“It’s heartbreaking to be in this industry for nearly 10 years and still be called an up-and-coming artiste just because your name isn’t trending.

“It’s not just inaccurate. It isn’t very respectful. I know people who’ve been grinding longer than some of the big names today, yet because the spotlight hasn’t hit them, they’re boxed in as underground. It makes all their years of work look meaningless,” he said, visibly pained.

For Phatelinuks, the word underground is more than a label — it’s a wall. A wall that keeps talented musicians in the shadows, while others bask in mainstream attention.

“This tag needs to go. It’s outdated, discouraging and mentally draining. If you must describe us, call us musicians. Nothing more. Nothing less’, he stressed.

He called on media houses, promoters, pundits and event organisers to rethink their language when describing artistes who are yet to ‘blow’. (Read The man being head of family just a biblical talk in today’s world- Pamela Odame)

“We should build people up, not break them with words. Calling someone who’s spent a decade perfecting their craft ‘up and coming’ is a slap in the face. If we want to grow our industry, we must respect every stage of an artiste’s journey,” he urged.

Beyond labels, Phatelinuks also raised alarm over another challenge strangling careers in Ghana’s music industry — the audience’s lack of patience.

“In Ghana, people move on if you go quiet for too long. The audience doesn’t wait for anyone. The moment you pause, someone else takes your place and catching up becomes almost impossible,” he explained. 

He referenced once-popular groups such as Getty and Friends, who struggled to return to the limelight after taking time off. “Not because they lost their talent but because they lost the public’s attention. In today’s world, absence is not forgiven”, he clarified.