down the index finger point on him as a Sarkodie ‘hater’.

There have been scads of songs which have been disqualified from the award mainly because of the lyric contents of the songs. This endeavour is applausive as music is said to feed the soul. The souls of Ghanaians therefore need to be uplifted by songsters instead of corrupted.

Author: Nana Kwesi Coomson www.233times.net