Ghanaian dancehall artist Shatta Wale has debunked long-standing rumors that he traveled to Jamaica to master his craft, revealing instead that his career was forged through seven years of self-imposed isolation and technical study in Ghana.
Speaking in an interview on Asempa FM on Wednesday, March 11, the musician addressed the misconceptions surrounding his early career and his sudden “re-emergence” in the music industry.
Shatta Wale explained that his decade-long absence from the spotlight was a calculated move designed to master the technical side of the business, including beat-making and industry maneuvers.
“I didn’t travel to Jamaica in my struggling days to learn dancehall. I was in the room for seven years learning music production and working hard to blow,” he stated.
Despite public speculation that his authentic sound was acquired abroad, the artist maintained that his entire developmental phase took place locally. He attributed his rapid improvement to personal discipline and the availability of digital tools.
“I took time to learn music production and carefully study the music industry and see how to maneuver. So I was still in Ghana,” he added.
When questioned on why many believed he had moved to Jamaica, Shatta Wale suggested that the quality of his work led to the confusion. “Yeah, you know, what I was learning was so fast that people thought that I traveled elsewhere to learn,” he noted.
The “Kakai” hitmaker further detailed his process, emphasizing that his skills were entirely self-taught via the internet.
“I was in a small room. I learned the beats all by myself, on my own, on the internet. Anytime I didn’t understand anything about music production, I went online to study. I learnt everything on my own with the help of the internet,” he said.
The artist’s remarks highlight a journey defined by patience and digital literacy, reframing his rise to stardom as a product of behind-the-scenes technical mastery rather than external travel.