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14th April, 2012
Times Weekend Talks To Mzbel
I am yet o see a news paper of online news site that has not published the outcome of Mzbel’s case in court. Finally Mzbel and her friends were convicted by the Motor court for different charges after they had pleaded guilty to the offences leveled against them.
Whoever doesn’t know the details of this story is undeniably new in our system as it was one of the most hyped celebrity “flop news” last year. From the day she was arrested by the police to all her appearances in court was handled like presidential elections by the press.
Born Belinda Nana Ekua Amoah, Mzbel entered the music scene at a point where females were nowhere to be found in the hiplife circles, her only contender at those times was Abrewanana.
Interestingly, Mzbel defied the odds and introduced a new trend to the hiplife genre.
Her first album “Awosome” was a nationwide in less than three weeks of release and her subsequent songs just followed the same direction.
Apart from her “saucy sassy sexy” moves, Mzbel had the full chemistry in drawing attention to herself especially when on stage.
For Mzbel popularity and fame just flowed for her as the slightest move she made spread like wild fire.
Unfortunately most of the hyped news geared in the negative direction making her one of the most if notorious ladies (if the most notorious) in the Ghanaian entertainment circles.
To Mzbel, the press both print and electronic has succeeded in creating a wrong impression about her not just in Ghana but internationally.
“where was the press when I was honoured with the “portrait of excellence” award for my contribution to women freedom in Ghana” she queried.
“apart from this, I have picked up several awards internationally, I have sold a lot of my music worldwide, I hqve done several charity works, but our people on only see Mzbel when she has a case with people and they will do everything to sell their papers with negative headlines and always conclude in painting me black” she added.
Shifting our concentration from the over hyped “police assault issue since” Times Weekend (TW)caught up the first sexy versatile female hiplifer in Ghana To find why she always has her head deep down in controversies aand what she is up to……below is the full text of the interview:
TW: Do you love controversies or should I say do you like when everybody mentions your name?
Mzbel: not what is happening now, I would love it if everybody mentions my name and its positive that will push my career forward.
TW: How are you doing?
Mzbel: I’m Ok.
TW: How was last year?
Mzbel: hmmm… it started well, and somewhere along the line it got very bad, bad I’m alive so it OK.
TW: How bad?
Mzbel: I was in cells for four days and all that’s how bad it was.
TW: how’s Mzbel as an artiste, is your music doing well?
Mzbel: yea, it is doing quite well especially out of Ghana, my music is doing well because I’m still playing shows but you know down here people are not interested in the good one does like the way they handle the “bad” news.
TW:Do you think people have issues with you?
Mzbel: I think people don’t understand me mainly because of how the media over the years have potrayed me.for most people Mzbel is a bad girl, rude and all sort of other bad perception and since negative or bad news sells more, that’s most people think of me.
TW: But then you are not the only female artiste in town so why would people or the press attack only you?
Mzbel: No. Im not the only female artiste but I was the first female artiste to bring some change to our industry and people liked it, but then some of our people are hupocrites, they like what I do on stage and behind me they condemn it as if they never enjoyed it. Initially, I thought people will stop giving bad comments about me so I kind of ignored them but unfortunately they never seem to stop
TW:how has this affected your career?
Mzbel: anybody who doesn’t know you personally and wants first hand information on you would go to the internet and check what is happening with you, and this is the case where there is always negative news about me, and all the person will read is negative and usually most brands will prefer not to associate with such a person or artiste.
TW: Have there been a situation where someone has decided not to do business with you because of what people say about you?
Mzbel: yes….a lot of times, some would love to sponsor my music but they do not want their brand names to be associated with me, most of these people believe in me and they love what I do but they don’t want people to know they are working with me.
TW:What do you think attracted all these bad press for you?
Mzbel: when I started nobody was doing what I did, I was being feminine and having fun, the only female who was doing the kind of music I did was wearing baggy jeans and Tshitrs and , so mine was different. I also looked younger than my age so most people were thinking; where from this teenager who is doing all these. I always say that if I was in another part of the world, I would have been very successful because I was brave but here its different.
TW: Personally does all these rumours and news affect you psychologically and emotionally?
