Ghanaian dancehall star Shatta Wale has revealed that his rise in the music industry was the result of years of dedication and self-development in Ghana, rather than formal training abroad.
Speaking during an interview on Asempa FM on Wednesday, March 11, the musician dismissed long-standing claims that he travelled to Jamaica during his early years to learn dancehall music.
Years of preparation
According to Shatta Wale, his breakthrough came after spending several years quietly studying music production and developing his skills while remaining in Ghana.
“I did not travel to Jamaica during my struggling days to learn dancehall. I spent about seven years in a room teaching myself music production and working hard until I finally broke through,” he said.
The artiste explained that his absence from the public music scene for nearly a decade was intentional, as he used the period to focus on understanding the technical and business aspects of the music industry.
Learning the business of music
He said he dedicated time to studying beat production, songwriting and the structure of the music business in order to prepare himself for long-term success.
“I took time to learn music production and carefully study the industry so I could understand how to move within it. Throughout that period, I was still in Ghana,” he added.
Addressing Jamaica rumours
Over the years, many fans believed Shatta Wale had travelled abroad to refine his dancehall style, particularly in Jamaica.
However, the musician said the speed at which he improved in his craft may have created the impression that he had received training overseas.
“The things I was learning and producing were coming so quickly that people assumed I must have travelled somewhere else to study,” he explained.
Self-taught through the internet
The award-winning artiste also disclosed that much of his training was self-taught, with the internet serving as his main learning resource.
“I stayed in a small room and taught myself how to produce beats. Whenever I did not understand something about music production, I went online to research it. Everything I know today, I learnt largely on my own with the help of the internet,” he said.
His comments offer insight into the discipline and persistence behind his career, highlighting how years of quiet preparation and determination helped shape his journey to becoming one of Ghana’s most influential dancehall musicians.
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