Ghanaian music promoter Sadiq Assah, widely known as Sleeky, the CEO of Sleeky Promotions, recently sparked a heated debate on social media by claiming that Ghana’s Stonebwoy, the 2024 Telecel Ghana Music Awards winner, is a bigger artist compared to Jamaican musician Vybz Kartel.
This assertion came in response to a Facebook post by Shatta Wale, Stonebwoy’s fierce rival in the Ghanaian music scene.
Shatta Wale’s post, celebrating Vybz Kartel’s release from prison, read: “Because of Vybz Kartel I am going back on Twitter X.. The joy is too much for me 🤣🤣💪💪 #Gazaaaa!!!!!”
Sleeky, under this post, made a compelling argument based on the achievements of the two musicians.
He noted that while he has no issue with Shatta Wale and his fans celebrating Vybz Kartel’s release, he finds it unnecessary for them to rub it in the face of Stonebwoy’s supporters.
According to Sleeky, Vybz Kartel is currently not bigger than Stonebwoy.
Sleeky‘s claim is rooted in Stonebwoy’s recent accomplishments, including winning the prestigious Telecel Ghana Music Awards in 2024, which solidifies his status as one of Ghana’s leading artists.
He argued that Stonebwoy‘s consistent international presence, musical versatility, and recent accolades make him a more significant figure in the global music industry than Vybz Kartel.
The discussion around Vybz Kartel, formally known as Adidja Palmer, has been reignited following his release from prison.
The Jamaica Court of Appeal ordered Kartel and his three co-defendants to be freed after the ailing dancehall star spent years behind bars.
In a unanimous decision on Wednesday, the court decided against a retrial in the murder case of Clive “Lizard” Williams, whose body was never found.
The court reasoned that there was sufficient evidence to suggest that Kartel would not be able to complete a potentially longer sentence if a retrial were to occur, citing the “psychological and financial effects that it would have on the appellants,” particularly in light of Kartel’s health issues.
Vybz Kartel and his co-defendants have been incarcerated in a Jamaican prison since their arrests in 2011 and subsequent 2014 conviction for the murder of Clive “Lizard” Williams.
The court’s decision to free them has been a significant development in the dancehall community, bringing joy to many of Kartel’s fans worldwide.
