Hiplife musician, Sidney Kofi Ofori, affectionately called Barima Sidney, has disclosed why he needed to take a long break from producing music.
After composing back-to-back hit songs including ‘Tinana,’ African Money,’ ‘Apuskeleke,’ ‘Papa No,’ ‘Awuchie Kpongor,’ during the early 2000s, the musician went off the scene for many years.
His last song, ‘Papa No’ exacerbated his situation, according to Barima Sidney, who claimed he received harsh criticism from industry players and social media users.
The hitmaker recounted the hurdles he went through which broke him and made him stay off to heal.
“At a point, I was heartbroken when the ‘Papa No’ thing came up. The lashing was too much, and I remember somebody saying I wait for things to trend so I can use them for songs. And I was like, do you think it’s easy for you to compose a song instantly? No, it makes you very creative instead, but then people took it some other way around. So, I decided to be quiet.”
Barima Sidney
However, the musician did not blame himself for everything that happened because he was managing himself in that there was no one to play that role and guide his actions. This, he stated, influenced his journey, contributing to his inability to remain relevant over time.
Despite his lack of financial resources, he performed at events for free to maintain his relationship with the event organizers. But it took Shatta Wale’s intervention to make him realize his mistakes.
“Shatta told me something one time when we met. He’s my unofficial finance manager. He gave me advice a couple of years ago, and I think it happened. We were doing shows for free because of ‘paddy paddy’; we were following the love. So, this shows that we were supposed to charge money, but we didn’t do it because we felt like their friends, and that was when Shatta told me to collect the money. Truly, it got to the point where, when I needed help from them, they said no. Then I realized Shatta was right.”
Barima Sidney
Barima Sidney has returned with a new single titled ‘BBF,’ which he revealed is a way to console himself. The track features Kumasi-based rapper King Paluta.
The ‘African Money’ hitmaker noted he is back for ‘good’ and will refrain from composing politically inclined and controversial songs.
He admonished individuals never to give up on themselves in times of difficulty. Instead, he urges them to consider such circumstances as moments for growth and self-strengthening, believing that things will eventually turn around for the better.
Singer Renders Apology To Former President
Barima Sidney issued an apology to former President John Dramani Mahama and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) for any negative impacts his 2020 song ‘Papa No’ may have had on Mahama’s electoral fortunes.
The controversial song was released during the lead-up to the 2020 general elections. Sidney explained that the term ‘Papa No’ was a trending topic on social media at the time, which inspired him to create the song.
However, he noted that the track was misconstrued by some as a direct attack on Mahama, who was coincidentally linked with the phrase in political discourses.
“I’d like to clarify the ‘Papa No’ situation. Two ladies were discussing ‘Papa No’ on social media. They’re well-known celebrities here: Gloria and Tracy. I found it intriguing, so I went to the studio and released it at midnight. By 9:00 am, it had spread everywhere.”
Barima Sidney
Sidney further elaborated that his intentions were misconstrued when clips of Mahama were merged with his song for political purposes.
“I didn’t target anyone specifically. But then, some individuals compiled clips of the former president and paired them with my music, using it for their promotion. Consequently, people assumed it was my doing, but I was unaware. I’m using this chance to apologize to the former president, His Excellency John Mahama. It wasn’t me; others were responsible.”
Barima Sidney
The musician expressed his regret the song contributed to Mahama’s loss in the 2020 elections, clarifying that there was no ill intention behind the production of the track.
Sidney’s song ‘Papa No’ remains a significant piece of media from the 2020 election cycle, highlighting the complex interplay between pop culture and political narratives.
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