User:KOBY GHANA/sandbox

Charles Nii Armah Mensah Jr. was born in Accra, Ghana at the Police Hospital on October 17, 1984. The son of a couple from Accra and the Volta Region of Ghana, his father is Charles Nii Armah Mensah Sr, a politician, businessman and legal practitioner. Shatta Wale attended Seven Great Princes Academy at Dansoman, a suburb in Accra, where he demonstrated an affinity for arts and acted in a popular Akan drama series, By the Fireside, at the National Theatre of Ghana.[9] Growing up, he lived with his family in Laterbiokorshie, Dansoman and then later Korle Gonno during his formative years. In a Facebook live video, Wale stated that he did not enjoy motherly love and care at the early stages of his life because a pastor caused a separation between his parents which made him remain under his father's care and later ending up on the streets.[10] His mother is Elsie Evelyn Avemegah.

As a child, his father introduced him to the Jamaican culture by playing Reggae records in the house and also continuously traveling with him to the UK to meet his relatives who were half Jamaicans. These exposures made him develop love for music at a tender age. His intense passion to do music made him lose interest in schooling but his father forced him to complete his high school education later in the Volta Region of Ghana which had initially kicked off at the Winneba Secondary School in the Central Region of Ghana. Even in school and right after school he pursued his musical dream but his father did not agree and wanted him to become a lawyer, this led to a misunderstanding between the two eventually tearing down their beautiful relationship. Shatta Wale lived in almost all the ghettos (Nima) in Accra just to survive: "There were many times I slept without food. I have been through all the hustle in life, I mean hell. I have lived with the people and became one of their own. No wonder my music easily resonate with the people. I am thankful to God for making me see the day light." Stated in an interview.

Shatta Wale later went to Jamaica to polish and master his dancehall craft. "Every boy in Ghana doing dancehall came for tutelage from me before mastering the dancehall genre. So no wonder my fans call me King because they know the history of modern dancehall in Ghana" Shatta Wale stated in an interview.

Career 2004–: Career beginnings His musical career began during his high school days at the Winneba Secondary School where he learned to play keyboard and received routine vocal training at the school's music class department, then known as Doggy. After secondary school, he took time to work on his music. Having achieved street credibility in a fairly undeveloped Ghanaian dancehall genre at the time, he soon gain recognition with his hit single, "Moko Hoo", which featured fellow Ghanaian musician Tinny in 2004 using Bandana as his stage name. The song earned him a nomination at the Ghana Music Awards that year. Bandana followed with the hit songs "No Problem" and "Obaa Yaa". At this point, he was receiving heavy rotation on radio and was backed by a fan base that shot him into the mainstream Ghanaian music scene. Despite his prominence, Bandana went missing in the music circus in Ghana.

2009–2012 With a rebranded name from Bandana to Shatta Wale, he started a new career which largely bothers on dancehall in a Jamaican style of production in Nima, a small community in Accra, Ghana, a place that harbors a lot of Muslim youth and ghettos. It was there he amassed a fanbase, who were influenced by him and felt empowered by his songs.[citation needed] Wale released songs almost everyday on his social media handles free to download and would performed them in small communities in Accra mostly in Nima. He started gaining slow attention again with songs like "Telephone No" "Anastasia" "My Eyes Pon Di Money" and others. This approach revived dancehall in Ghana, a genre which had been left abandoned. The likes of Root Eye, General Marcus, Yoggy Doggy and others years ago had started but could not breakthrough. Shatta Wale gives credit to the likes of Terry Bonchaka and Yoggy Doggy for nurturing him when he began his dancehall journey. "It was under their tutelage that they told me I was going to blow up and that my style is so unique." Stated in an interview on PeaceFm. He explained in an interview with King Lagazee why he had been less active and what the reason for his decreased popularity was.

A lot of people wan mi fi dead but mi dehya. I know my fans have missed me but mi naa dead. I was learning how to produce beats, mix and master and also perfecting my craft. So basically that is what is keeping me away. – Wale, then known as Bandana, on his decreased visibility in the music industry 2013–2015 Largely producing and mastering majority of his songs such as "Havana", "Shatta City", "Enter the Net", "Everybody Likes My Tin", and "Dancehall King", the latter of which became his biggest hit after his comeback. The tracks were well received in Ghana and globally, with critics talking about the influence of Jamaican dancehall as many Ghanaians were only used to the type of dancehall called Hiplife with a touch of ragga.[citation needed] Wale then successfully toured Canada and United States in 2014.

