Samini reveals his first paycheck

Dancehall artiste, Samini has disclosed that the first amount he received in his music career was 50,000 old Ghana cedis, an equivalent of GHC5 today.

He told KMJ on Hitz FM’s Daybreak Hitz, Wednesday that he was elated when given the amount because he could afford beer for the first time, adding that he gave his mother part of the money.

“I remember the first time I was paid, I got GHC 5 which was fifty thousand. I had gone to check on somebody concerning a recording we had done on one of our early works. I was leaving his office and for the first time, he gave me something. I appreciated it so much that I went home and gave some to my mum. For the first time, I could buy my own beer,” he said.

Sharing his success story, Samini who started music from a humble beginning stated that he realized he had made it in music after he saw himself in Mary Agyapong’s ‘Twe ben me’ music video.

He recounted rehearsing whenever his father was away from home because the father wanted him to get formal education. According to Samini, after his father saw the video on television, he never complained about his decision to do music.

“I wouldn’t blame him because it’s just the norm here. People think most people that go into entertainment do not come out right. Daddy would want you to finish school. I did it for him and now I have realized I did it for myself as well. When I realized my daddy had heard me and didn’t think I was crazy, I knew it was on. I had the vim to tell him I had rehearsal and needed money for transportation. Few months later, we started elevating,” he said.

Samini, formerly Batman released his first studio album Dankwasere in 2004. Currently, he boasts of six albums [Samini, Dagaati, CEO, Next Page and Breaking News] with numerous hits.

He has won several awards including Best African Act at the 2006 MOBO Awards, Best Performer at 2009 MTV Africa Music Video Awards, Headies Best African Act 2010, Most Gifted Reggae Dancehall Video Artist at 2011 Channel O Music Video Awards and Album of the Year at 2011 Ghana Music Awards.