Afrodancehall star Stonebwoy has expressed concern over what he describes as growing toxicity within Ghana’s entertainment scene, warning that competition among artistes has shifted from healthy rivalry to deliberate sabotage.

In an interview with MC and hypeman Kojo Manuel, aired on September 10, 2025, the award-winning musician criticised artistes who deliberately release music on the same day their colleagues unveil projects—a trend he labelled “non-directional” and a form of “slavery.”

“Because of such a heightened level of toxicity, we could have channelled that into something very productive, like something very constructive so that our industry will see the shine that it deserves.

Look at something—whenever you decide to drop your EP, we are also going to drop a track on that day. There are a million dates,” he lamented.

Stonebwoy argued that artistes who ride on the momentum of others’ success reveal a lack of originality. “If you cannot do without having to tag along somebody so much then it means that you are definitely a slave and non-directional; you just move according to other people’s hard work and success,” he stressed.

While rivalry has long been part of the music business, Stonebwoy said what is currently happening is far worse than what he witnessed when learning from predecessors.

He noted that sections of the public now celebrate negativity, further fuelling division in the industry.

“Not so much has changed in terms of behaviour in that rivalry space; it’s gotten worse. Under my watch, I’ve served and followed many of our big artistes before arriving at my own duty, and it has never been this toxic.

Now, you find out that there’s a cross-section of the masses who actually celebrate that. So it has become a thing that you have to balance, and it’s taking a big toll on our progress as an industry,” he explained.

Stonebwoy emphasised that the energy being wasted on rivalry could instead be invested in collaborations, creative innovation, and industry-wide growth—moves that would ultimately elevate Ghanaian music on the global stage.