The Guardian qualified "Wine Ya Waist" featuring Davido among its five must listened new tracks from around the world.[11] By 2015, without a doubt, he has cemented his place on the global music space as a force to reckon with in dancehall music with a solid repertoire of hit songs that were receiving international awards and nominations which some includes; International Reggae & World Music Awards, Nigeria Entertainment Awards, MOBO etc. He toured Europe in 2015, and also shared the same stage with P-Square, Flavor and others at the Wembley Arena in London.

2016–2018 In a heated political atmosphere, Wale became one of the most powerful men in Ghana as two biggest political parties, National Democratic Congress[12] and the New Patriotic Party used his hit songs; "Mahama Paper" and "Kakai" to run their campaign in the 2016 general election. In a desultory conversation with an interviewer, Wale stated that: There were some attempts by some members from the political parties to coax him to endorse their party but he did not cling because of his fans. There were banners in town bearing Shatta Movement for NDC but Wale in a Facebook post made it clear that he has not endorsed any political party and all parties running their campaign under the Shatta Movement Banner should desist or face legal action. However, wale did not hesitate to perform for any of the political parties as his service was demanded.

Songs released from After the Storm album like "Mahama Paper", "Baby (Chop Kiss)", "Biegya (Open Fire)", "Hol'It", and "Kakai" were successful in Ghana. Wale stayed atop the charts locally and also had "Hol'It" top BBC Radio 1Xtra's Afroboss Top 5 songs chart.[13] Rockstar Games co-founder Sam Houser also said he was deeply impressed by the popularity of "KAKAI" and that it made waves within the African community in the United States and beyond, including topping several dancehall charts globally. For that, he stated his wish that bureaucrats would confirm "Kakai" to appear in the upcoming Grand Theft Auto 6. If confirmed, Wale could earn up to $744,000 annually.[14]

In 2017, he toured the US to promote After the Storm, then traveled to Jamaica to shoot videos for projects he had jointly done with some producers there.

Wale signed with Zylofon Music in January 2018.[15] He released his third album, Reign, on October 13 at the Fantasy Dome in Accra, and used the occasion to propose to his longtime girlfriend Michy on stage.[16] The album achieved a record for a Ghanaian act by appearing on the Billboard Top World Albums Chart, placing sixth.[17]

Accolades Mayor of Worcester, Joseph Petty, presented Shatta Wale with the Key to the City on July 8, 2017, in recognition of his contributions to the arts.[18]

On March 18, 2018, Wale was presented an honoree award for his outstanding contribution to reggae in Ghana and globally at the 37th Annual Chicago Music Awards (CMA), in conjunction with the 36th International Reggae & World Music Awards (IRAWMA).[19]

Wale received an honoree award on May 11, 2018, alongside Sizzla, Queen Ifrica, Chronixx, Daddy Fresh, Winning Jah, Jah Cure, Sean Paul, Ben Priest and other personalities at the Obaland Royal Awards in Nigeria. The awards were held by an entertainment firm owned by King Ewuare II of Benin City, Edo State.[20][21] The Obaland plaque was reportedly valued by specialized anthropologists and museum critics in Benin City, and declared to be worth US$34 million.[22]

Endorsements In 2014, Wale became a brand ambassador for Guinness Ghana Breweries.[23] and as the brand ambassador for Rush Energy Drink.[24][25][26]

In September 2017, Kasapreko Company, producers of several alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages in Ghana, unveiled Wale as their newest brand ambassador.[27]

On 17 November 2017, Shatta Wale signed a deal with Boss Baker Beef Roll as the brand ambassador.[28]

