It’s been a decade since Hiplife artiste, D Cryme, blazed his way onto the music scene with his song, Kill Me Shy. The artiste, who called his music Twi pop, enjoyed a lot of time in the spotlight, which came with its corresponding financial benefits.
However, as he celebrates his stay in the industry for 10 years, D Cryme tells Showbiz that instead of making progress, artistes these days are reaping less even though they are investing more into their craft.
“What is going on in the music industry is that you put in a lot to get your work out there but you get nothing in return or you get a little.
“It takes a lot of work for an artiste to produce and shoot a video for a song; in the 2000s it was ok, music was worth pursuing but now it is not at all,” he said.
According to D Cryme, real name Darlington Kwasi Agyekum, a lot of artistes are still doing music because of the passion they have for it and not because of the financial rewards.
“Most of the guys you see out there are doing this because of the passion they have for the work and not what they will get financially, I know people who have hung up their music boots because of this,” he said.
Answering the question as to why he was still pursuing something that was not paying well, D Cryme said, “in the first place I will say it’s passion for me too but then again I am not one who gives up when things get rough. I love music and that is what I want to do.
“I also believe that things will be better soon, someday things will be okay, there is hope for us. On the brighter side, look at the way music has opened doors for the new crop of artistes, they are doing well, producing good songs and all, so it also has its good side,” he said.
On whether he was not making money because he was no longer relevant, D Cryme said, “not at all, and who says I am not relevant or not hot? The fact that I am not out there like that doesn’t mean I am not doing anything.
“I have been on shows and I’m still getting gigs but the media will not report it. If I should get into an accident right now, everyone will be on my case.”
The My Bae singer also blamed globalisation and lack of proper structures as the cause of the low cash flow into the music industry.
“The world has come together through the use of the internet and because of this; people have access to songs that ideally they would have had to buy or paid to watch you perform. Everything can be found on the internet so you are also forced to put yours there.
“No one will come to you if you hide yours when everyone’s is there so you just follow the people. This is costing us a lot of money but like I said, it will be better,” he stated.
D Cryme added, “Then when it comes to the issue of royalties in Ghana, the least said about it, the better. Our structures are not working, so people get to use your songs for free and you get nothing. Even if the money comes, you will be sad.”
In spite of the challenges, D Cryme said he had not regretted doing music. “I do not have any regrets; the truth is, I have always been an entertainer, and if I was not on the microphone, I would definitely be doing other things related to entertainment,” he stated.
D Cryme released his first hit single, Kill Me Shy and debut album Finally Finally in 2011. In 2012, Kill Me Shy won the Hiplife Song of the Year at the Ghana Music Awards.He released his second album, Showtime, in February 2018.
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