Ghanaian hip-hop pioneer Reggie Rockstone has shared the reason why he turned down the opportunity to be the opening act for American rapper Jay Z during his 2006 visit to Ghana.
In 2006, Jay Z, also known as Shawn Carter, toured several African countries, including Ghana, as part of his “African Pilgrimage” tour. The concert in Ghana, held at the Accra International Conference Centre, featured prominent local artists like Samini, Obrafour, Wutah, and Reggie Rockstone.
However, it was a shock to many when Reggie Rockstone declined the invitation to perform. At the time, his management issued a statement explaining that Rockstone’s refusal stemmed from the belief that performing as an opening act would compromise the respect he had earned from his fans. He also expressed discomfort with the “opportunistic treatment” often given to local artists.
In a recent interview with BlacVolta Nightlife Podcast, Reggie Rockstone revealed that his decision was motivated by his desire to protect the reputation of Ghana’s hip-life genre. He felt that rather than performing as an opener, he should have been introduced by Jay Z as a way to honor hip-life music, given its influence on the global hip-hop scene.
“I refused because I realized how starstruck everyone was,” he explained. “I’m feeling the vibe, too—Jay Z’s come home, and it’s because of Hip Life that these people are here. My idea was that Jay Z should either introduce me or bring me out himself, to empower Hip Life. If the OG of Hip Life is just an opening act, we’re losing power. I’m supposed to be the leader.”
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