Keeny Ice, one of Volta Region topmost artistes has cited language barrier as one of the major challenges of the music industry in Ghana.
While speaking to Doreen Avio and DJ Slim on Daybreak Hitz, he said he once took his song to a radio station and they told him they wouldn’t play it because the lyrics was in Ewe.
“I went to a radio station and somebody told me ‘we can’t play an Ewe song. I don’t understand what you say in the song’,” he recounted.
He further explained that songs in languages that are not so popular usually have challenges in breaking through because of people’s misconception about the universality of music.
“When the Twi or Fante or Akan is 70%, and they dominate the industry, how can a Dagbani or Ewe person fight his way into it?”, he asked.
Keeny Ice noted that the type of songs he does determine the language uses. Although an Ewe, he does not always do songs in his native language. He said he has songs that have no Ewe words.
The ‘Steeze’ hit maker also touched on the reason most rappers in Ghana have drifted to singing in recent times.
“Headless YouTuber (Kula) stopped doing music because when he was rapping he only got compliments for his rap skills but when there are deals that involve money, it is the afrobeat artistes and those that do danceable music that get them.
Keeny Ice said that if King Paluta had continued to do his songs in rap, he would not have chalked the success he is enjoying.
“Imagine if Dr Bawumia wanted to give some deal with King Paluta, he wouldn’t do it if Paluta was still rapping,” he said.
He rather noted that he has adopted the strategy where he drops commercial songs and chips in the hardcore rap once in a while.
“I have even done electronic dance music before,” he added.
According to Keeny, when event organisers are putting together shows, they put more premium on the singers.
“Even if they will put you on a show, if they give the singers 100,000 cedis maybe you will take 15,000 cedis.
Keeny Ice has songs such as ‘Deja Vu’, ‘Sound Check’, ‘My Way’, ‘Hedze’, ‘Steeze’, ‘Aya’, among others.
His new EP ‘Ice Cold’ is due for release on May 30, 2025.
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