Mzbel: yes it does and that is what most people forget. They forget that I am a human being who alos has feelings, sometimes I break down, unfortunately the nature of my work doesn’t allow me to show these bad moments because I m an entertainer and my fans expect me to entertain tme not bore them with my woes. Sometimes its so bad because you get to know who said or wrote that about you and you find out its someone who doesn’t know you or what you really does and all these people do is put you on their front pages and write all sort of bad stuff about you.
TW: Do you regret being Mzbel?
Mzbel: never, if I die today and I have the chance to come back, I will still prefer to be Mzbel just that this time, I would fight back hard at what the media publishes about me. I never responded to ant of their attacks and fabrications because I did not know it will last this long.
TW:How about family and friends, how do they treat you?
Mzbel: for them, I do not have problems with them because they know me; they know the kind of person I am and understand what I do. usually they laugh when they hear some of these stuff.
TW: what inspires you into doing music?
Mzbel: I inspire my self.plus I;m very religious, I believe in God soo much
TW: Why do choose a certain the kind lyrics for your songs as well as dresses you take to stage?
Mzbel: everything I do comes to me naturally, I don’t fake it or struggle so hard to do them.for my attires I choose them depending on the audience type, if it’s a youth show’ I would love them to see me as one of them so I will go out dressed like one and I will have fun with them. It depends on the concept all that.
TW: Now to your choice of words, your first song was “wosome”, then “16years” and the very recent one “saucy girl”…all of these songs had something in common,do you love to talk about sex or its because you know sex sells?
Mzbel: 'wosome' was a joke, I was only trying something out in the studio and it turned out to be nice so it was released, for 16 years I planned it, at that time rape cases were very high and Maame Dokono and other women were doing their best to help stop that and me being a musician, that was how I contributed to that fight. People like that song soo much but still pretend not to and that’s bad. Whenever I am on stage that’s one song almost everyone old and young responds to massively, but these are the same people who are always criticizing me.
TW: How about saucy girl, with that sexually suggestive video?
Mzbel: saucy girl was to make a statement. I remember at a point in time when other females joined me and people thought I was out of the game and that I couldn’t do anything new and trendy. and that was another hit, but the thing is personally , I think the “local” songs sells more and that’s what every artistes intends to achieve. What’s the sense in making music and not getting paid for and even though that song was ok it’s not like the others. I would do a song that will sell to one that will portray as a rich and glamorous lady and then walk in town like any other person.
TW: Is that to say theta 16 years and others sold than saucy girl?
Mzbel: yes it did, no one invited me to play a show outside because of saucy girl, whenever I travel I perform my local songs because if these people want to listen to English songs they have the Beyounces and Rihana’a who are already doing it well. Though Ghanaians liked the song, they didn’t buy it but “wosome’ and “16 years” still sells today.
TW: Apart from news on your dressing and type of song, there is news that you always have issues with your managers?
Mzbel:no, we don’t fight I only move on, when there is the need to.
TW: To the extent that you can have 5 managers in 5 years?
Mzbel: yeah for me, most of the managers we have negotiate for shows their artistes and in the end, they give them just something little, you want to play at a a particular show and they will tell you no, don’t go here, don’t do this; so I prefer to move till I find someone whose ideas meets mine.
TW: So have you found the person yet?
Mzbel: no, right now, I have my own team I have put together, I don’t leave everything for one person to do, and different people perform different roles for me so I don’t have to depend on only one person.
TW: Last December, there were a lot of shows in town; I don’t remember seeing you playing any.
Mzbel: yes, there were a lot of shows and I didn’t play because I turned most downed, I thought the acts were too many; everybody wants to be seen up there doing something, so they will take anything or do everything to get there, but that’s different with me. When I go on stage I go with dancers and the money most were ready to pay was not enough for me and to even talk about my crew
TW: Sincerely, do you think you are successful at what you are doing?
Mzbel: I am successful; I’m getting paid for what I do, though it’s not the best, its ok.
TW: what’s the relationship between you and the other female artistes?
Mzbel: we are cool, though some of them think they are in competition with me.
TW: Are you in competition with anyone?
Mzbel; never…I started this thing when most of them were still young and hadn’t decided to even do music, I have a lot of hit songs and most are riding on one or two songs , so where lies the competition, we are all on different levels. If I have to compete, I have to do that with those I started with.
TW: Are you married?
