BY Grace Zigah
Award-winning Ghanaian rapper, Michael Owusu Addo, popularly known as Sarkodie, is making a major return to talent development in the music industry after announcing plans to relaunch a full label service through a new partnership.
The initiative, which will be supported by a writing camp, marks a revival of efforts similar to his earlier work with Sarkcess Music.
In an interview on BTM Afrika with NY DJ, Sarkodie disclosed that although he had previously withdrawn from directly managing artists, the desire to help shape the next generation of musicians has never left him.
His earlier label, Sarkcess Music, played a key role in nurturing the careers of artists such as Strongman and Akwaboah, but also exposed him to the challenges of artist management in Ghana.
Reflecting on that experience, Sarkodie admitted that the demands of running a record label went far beyond business.
“When you sign an artist, you’re technically almost responsible for their life. It’s not supposed to be like that, but that’s what it is, especially where we’re from in Ghana. You end up taking the blame for everything that goes wrong in their personal life once you’re around,” he explained.
This heavy responsibility contributed to his decision to step back from signing new acts in recent years.
However, the rapper emphasized that he has always been passionate about discovering and supporting raw talent.
“That doesn’t mean I’m not going to help. I get fulfilled when I see something and bring it to light. I moved away from signing artists because of how fully I had to be involved, but we just had a new partnership where we’re about to start a full label service again, like how we did Sarkcess Music. So, we’re still looking for talent,” he said.
While Sarkodie confirmed he already has his eyes on a number of promising artists, he insisted that no names would be revealed until official agreements are finalized.
As part of the relaunch, Sarkodie is also introducing a writing camp—a collaborative space where musicians, producers, and songwriters can create and refine music together.
He described the camp as an organic way of discovering genuine talent.
“I’m doing a writing camp. I’ll put the date out. That’s a nice way for me to spot talents, because then we spend time together so I can know the work ethic, vocal ability, star power and more,” he revealed.
The writing camp is expected to not only unearth new stars but also foster a culture of collaboration in Ghana’s creative industry, which has often been criticized for lacking structured systems of artist development.
Sarkodie’s return to label services comes at a time when conversations around artist welfare, contractual disputes, and sustainable career growth are gaining momentum in Ghana’s entertainment industry. His move is being seen as a bold attempt to create new pathways for young musicians to thrive under professional guidance.
