Samini urges creatives to be constructive in handling industry beefs

Reggae/Dancehall icon Samini has advised student musicians and rising creatives to remain composed and constructive when engaging in musical rivalries.

Speaking during an English class (ENGL 314) session at the New N Block of the University of Ghana on 24th June, 2025, the award-winning artist shared valuable insights on how to navigate conflicts in the entertainment industry without resorting to vulgar language or personal attacks.

Drawing from personal experience, Samini recounted his much-publicised 2013 feud with Shatta Wale. Rather than retaliating with insults, he said he chose a more strategic route by releasing his track “Scatta Badmind,” a move that later earned him the Reggae/Dancehall Song of the Year.

“You have to know when to respond, so that you can make the best out of it. So I just stuck to my guns and chilled until around 2013, when he got loud and caught the attention of people who were interested in that type of energy. Then, he tried another approach, and that’s when I dropped the ‘Scatta Badmind’. That was my first official response to him. But, I am speaking on this case because of being constructive as against being vulgar.

“So his attack on me had all sorts of words in there, but my response was more constructive and ended up getting Raggae/Dancehall song of the year. But it was a diss track. So how a diss track got an award tells you how constructive and controlled you have to be so that even when you are pressed the hardest, your response will not be based on emotions but on the right response…” Samini explained.

He emphasised that discipline and tact not only preserve one’s brand but also garner respect from both fans and industry stakeholders. Samini’s message comes at a time when online clashes and lyrical beefs are becoming increasingly common among young artists.

His interaction left students inspired, as many viewed the class as more than just an academic session, but a masterclass in music industry ethics and longevity.

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Story by Kelvin B. Annor-Yeboah | univers.ug.edu.gh

Edited by Kelvin B. Annor-Yeboah