Mzbel: No, I’m not
TW: But sometime ago you announced you were getting married soon and the soon never seems to happen?
Mzbel: I said in an interview that if I ever wanted to marry it would be in December and that changed into something else.
TW:But you gave some suggestions on who your husband to be was?
Mzbel;;;laughing ,,,I did?
TW:Yes you did, who was Mawuli then?
Mzbel…laughing heartily….somebody
TW: What are you waiting for then?
Mzbel: at the appropriate time I would.
TW: Are your kids not worried about their mum being single?
Mzbel: no they are not, they are not my biological kid so they understand me.
TW: All along I thought they were your own kids.
Mzbel: yes they are mine,, ,it’s OK..I know people say, I have kids and I’m not married, but its good let them say.
TW: its been awhile since we heard or saw the Mzbel we knwew some time back, are you on some leave or something?
Mzbel: its because people are not hearing any bad news about me that’s why they conclude that I’m missing, if the bad news if flowing then they know Mzbel is around, my music still enjoys good airplay, now I’m a little relaxed because I want to clear some of these negative perceptions about me, once in a while I perform,,,for the shows I’m not doing much because our event organizers do not pay as they are supposed to, they bring other African artiste and give then huge sums of monies and treat us anyhow. Well if you need the platform you will conform but I don’t, so I just don’t play any show.
TW: Is it that you are rich so you won’t play?
Mzbel: no, I believe I have paid my dues in the industry, I have worked hard enough as far as my career is concerned so I do not expect anyone to want me beg or plead for popularity.
TW: I know you have had issues with the Ghana Music Awards. With this year;s own just around, what are your expectations?
Mzbel: I never had any serious issues as it was reported sometime ago, I just did not like the idea thjat my song is nominated and then peole will sit on radio and TV and give bad comments about me and the song so I asked that they should not nominate me, because if they say they nominated me because my songs wer good, then I see no reason a “panel” should sit and discuss my song openly as if I Begged them to…I am cool with the organizers, even last year, I presented an award at the event, so, may the best win
TW: Your advice to up and coming female artistes?
Mzbel: it’s simple its about how you handle or manage publicity, at the beginning you might think its popularity or its good for your career, but in the next five years, you will realize it was bad but at that time the damage would have already been done.
Whoever doesn’t know the details of this story is undeniably new in our system as it was one of the most hyped celebrity “flop news” last year. From the day she was arrested by the police to all her appearances in court was handled like presidential elections by the press.
Born Belinda Nana Ekua Amoah, Mzbel entered the music scene at a point where females were nowhere to be found in the hiplife circles, her only contender at those times was Abrewanana.
Interestingly, Mzbel defied the odds and introduced a new trend to the hiplife genre.
Her first album “Awosome” was a nationwide in less than three weeks of release and her subsequent songs just followed the same direction.
Apart from her “saucy sassy sexy” moves, Mzbel had the full chemistry in drawing attention to herself especially when on stage.
For Mzbel popularity and fame just flowed for her as the slightest move she made spread like wild fire.
Unfortunately most of the hyped news geared in the negative direction making her one of the most if notorious ladies (if the most notorious) in the Ghanaian entertainment circles.
To Mzbel, the press both print and electronic has succeeded in creating a wrong impression about her not just in Ghana but internationally.
“where was the press when I was honoured with the “portrait of excellence” award for my contribution to women freedom in Ghana” she queried.
“apart from this, I have picked up several awards internationally, I have sold a lot of my music worldwide, I hqve done several charity works, but our people on only see Mzbel when she has a case with people and they will do everything to sell their papers with negative headlines and always conclude in painting me black” she added.
Shifting our concentration from the over hyped “police assault issue since” Times Weekend (TW)caught up the first sexy versatile female hiplifer in Ghana To find why she always has her head deep down in controversies aand what she is up to……below is the full text of the interview:
TW: Do you love controversies or should I say do you like when everybody mentions your name?
Mzbel: not what is happening now, I would love it if everybody mentions my name and its positive that will push my career forward.
TW: How are you doing?
Mzbel: I’m Ok.
TW: How was last year?
Mzbel: hmmm… it started well, and somewhere along the line it got very bad, bad I’m alive so it OK.
TW: How bad?
