The argument over whether Reggie Rockstone is indeed the originator of the local rap industry known as HIPLIFE has always been an ongoing thing.
Former member of defunct group, Nananom and controversial musician, Berima Sidney who also happens to be the cousin of Reggie Rockstone, has hit hard at the self-acclaimed originator of hiplife by stating that, Reggie did not originate or create the genre.
According to Sidney who was speaking in with the Graphic Showbiz in a history clarification interview, indicated that before Reggie Rockstone came unto the scene in 1994, there were other groups and solo acts like Azigiza Jnr., General Marcus, Taboo and the Native Funk Lords which had Sidney himself and Eddie Blay as members who were already rapping and making waves.
He indicated that the only thing Reggie can be credited with is the release of a local rap album which none of them had done at that time.
“Yes, the history of hiplife has been distorted and there are many people, especially the new generation, who have been misled for many years. Some of us have been very quiet for long and it’s time to straighten some of these crooked stories for the benefit of all.
Before Reggie came down to Ghana, there were groups such as the Native Funk Lords (NFL) which had Eddy Blay Jnr and myself as members and the Taboo group. Azigiza Jnr. and the likes of General Marcus were all doing rap music before Reggie came down in 1994 during the annual Panafest.
It took Reggie two years to release his Maka Maka album in 1996 which featured Nananom’s “Panyin Na Obenye bi da”. The only good thing Reggie did was to record an album which none of us had done and that is where the whole trouble started.
I want Reggie to come out and tell the whole of Ghana how the name Hiplife came about. Was he the originator? The evidence is even there for all to testify. Anyone who doubts what I’m saying can get a copy of the Maka Maka album. All the songs were strictly rap or hiphop or ragga and not hiplife.
Hiplife was just a term we used to brand Ghana’s kind of music and if we say hiplife is a blend of highlife and hiphop, then Reggie can’t take the credit he is enjoying now. Reggie even says that after his generation came Obrafour but there were many groups and artistes before Obrafour even came on the scene.
After the generation of Nananom and Reggie, came Akyeame and then the likes of Ex-Doe and Lord Kenya came. Obrafour belonged to a different generation and these are some of the facts being distorted today,” he stated.
Reggie Rockstone who was contacted by Showbiz after the claim by Sidney, stated that he is very surprised that his own cousin will do this to him. He further expressed his disappointed in Sidney for making those comments. He however indicated that he wouldn’t trade words with him.
“I don’t know where this is coming from but I don’t think I have ever said I invented rap music in Ghana. Yes others were already doing rap but I was the first to rap in Twi and the first time Hiplife was coined was in my song, Tsooboi. Hiplife can either be rapping in Twi or rapping in English over a highlife beat, that is the definition.
There is so much evidence and those who want the truth can search for it. I don’t need to prove to anyone because this is something I worked hard for and he, Sidney, is a beneficiary.
I feel very disappointed especially because this is coming from my own cousin who was featured on my first album. I don’t need to trade words with him in public over something that I had worked for all these years. Ghanaians must be the judge,” he stated.