Ghanaian music artist, Kwesi Arthur, is involved in a legal battle with his former record label, Ground Up Chale and its CEO, Glen Boateng.
The contention is centred on rights over his music, image and the release of his independent work.
The rapper has taken to social media to accuse his former label and its boss of extortion and intimidation.
He alleged that he is being asked to pay US $150,000 just to use his own images for an upcoming independent project.
According to his statements, Ground Up Chale still claims ownership of his music, image and brand dating back to when he signed in 2016, even though he says he hasn’t worked with them since his 2022 album (Son of Jacob).
Kwesi Arthur also alleges that he never received royalties or financial returns from music released under the label and that efforts have been made to block his independent releases.
He even warned that “if anything happens to me … Ground Up Chale and Glen Boateng are responsible”, underlining how serious he views the situation.
The controversy has sparked major buzz across Ghana’s music community, with fans and other artists discussing claims about artist exploitation and contract fairness.
Fellow rapper Medikal has publicly spoken in support of Kwesi Arthur and criticised Ground Up Chale’s handling of the situation.
Kwesi Arthur rose to fame under Ground Up Chale in the mid-2010s, becoming one of Ghana’s leading hip-hop artists. Disputes between artists and record labels over rights, revenue and control of creative assets are common in the music industry, and Kwesi’s case highlights broader concerns about artist contracts and ownership in West Africa’s evolving music scene.
There haven’t been public court filings or officially confirmed legal case numbers accessible in mainstream press (some online posts refer to alleged case numbers, but those aren’t verified in major outlets).
The dispute is currently public and contentious, with both sides widely debated on social platforms and in Ghanaian entertainment news.
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