Mzbel: I was in cells for four days and all that’s how bad it was.
TW: how’s Mzbel as an artiste, is your music doing well?
Mzbel: yea, it is doing quite well especially out of Ghana, my music is doing well because I’m still playing shows but you know down here people are not interested in the good one does like the way they handle the “bad” news.
TW:Do you think people have issues with you?
Mzbel: I think people don’t understand me mainly because of how the media over the years have potrayed me.for most people Mzbel is a bad girl, rude and all sort of other bad perception and since negative or bad news sells more, that’s most people think of me.
TW: But then you are not the only female artiste in town so why would people or the press attack only you?
Mzbel: No. Im not the only female artiste but I was the first female artiste to bring some change to our industry and people liked it, but then some of our people are hupocrites, they like what I do on stage and behind me they condemn it as if they never enjoyed it. Initially, I thought people will stop giving bad comments about me so I kind of ignored them but unfortunately they never seem to stop
TW:how has this affected your career?
Mzbel: anybody who doesn’t know you personally and wants first hand information on you would go to the internet and check what is happening with you, and this is the case where there is always negative news about me, and all the person will read is negative and usually most brands will prefer not to associate with such a person or artiste.
TW: Have there been a situation where someone has decided not to do business with you because of what people say about you?
Mzbel: yes….a lot of times, some would love to sponsor my music but they do not want their brand names to be associated with me, most of these people believe in me and they love what I do but they don’t want people to know they are working with me.
TW:What do you think attracted all these bad press for you?
Mzbel: when I started nobody was doing what I did, I was being feminine and having fun, the only female who was doing the kind of music I did was wearing baggy jeans and Tshitrs and , so mine was different. I also looked younger than my age so most people were thinking; where from this teenager who is doing all these. I always say that if I was in another part of the world, I would have been very successful because I was brave but here its different.
TW: Personally does all these rumours and news affect you psychologically and emotionally?
Mzbel: yes it does and that is what most people forget. They forget that I am a human being who alos has feelings, sometimes I break down, unfortunately the nature of my work doesn’t allow me to show these bad moments because I m an entertainer and my fans expect me to entertain tme not bore them with my woes. Sometimes its so bad because you get to know who said or wrote that about you and you find out its someone who doesn’t know you or what you really does and all these people do is put you on their front pages and write all sort of bad stuff about you.
TW: Do you regret being Mzbel?
Mzbel: never, if I die today and I have the chance to come back, I will still prefer to be Mzbel just that this time, I would fight back hard at what the media publishes about me. I never responded to ant of their attacks and fabrications because I did not know it will last this long.
TW:How about family and friends, how do they treat you?
Mzbel: for them, I do not have problems with them because they know me; they know the kind of person I am and understand what I do. usually they laugh when they hear some of these stuff.
TW: what inspires you into doing music?
Mzbel: I inspire my self.plus I;m very religious, I believe in God soo much
TW: Why do choose a certain the kind lyrics for your songs as well as dresses you take to stage?
Mzbel: everything I do comes to me naturally, I don’t fake it or struggle so hard to do them.for my attires I choose them depending on the audience type, if it’s a youth show’ I would love them to see me as one of them so I will go out dressed like one and I will have fun with them. It depends on the concept all that.
TW: Now to your choice of words, your first song was “wosome”, then “16years” and the very recent one “saucy girl”…all of these songs had something in common,do you love to talk about sex or its because you know sex sells?
Mzbel: 'wosome' was a joke, I was only trying something out in the studio and it turned out to be nice so it was released, for 16 years I planned it, at that time rape cases were very high and Maame Dokono and other women were doing their best to help stop that and me being a musician, that was how I contributed to that fight. People like that song soo much but still pretend not to and that’s bad. Whenever I am on stage that’s one song almost everyone old and young responds to massively, but these are the same people who are always criticizing me.
TW: How about saucy girl, with that sexually suggestive video?
Mzbel: saucy girl was to make a statement. I remember at a point in time when other females joined me and people thought I was out of the game and that I couldn’t do anything new and trendy. and that was another hit, but the thing is personally , I think the “local” songs sells more and that’s what every artistes intends to achieve. What’s the sense in making music and not getting paid for and even though that song was ok it’s not like the others. I would do a song that will sell to one that will portray as a rich and glamorous lady and then walk in town like any other person.
