Are the camps of Samini and R2Bees denying a simmering feud?

There are growing reports of a beef between dancehall artiste, Samini and Tema-based music group, R2Bees, made up of Faisal Hakeem (Paedae da Pralem) and Rashid Mugeez (Mugeez).

The reports gained currency after Nigerian music star Wizkid, during last Saturday’s Ghana Meets Naija concert at the Accra International Conference Centre, refused to perform with Samini.

According sources, Wizkid refused to join Samini perform their hit song Time Bomb due to the beef between Samini and R2Bees. The Nigerian is said to have taken that stance in solidarity with R2Bees.

Wizkid and Samini were lined up as the last acts for the show, and according to the show’s itinerary, Wizkid was supposed to usher Samini on to the stage with Time Bomb.

To the disappointment of many, that never happened. Many were disappointed because it was the first time the two artistes were going to perform that song together on stage.

It is alleged that Kwabena Anokye Adisi popularly known as Bola Ray, CEO of Empire Entertainment, organizers of the concert, even went back stage to talk to Wizkid and his manager about it but they refused to perform with Samini.

Sources close to Empire Entertainment explained to Myjoyonline.com that while they cannot confirm if there is a row between Samini and R2Bees, Wizkid on the night turned down the planned performance with Samini.

No beef

When Myjoyonline.com contacted Tony Pun, Manager of Samini, he stressed that there was no beef between the two artistes and that, although he has heard the reports, “Wizkid was with Samini and Timaya at the artistes room [and] they were all cracking jokes and laughing,” on the night of the Ghana Meets Naija concert.

Asked why the two artistes did not perform their hit song Time Bomb on the night, Tony explained that, it was “because both artistes had their stage act and entry. Bola Ray [and his team] changed the running order the last minute…which I didn’t know of.”

A source close R2Bees revealed to Myjoyonline.com that Wizkid had intended not to perform at the concert when he discovered that the Tema-based group was no longer on the bill as they were away in the US for the BET Awards.

Asked if Wizkid did not know that R2Bees had been nominated for the Black Entertainment Television (BET) Awards and, therefore, will not be able to perform at the Ghana Meets Naija concert which also came off on June 29, the source said Bola Ray signed most of the acts for the show before the BET Awards nominees were announced.

The source said there is no beef between the two artistes and that Wizkid said he was tired after performing 13 songs at the concert and therefore could not perform with Samini.

Myjoyonline.com checks on Wizkid’s twitter handle revealed this post by The Matter singer: “Performed 13 songs tonight!! The people went crazy! Hits after hits! Raaaaaah!!!!”

All is not well between R2Bees and Samini

R2Bees: Faisal Hakeem (Paedae da Pralem) and Rashid Mugeez (Mugeez)

A third party, who wants to remain anonymous and also knows the ins and outs of the two camps told Myjoyonline.com that although both parties are denying the existence of bad blood between the singers, all is not well.

The source said the feud between Samini and R2Bees started in November 2012 when Sarkodie and R2Bees, who were billed to perform at the Malta Guinness sponsored Top of the World Celebration concert threatened to pull out of the show on allegations that the money offered by Charter House, organizers of the concert, was not enough.

It was reported that Sarkodie and R2Bees had agreed to a performance fee of US$20,000 and US$10,000 but later reviewed the figure when they heard that US$200,000 performance fee was paid to Nigerian music group P-Square.

Although R2Bees pulled out of that show, Sarkodie went ahead to perform at the concert. Samini was a last minute call up to fill the void left by R2Bees.

The source explained that R2Bees were particularly disappointed that Samini did not turn down the offer considering the kind of ‘friendship’ that existed between them, especially between Samini and Paedae.

The Myjoyonline.com source reveled that the beef has hampered attempts by Samini to record a video for the Time Bomb hit song which is currently receiving heavy rotations across the country. The song was recorded shortly before the Top of the World Celebration issue.

The source called on industry professionals to address the issue as soon as possible as it might have dire consciences on the unity of Ghanaian and Nigerian music industries.

myjoyonline