Discography Albums After the Storm (2016)[29] Cloud 9 (2017, hip hop mixtape) Reign (2018)[30] Singles This list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it. Year	Title	Album	Ref. 2016	Aroma	Currency Year Mixtape	[31] 2016	Like You	After the Storm	[32] 2016	Longtime	After the Storm	[33] 2016	Dancehall King (Part 2)	After The Storm	[34] 2017	Haters	Unknown	[35] 2017	Affi Di Money	Unknown	[36] 2017	Shame On You	Unknown	[37] 2017	Disaster	African Takeover	[38] 2017	Patoranking	African Takeover	[39] 2018	Zylofon	Unknown	[40] 2018	True Believer	Unknown	[41] 2018	Ego Taya Dem	Unknown	[42] 2018	Storm	Unknown	[43] 2018	Shito	Unknown	[44] 2018	Performer	Unknown	[1] 2018	Thunder Fire	Unknown	[45] 2018	Don't Baby My baby	Reign 2018	Bend Over	Reign 2018	Squeeze	Reign 2018	I Regret	Reign 2018	If i See	Reign 2018	Give Dem Something	Reign 2018	Crazy	Reign 2018	Amount	Reign 2018	Wonders	Reign 2018	Rosalinda	Reign 2018	Sister Sister	Reign 2018	Mama Stories	Reign 2018	Gringo	Reign 2018	My Mind Is Made Up	Reign 2018	Caesar	Reign 2018	Exodus	Reign 2018	One Way Style	Reign 2018	My Level	Unknown 2019	Shatta with 9 (feat. 9TYZ)	Unknown 2019	Packaging (feat. Medikal)	Unknown 2019	Run 4 yuh life	Unknown Videography This list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it. Year	Title	Director	Ref. 2019	Island	Yaw Skyface 2019	Crazy	sesan 201	My level	Sesan	[152] 2018	Gringo	Sesan	[46] 2018	Bullet Proof	Sesan	[47] 2017	Nobody Go Talk	Rex	[48] 2017	Life Changer	Rex	[49] 2017	Waitti	Will Drey	[50] 2017	Ayoo	Sire Chopperson	[51] 2017	Taking Over	Sire Chopperson	[52] 2016	Shatta Story	Mexx Studio	[53] 2016	Krom Aye Shi (Town Make Hot)	Lex MacCarthy	[54] 2016	Too Sweet	Will Drey	[55] 2016	Story to Tell	Prince Dovlo	[56] 2016	Too Much Chemical	Prince Dovlo	[57] 2016	Kill Dem with Prayers	Lex MacCarthy	[58] 2016	Kakai	Xpress Philms 2016	Baby (Chop Kiss)	Lex MacCarthy	[59] 2013	Every Body Like My Tin	PressPlay Vidz	48 2015	Gather Around	Lex MacCarthy	49 Filmography This list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it. Year	Title	Role	Ref. 2016	Shattered Lives	N/A	[60] 2014	Never Say Never	N/A	[61] 2018	"The Trial of Shatta Wale(Kejetia Vs Makola)"	Shatta Wale Awards and nominations In 2014, Shatta Wale was nominated for the Maiden GN Bank Awards[62][63] as the People's Choice Male Musician of the year.[64] He was also named the 38th Most Influential Ghanaian by E-TV Ghana in 2015 in their annual survey of influential people in Ghana. He is currently the most Awarded Dancehall artist in Africa and one of the most awarded dancehall artist in the world.[65][66]

