Hammer questions Charterhouse over failure to 'reward' Medikal despite 7 nominations

For an artiste, particularly a discovery like Medikal, to earn seven nominations at Vodafone Ghana Music Awards (VGMA) 2017 and walk home empty-handed on the night of the event is disappointing, astute sound engineer, Da’ Hammer has said.

The boss of The Last Two Music Group in an interview with Ghanaweb mentioned that it does not sit well with him that Medikal, having been nominated in Afropop Song of the Year, Hiphop Song of the Year, Hiplife/HipHop Artiste of the Year, Best Rapper of the Year, Best Collaboration of the Year, Best New Artiste of the Year and Artiste of the Year categories could not clinch a single award.

“I was quite disappointed in the fact that we nominated someone in seven categories and he came home empty-handed. I think it’s wrong. I think the nominations matter a lot because they send the signal that you did well the year under review. For instance, if Beyoncé is nominated in 5 categories at the Grammys, it’s a big deal because it sends a signal that Beyoncé is going away with at least three. You don’t nominate somebody 7 times and let them come home empty-handed,” he said.

“You don’t portray somebody as the darling of the night, the most promising artiste [only to disappoint him] because the optimism you approach a nomination is different from when you have been nominated for 7. You have been nominated 7 times, meaning I’m coming home with 4; on a bad day, I’m coming home with 1,” he added.

Hammer indicated that his comment does not suggest Medikal was robbed of an award but raising the hopes of an artiste with many nominations is not right.

According to him, the outcome of such events is able to dispirit artistes who may decide kill their interests in award schemes.

“The argument is not that they have cheated him. It’s because he was over nominated. If you had nominated him in three categories, he wouldn’t be that optimistic… That is wrong. That is ridicule. That is not good for the morale of the artiste. That is what radicalises them and makes them alienate the award scheme. They are all part of the music system and make the machine run,” he said.

Medikal after losing out has been trolled on various social media platforms but the AMG artiste appears to be unperturbed.

One Kalypo and two biscuits sef man no win ???? so why all these calls for interviews? Eno be winners dem for call? Bokoor de3 ?

— DiSTURBATiON (@AmgMedikal) April 10, 2017

And ow, my fans should stop disrespecting fancy Gadam.He was awarded cuz he deserved it.Please support him like you support me.Disturb ! ??

— DiSTURBATiON (@AmgMedikal) April 11, 2017