Blakk Rasta says his criticism of Charter House helped improve the VGMA

The controversial and hard-hitting reggae dub poet, Blakk Rasta has described his victory at the 2012 Vodafone Ghana Music Awards as long overdue because Jah had already ordained it, and there was little Man could do. Blakk Rasta picked up the Best Reggae Song Award at last Saturday’s ceremony.

Blakk Rasta who hinted that he wasn’t in the mood to attend Saturday’s ceremony but after observing his Rastafarian Sabbath which ended Saturday night, he was ordered by Jah to move and this, he did with no hesitation. He comments: “The organizers could not have done otherwise as everything was signed and sealed.”

Blakk Rasta said he had cut all ties with the organizers of the awards after he brutally criticized them in 2008 for being ‘cruel’ and ‘unprofessional’. This criticism earned him a ban which lasted three years. The song in question was his hugely successful hit, ‘Barack Obama’. He later was invited to dine with the American president when he visited the country in 2009.The song and dinner shot Blakk Rasta into instant fame to the point he was featured in The New York Times, CNN, Al-jazeera etc

“I speak my mind after convincing myself I need to. I work for Jah and not for awards. If the awards come, they are just embellishments or decoratives and we give Jah the glory. I never regretted the ban since I only aired critical concerns at the time which practically helped the organizers better their act in the long run. Probably, out of anger, a few more unwarranted utterances seeped out. But, in all things, to Jah be the glory…I am glad to be back”.

“I initially did not submit any entry for the awards. The fans and industry players trooped to charterhouse offices with nominations for me. I was told by the organizers the ban was over so they felt I deserved a nomination for the category as several nominations had come my way.”

Blakk Rasta said his first reaction was to ask for an apology for the undeserved three-year ban but he advised against it, as he agreed both sides, partly shared in the blunder.

Asked if he thinks his criticism of charterhouse earned him the award, he said it was not possible since his song ‘Miss Right’ was well recorded, technically and melodically superior and, well-circulated on TV and radio.

He put up the first-ever reggae tour for this album which saw him visiting seven out of the ten regions of Ghana promoting the work by way of concerts supported by rlg. According to Blakk Rasta, the song ‘Miss Right’ is very popular around the country and beyond as it also came with a world-class video done by Phamous Philms which even got nominated for best reggae video at the 4syte music video awards.

“Winning the award is a victory for reggae music,” observes Blakk Rasta.”It will be a big stepping stone to the world as I am on the verge of unleashing on the world my new African brand of reggae called, Moonsplash…To Jah be the glory.”