Year	Event	Prize	Recipient	Result	Reference 2013	Ghana Music Awards	Reggae Dancehall Song of the Year – Shatta City	Shatta Wale	Nominated	[67][68] 2014	Channel O Music Video Awards	Most Gifted Ragga Dancehall Video	"Everybody Likes My Ting"	Nominated	[69][70] 4Syte TV Music Video Awards	Best Reggae/Dancehall Video	Won	[71] Most Popular Video	Won 2014 Nigeria Entertainment Awards	African Artiste of the Year		Won	[72] African Muzik Magazine Awards	Best Male West Africa		Nominated	[73] Best Dancehall Artiste		Nominated Ghana Music Awards	Artiste of the Year		Won	[74] Best Collaboration of the Year	"Hot Cake" Pope Skinny feat. Shatta Wale	Nominated Reggae/Dancehall Song of the Year	Nominated "Fever" D2 feat. Shatta Wale	Nominated "Dancehall King"	Won Nigerian Entertainment Awards	African Artiste of the Year		Won	[75] BASS Awards	Best Performer of the Year		Won	[76][77] Best Collaboration of the year	D2 ft. Shatta Wale – "Fever"	Nominated Shatta Wale ft. D Black – "Ina the Party"	Nominated Best Video Dancehall	"Like My Thing"	Won Dancehall Artiste of the year	Shatta Wale – "Enter the Net"	Won International Reggae and World Music Awards	Best New Entertainer	Shatta Wale	Won	[78] Jigwe Awards	Jigwe Musician of the Year	Shatta Wale	Won	[79] Ghana DJ Awards	DJ's Song of the Year	Shatta Wale – Dancehall King	Won	[80] 2015	African Entertainment Awards	Best African Reggae / Dancehall Artiste	Shatta Wale	Nominated	[81][82] African Muzik Magazine Awards	Best Dancehall Artiste	Shatta Wale	Nominated	[83][84][85][86][87] Swish HQ UK Awards	Best Song	Shatta Wale & Sonni Bali	Nominated	[88][89] International Reggae and World Music Awards	Best Music Video – You Can't Touch Me	Shatta Wale	Nominated	[90] 3G Awards	Publisher's Choice Award	Shatta Wale	Won	[91] MOBO Awards	Best African Act	Shatta Wale	Nominated	[92][93] GN Bank Awards	People's Choice Male Musician	Shatta Wale	Won	[94] 2016	Blogging and Social Media Awards	Artiste with the Best Social Media Presence	Shatta Wale	Won	[95] Golden Movie Awards Africa	Golden Discovery	Shatta Wale	Won	[96][97] Africa Europe DJ Awards (Italy)	Best Song of the Year – Kakai	Shatta Wale	Won	[98] Nigeria Entertainment Awards	African Male Artiste of the Year	Shatta Wale	Won	[99][100][101] Afrimma Awards	Dancehall Artiste of the Year	Shatta Wale	Won	[102][103][104] Africa Youth Choice Awards	Artiste of the Year	Shatta Wale	Nominated	[105][106] City People Entertainment Awards	Ghana Musician of the Year Award – Male	Shatta Wale	Won	[107] Africa Entertainment Awards – US	Best Dancehall Artiste	Shatta wale	Won	[108][109] International Reggae and World Music Awards	Best African Song/Entertainer – Chop Kiss	Shatta wale	Won	[110][111] International Reggae and World Music Awards	Best Music Video -Chop Kiss	Shatta Wale	Nominated	[110][111] Ghana Kids Choice Awards	Best Dancehall Icon of the Year	Shatta Wale	Won	[112][113] African Royal Awards	Best International Act	Shatta Wale	Won	[114] Ghana DJ Awards	DJ's Song of the Year – Kakai	Shatta Wale	Won	[115][116] African Entertainment Legends Awards	African Dancehall Act of the Year	Shatta Wale	Nominated	[117][118] Ghana Music Awards UK	Music Producer of the Year	Shatta Wale (Da Maker)	Won	[119] Ghana Music Awards UK	Most Popular Song – Kakai	Shatta Wale	Won	[119] Most Popular Song – Chop Kiss	Nominated Reggae / Dancehall Song of the Year – Kakai	Nominated Reggae / Dancehall Song of the Year – Hol' It	Nominated Reggae / Dancehall Artiste of the Year	Won Album of the Year	After the Storm – Shatta Wale	Nominated Artiste of the Year	Shatta Wale	Won Ghana Music Awards UK 2018	Raggae/Dancehall song of the Year	Shatta Wale	Nominated	[120] WatsUp African Music Video Awards	Best West African Video	Chop Kiss – Shatta Wale	Nominated	[121] WatsUp African Music Video Awards	Best African Male Video	Chop Kiss – Shatta Wale	Nominated	[121] WatsUp African Music Video Awards	Best African Performance	After The Storm – Shatta Wale	Nominated	[121] WatsUp African Music Video Awards	Best African Reggae/Dancehall Video	Chop Kiss – Shatta Wale	Won	[121] 4Syte Music Video Awards	Best Reggae/Dancehall Video	