It is official: one of New York's finest sons, the hip-hop veteran Busta Rhymes will be performing in Ghana on September 12th. Well, at least that is what the spread in the Daily Graphic newspaper said. Sponsored by the telecommunication giants MTN, Busta Rhymes is bringing his unique brand of Brooklyn-infused hip-hop to Accra. Given his Jamaican parentage, Busta Rhymes could probably trace his ancestry to our fair shores but that is another matter. Anyway, according to the concert poster I saw, it will cost GHC 80.00 to attend. That is approximately $55.00. *Yikes*. This concert is clearly not targetting the "ordinary people" circuit but then again since when have concerts by international superstars targetted anyone but the elite? Even for the elite, isn't GHC80.00 a tad steep? As much as I love remnants of a past-life in New York and still lament not attending the Wyclef show last year, would I pay GHC80.00 to see Busta Rhymes in these current times? Would you?
I'm not being funny but even here in London a ticket to a Busta Rhymes concert would probably cost less than 25 pounds. And that would be if he had had a big hit in the past few months! How are these promoters getting away with it?
ReplyDeleteWashed out rap star in Ghana..hahaha.Payed 30$ for jazz concert at hollywood bowl with top line stars and they were good sits..bye..
ReplyDeleteMmm, Ghc80 is waaaaay too steep! Hell, that would be my fuel money for 2weeks...well, I don't think so now but even the summer concerts I have seen have been about $30. What was Busta's last hit again? C'mon!
ReplyDeleteThey must have lost their minds. $80 for busta rhymes? IIIII dont think soooooo! No thank you!
ReplyDelete@Sankofa:Good point; I have no idea what the promoters are thinking! Sounds like they are just shooting for the moon with that price. Unfortunately, they might find quite a few empty eats
ReplyDelete@Patrick: *LOL* Washed out? *Ouch* I prefer to say "veteran". Besides, Mr Rhymes is still going strong...well, there is the lack of recent hits but that's another matter..$30 jazz concert? I would be all over that!
@Kwegyirba: well said! interestingly, that actually also comes up to my fuel money for two weeks! Personally,
I would rather drive :)
@Anonymous: To be fair at the current exchange rate it comes up to $55 but I still think they have completely lost the plot! way too expensive!
crazy but i m sorry the promoter will surely get a full house.
ReplyDelete@ kwabena Poku,are u sure that the promoters will get a full house. pls say it this way, the promoters will get a full of people with free tickets.....just look at the company whose sponsoring.
ReplyDelete@Sankofa and @kwegyirba Busta released a new album this year the title is Back on my B.S.. even though its a bit steep you will find people attending... if you look back the Jay-z concert was 60 and 100 Ghana cedis and it was a full house so 80GH i guess you the whole of Gh will attend...
ReplyDelete@ Abena i guess we should also factor in these's "ecomoniscous" times....lol!!!!
@Kwabena: You are probably right but I think that Bernard also has a point that if the conference hall is packed it may be because alot of people have free tickets...BTW: I heard the Wyclef show was not so packed. Could it also be down to the sponsors?
ReplyDelete@Bernard: I think you are spot on!
@Bonti: Precisely...the effects of the sub-prime mortgage/global economic recession or as we call them in Ghana "ecomoniscious times" are what are preventing me from all sorts of big expenses these days.
Was going to point out what B.O.N.T.I. said, I went to the Jay Z concert (ticket was a gift, would NEVER have paid GHc100) and the place was packed. Half of the crowd was GIS children, yes children from about 7 to 14 years old.
ReplyDeleteAnd believe me, their drivers waiting outside for them did not look happy at all, after all, how many on them are even earning GHc100 a month?
Unfortunately the Ghanaian show off mentality ensures that these overpriced concerts continue to sell out.
*LOL* Maya, tragically that is so funny! I hear you on the materialistic show-off culture that is so distinctly Ghanaian...or what I call "Keeping up with the Mensahs".
ReplyDeleteI would really be curious to see what effect the current "ecomonious times" will have on the GIS kiddies and the concert turn-out!
Woni Sika a wose 3mo 3men ----> translates you would say rice is not satisfying only when you cant afford it. Personally I think $ 80 is a fair price to pay for Dr. Rhymes. (Did you guys know he is a Dr.?)
ReplyDeleteHehehe Edward!! Clearly I cannot afford the rice. Dr. Rhymes? Mmm...never knew. Will you be going to the show?
ReplyDeleteI don't have such an amount to easily dish out, so I wouldn't. Besides, I think GHC 80 is too much for Busta, how much then would we have to dish out to attend a Chris Brown-Rihanna concert (????###) or even a Jordin Sparks show (my favourite artiste of the year...esp the "Tattoo" and "One Step at A time" can't have enough of those...my Nightlife is limited...
ReplyDelete@ Abena, frankly I dont think I can make it. First of all I aint got nobody to go with and I hate watching such shows all alone. Till I get someone I can go with ....I will always say NO to these shows...brrrrrrrrr!
ReplyDelete@Nana F-A: A Chris Brown-Rihanna Concert? now that is going to be one helluva expensive reunion tour to attend! I agree Jordin Sparks would be good o see but I can't see myself paying for that. BTW; did you know she came to GH with GW Bush last year?!Well, at least that's what my brother told me...
ReplyDelete@Edward: Then the solution is simple! Take ME to the concert I'm available ;) You get the tickets and I get the erm....rice?! Dynasty or Papaye?
I would never pay $55 dollars to see him here in Canada. As a matter of fact he was just here like two weeks ago and the tickets were not that high. So I'm also wondering how these promoters get away with it.
ReplyDelete@Prissy: That is interesting that Mr. Rhymes appears to be doing a world tour at lower rates! Sigh...I'm sure the promoters are smiling all the way to the bank!
ReplyDeleteCheck out this new Busta song so dope:
ReplyDeletehttp://qwreck.blogspot.com/2009/11/official-busta-rhymes-video-world-go.html