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A-Plus is buoyant, sure-footed and full of himself on the release of
his latest single. He is quick to retort about his exercise of freedom
of speech whenever he’s called upon to answer questions on this
not-so-wowing song.

It is therefore prudent that I also take advantage of my right to free speech to free my mind.

In his new single, A-Plus recommends Nana Akuffo-Addo as the best candidate to lead the NPP in the next presidential election, and it is acceptable for the artiste to articulate his preference, which I don’t give a hoot about.

However, I do care when A-Plus blurts out that delegates can go ahead and squander monies offered them by aspirants and decide not to vote for them, and I also care when he makes scurrilous statements that if the presidential race was a beauty contest, former President Obasanjo could not have won the Nigerian presidency.

This guy could have gone ahead to rave about his unflinching support for Nana Addo without denigrating other aspirants with his faux pas.

Music is a full-time business and people go into it to make money but unfortunately I don’t see A-Plus making that money. In fact, his so-called political songs don’t sell; they don’t top the regular music charts and event organizers don’t invite him to perform at their shows. Radio presenters play it regularly, pass comments about it and it ends there.

If you are a musician and your music doesn’t get patronage (sales), your songs don’t feature on the charts and you don’t get gigs to perform, then desperation and anxiety would compel you to make the kind of music that can get you the money, and for me, A-Pluz is trying it with this new single.

Repudiate it when you hear him in his typical braggadocio self say that he has never met Nana Addo before or after making the song.

My face is always etched with agitation, bewilderment and despondency whenever I read or listen to any A-Plus interview like the one in the December 5, 2007 issue of the DAILY GUIDE - “I am the only Ghanaian musician who researches before coming out to do a song.”

What kind of research is he blabbering about? And the first to do research on his music?

Issues raised by A-Plus in his songs are what we read and listen to in the newspapers, radio and television, unless of course he goes to the offices of Daily Graphic to rummage for old newspapers or Peace FM to inquire about tapes of news bulletins.

Give us a break!
You can’t help but laugh out loud when he says, “I am the only musician in Ghana who has loyal fans.” Yes, the loyal fans that feverishly tune in to the radio stations to listen to your songs, commend you and fawn over you with all the accolades but fail to purchase the songs.

And has anyone seen any A-Plus music video? No.

When “Letter to Parliament” came out, A-Plus in another interview was asked if he sought permission from Kaakyire Kwame Appiah before sampling Kaakyire’s critically-acclaimed “24th”, his answer was an emphatic no, and when asked why, he goes like, “I want to create controversy.” How infantile! Especially, when you claim to be enlightened and decide not to do the right thing.

Some music enthusiasts brand him as a brilliant chap who churns out good, thought-provoking lyrics and all, but how brilliant can you be when your much-talked-about song can’t make you money? I’ld prefer calling such a person dim.

I like his swagger as an artiste but he should calm down during interviews and not go berserk with words. Coming out with singles anytime he feels like it won’t help.

He should take his time and make good songs with constructive criticisms - songs that will sell - because all the popularity must reflect in the pockets and if event organizers won’t call him, he should make his stagecraft more appealing and organize his own shows.

No hard feelings A-Plus, I’m just exercising my right to free speech or writing.