My diss track at Dremo was not in defence of Sarkodie, he can fight his own battles - Lyrical Joe

Ghanaian rapper Lyrical Joe has spoken out about his involvement in the ongoing rap feud that caught the attention of rap enthusiasts both in Ghana and Nigeria.

Earlier in May 2024, Sarkodie released a song titled 'Brag,' which sparked a rap battle between Ghana and Nigeria.

In the song, coming off his mixtape, 'The Championship,' Sarkodie name-dropped the Nigerian stars Davido, Wizkid, and Burna Boy.

Following the song's release, Davido supported his artiste Dremo to counter Sarkodie's claims.

However, Sarkodie dismissed Dremo's response, prompting several Ghanaian rappers to defend Sarkodie and challenge Dremo.

Lyrical Joe's '1960' reply, referencing Nigeria's year of independence, along with tracks from Don Itchi, Wan Nana, Phrimpong, and CJ Biggerman, contributed to a massive lyrical showdown.

While many expected Lyrical Joe to release another track at Dremo, he did not, leading some people to assume that he had been ordered to stop.

However, in an interview with TV3, Lyrical Joe clarified that his decision not to release another diss track was not prompted by any external influence or call for a ceasefire.

He pointed out that his intervention was not about defending fellow Ghanaian rapper Sarkodie, but about advocating for the broader rap dialogue in Ghana.

"No one contacted me to cease fire or anything. It had more to do with the fanbase on and off social media.

"He (Sarkodie) is a rapper who can stand his own ground. I only came in because it had to do with the rap dialogue in Ghana," he said.

He stated that Sarkodie is fully capable of handling his battles but felt compelled to engage Dremo on behalf of the rap industry in the country.

Lyrical Joe also praised Sarkodie's role in reinvigorating the rap scene in Ghana and reiterated that his [Sarkodie] actions were in support of the entire genre, not just one individual.

"He's one of the people who is energising the rap scene too as well. I stepped in to represent the entire rap genre. Not that I'm fighting Sarkodie’s fight,' Joe said.

ID/BB