Shatta Wale	Won	[122][123] 4Syte Music Video Awards	Most Popular Video	Shatta Wale	Nominated 4Syte Music Video Awards	Best Directed Video	Shatta Wale	Nominated 4Syte Music Video Awards	Best Story Line Video	Shatta Wale	Nominated 4Syte Music Video Awards	Best Male Video	Shatta Wale	Nominated 4Syte Music Video Awards	Most Influential Artiste	Shatta Wale	Won Ghana Peace Awards	Art for Peace of the Year	Shatta Wale	Won	[124] muzato emmerson Music Awards	People Choice of the Year	Shatta Wale	Won	[124] Africa Youth Awards	Musician of the Year	Shatta Wale	Nominated	[125] Jigwe Awards	Jigwe Musician of the Year	Shatta Wale	Nominated	[126][127] 2017	Ghana Music Honours	Best Producer	Shatta Wale	Won	[128] Ghana Music Honours	People's Choice Award	Shatta Wale	Won	[129] Ghana Naija Showbiz Awards	Best Male Act	Shatta Wale	Won	[130][131] Ghana Entertainment Awards USA	Best Song	Shatta Wale-Kakai	Won	[132][133] EMY Africa Awards	Man of the Year – Entertainment	Shatta Wale	Nominated	[134] Ghana Entertainment Awards USA	Best Entertainer	Shatta Wale	Won	[133][132] African Pride Awards	Artiste of the Year	Shatta Wale	Won	[135][136] Ghana Events Awards	Best Event Set Up	Shatta Wale (After the Storm Concert)	Won	[137][138] Ghana Music Awards UK	Afro Beats Artiste of the Year	Shatta Wale	Won	[139][140] Ghana Music Awards UK	Collaboration of the Year	Shatta Wale ft Addi sef, Captan & Joint 77	Won	[139][140] Ghana Music Awards UK	Artiste of the Year	Shatta Wale	Won	[139][140] Ghana Music Awards UK	Afro Pop Artiste of the Year	Shatta Wale	Won	[139][140] Ghana Music Awards UK	Reggae/Dancehall Artiste of the Year	Shatta Wale	Won	[139][140] Eastern Music Awards	Most Influential Artiste of the Year	Shatta Wale	Won	[141] African Entertainment Awards (US)	Best Dancehall Artiste	Shatta Wale	Won	[142] People's Celebrity Awards	Favourite Male Musician	Shatta Wale	Won	[143] Ultimate People's Celebrity	Shatta Wale	Won	[143] 4Syte Music Video Awards	Most Popular Video	Shatta Wale- Taking Over	Won	[144] Soundcity MVP Awards Festival	Best Male MVP	Shatta Wale	Nominated	[145] African Artiste of the Year	Shatta Wale	Nominated	[145] Digital Artiste of the Year	Himself	Nominated	[145] 2018	3 Music Awards	Song of the Year	Ayoo	Won	[146] Song Writer of the Year	Shatta Wale	Won	[146] Facebook Star of the Year	Shatta Wale	Won	[146] Male Act of the Year	Shatta Wale	Won	[146] Ghana Music Awards	Best Collaboration of the Year	Taking Over	Won	[146] Dancehall Artiste of the Year	Shatta Wale	Nominated	[146] Dancehall Song of the Year	Dem Confuse	Nominated	[146] Hiplife Song of the Year	Ayoo	Nominated	[146] Song of the Year	Taking Over	Nominated	[146] African Entertainment Awards (US)	Best Dancehall Act	Shatta Wale	Won	[147] Ghana Entertainment Awards (US)	Best Song	Taking Over	Won	[146] Best Collaboration	Taking Over	Won Best Entertainer	Shatta Wale	Won Best Reggae/Dancehall Act	Shatta Wale	Nominated 2019	Ugandan Music Excellence Awards	Best African Music Video	Shatta Wale	Won	[148] 3 Music Awards	Viral Song of the Year	Shatta Wale-Gringo	Won	[149][150] Highlife Song of the Year	Shatta Wale	Nominated Reggae Dancehall Song of the Year	Shatta Wale-Gringo	Won Digital Artiste of the Year	Shatta Wale	Won Fan Army of the Year	Shatta movement-Shatta Wale	Won Reggae Dancehall Act of the Year	Shatta Wale	Won Music Video of the Year	Shatta Wale-Gringo	Won Album of the Year	Shatta Wale-Reign Album	Nominated Song of the Year	Shatta Wale-My Level	Won Male Act of the Year	Shatta Wale	Won 2019	Vodafone Ghana Music Awards	Artiste of the Year	Shatta Wale	Pending	[151] Highlife Song of the Year	Shatta Wale-My Level	Won Reggae Dancehall Song of the Year	Shatta Wale-Gringo	Won Afro Pop Song of the Year	Shatta Wale – Thunder Fire feat SM Militants	Nominated Reggae Dancehall Artiste of the Year	Shatta Wale	Nominated Best Video of the Year	Shatta Wale – Gringo (Dir Sesan)	Nominated Vodafone Most Popular Song of the Year	Shatta Wale-My Level	Pending Album of the Year	Shatta Wale-Reign Album	Nominated Best African Collaboration	Shatta Wale ft Olamide	Nominated Artiste of the Decade	Shatta Wale	Nominated References