Shatta Wale – Beyoncé Collaboration: Big Win For Ghana Music

Shatta Wale has become the cynosure of all eyes and the most talked-about African Ghanaian artiste after his collaboration with American music superstar Beyoncé on her ‘Black is King’ music project.

Beyonce featured the Dancehall King on a song titled ‘Already’, and the official music video which was released on Friday, July 31, 2020, in a matter of hours, had over 4 million views on YouTube.

The single, which forms part of The Lion King: The Gift album, is featured in Beyoncé’s Black is King visual album.

The renowned singer also out doored the deluxe edition of the album which includes the addition of ‘Black Parade’ and a remix ‘Find Your Way Back’ from Melo-x.

In the video, Beyoncé is seen in a number of locations, moving from outdoor nature scenes where she appears adorned in body paint in a tree, to a warehouse where she’s flanked by dancers.

It also featured scenes of dancers from around the world. Parts of the video appeared to have been shot in Ghana with some scenes capturing the red paint of the Accra Metropolitan Assembly which is used to warn persons about the construction of illegal structures.

Shatta Wale made his first appearance in the over four -minute clip shortly after the first minute. He delivers his verse while seated on a throne, then a horse and later alongside Beyoncé.

Appreciation

Shortly after the premiere, Shatta Wale took to Twitter to express his appreciation to Queen Beyonce for her belief in his talent.

“Thank you My Queen for believing in my talent and giving me a platform to share my good message to the world …God will forever bless you,” he tweeted.

Music lovers in Ghana who were on long edge for the much-anticipated video received the new visuals with open arms with many reinforcing the Dancehall King status of collaborator, Shatta Wale.

The Lion King: The Gift was the soundtrack for 2019’s The Lion King remake and featured appearances from Jay-Z, Blue Ivy Carter, Kendrick Lamar, Childish Gambino, Pharrell Williams, Wizkid, Jessie Reyez, Mr Eazi, Tierra Whack, 070 Shake,  Burna Boy, and others.

Big Win

Rapper Sarkodie hours after the release of the video took to Twitter to describe the video as a “BIG MOMENT” for Ghana.

In the days leading up to the release of the video, Sarkodie was trolled on social media for being unable to land such a huge collaboration.

But, his latest Tweet indicates that he is undaunted by what the trolls have to say.

Sarkodie joined the likes of Kwaw Kese, Yaa Pono, D Black, Kofi Kinaata among others who praised Shatta Wale for his feat.

In a Tweet before the release of the video, Kwaw said he was really proud of what Shatta has achieved.

He posted: “I must confess that I’m really proud of Shatta no matter what. Nigga came in the game and changed so much stuff . Bless you man”.

Songwriter and singer Kofi Kinaata born Martin King Arthur in an interview on United Showbiz Saturday evening said other artistes in the country have now gotten the opportunity to make it big and move their careers to the next level.

“The project is very big and we are proud of Shatta Wale and his breakthrough. This project shows some big guys are paving the way for us to make it through easily in our career” he said.

Ghana Music Moves Higher

Sarkodie had earlier disclosed he was able to seal a deal he had been following abroad with the help of Beyoncé’s ‘Already’ song featuring Shatta Wale.

According to him then, the investors, at the time, did not believe much in Afrobeat hence they were hesitant to work with him.

However, after Beyoncé released ‘The Lion King; the Gift’ album, in July 2019, which had sampled Afrobeats tunes, featured Afrobeats artistes, including Mr Eazi and Burna Boy, and then had ‘Already’, an Afrobeat beat tune, making waves, it was easy for them to sign the deal.

The rapper said on the Dentaa Show that when ‘The Lion King; The Gift’ album was released, “I just didn’t see Shatta Wale winning…because that move right there got me through that contract.”