TW: Is that to say theta 16 years and others sold than saucy girl?
Mzbel: yes it did, no one invited me to play a show outside because of saucy girl, whenever I travel I perform my local songs because if these people want to listen to English songs they have the Beyounces and Rihana’a who are already doing it well. Though Ghanaians liked the song, they didn’t buy it but “wosome’ and “16 years” still sells today.
TW: Apart from news on your dressing and type of song, there is news that you always have issues with your managers?
Mzbel:no, we don’t fight I only move on, when there is the need to.
TW: To the extent that you can have 5 managers in 5 years?
Mzbel: yeah for me, most of the managers we have negotiate for shows their artistes and in the end, they give them just something little, you want to play at a a particular show and they will tell you no, don’t go here, don’t do this; so I prefer to move till I find someone whose ideas meets mine.
TW: So have you found the person yet?
Mzbel: no, right now, I have my own team I have put together, I don’t leave everything for one person to do, and different people perform different roles for me so I don’t have to depend on only one person.
TW: Last December, there were a lot of shows in town; I don’t remember seeing you playing any.
Mzbel: yes, there were a lot of shows and I didn’t play because I turned most downed, I thought the acts were too many; everybody wants to be seen up there doing something, so they will take anything or do everything to get there, but that’s different with me. When I go on stage I go with dancers and the money most were ready to pay was not enough for me and to even talk about my crew
TW: Sincerely, do you think you are successful at what you are doing?
Mzbel: I am successful; I’m getting paid for what I do, though it’s not the best, its ok.
TW: what’s the relationship between you and the other female artistes?
Mzbel: we are cool, though some of them think they are in competition with me.
TW: Are you in competition with anyone?
Mzbel; never…I started this thing when most of them were still young and hadn’t decided to even do music, I have a lot of hit songs and most are riding on one or two songs , so where lies the competition, we are all on different levels. If I have to compete, I have to do that with those I started with.
TW: Are you married?
Mzbel: No, I’m not
TW: But sometime ago you announced you were getting married soon and the soon never seems to happen?
Mzbel: I said in an interview that if I ever wanted to marry it would be in December and that changed into something else.
TW:But you gave some suggestions on who your husband to be was?
Mzbel;;;laughing ,,,I did?
TW:Yes you did, who was Mawuli then?
Mzbel…laughing heartily….somebody
TW: What are you waiting for then?
Mzbel: at the appropriate time I would.
TW: Are your kids not worried about their mum being single?
Mzbel: no they are not, they are not my biological kid so they understand me.
TW: All along I thought they were your own kids.
Mzbel: yes they are mine,, ,it’s OK..I know people say, I have kids and I’m not married, but its good let them say.
TW: its been awhile since we heard or saw the Mzbel we knwew some time back, are you on some leave or something?
Mzbel: its because people are not hearing any bad news about me that’s why they conclude that I’m missing, if the bad news if flowing then they know Mzbel is around, my music still enjoys good airplay, now I’m a little relaxed because I want to clear some of these negative perceptions about me, once in a while I perform,,,for the shows I’m not doing much because our event organizers do not pay as they are supposed to, they bring other African artiste and give then huge sums of monies and treat us anyhow. Well if you need the platform you will conform but I don’t, so I just don’t play any show.
TW: Is it that you are rich so you won’t play?
Mzbel: no, I believe I have paid my dues in the industry, I have worked hard enough as far as my career is concerned so I do not expect anyone to want me beg or plead for popularity.
TW: I know you have had issues with the Ghana Music Awards. With this year;s own just around, what are your expectations?
Mzbel: I never had any serious issues as it was reported sometime ago, I just did not like the idea thjat my song is nominated and then peole will sit on radio and TV and give bad comments about me and the song so I asked that they should not nominate me, because if they say they nominated me because my songs wer good, then I see no reason a “panel” should sit and discuss my song openly as if I Begged them to…I am cool with the organizers, even last year, I presented an award at the event, so, may the best win
TW: Your advice to up and coming female artistes?
Mzbel: it’s simple its about how you handle or manage publicity, at the beginning you might think its popularity or its good for your career, but in the next five years, you will realize it was bad but at that time the damage would have already been done.
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