So Shatta Wale released a short film, sorry music video for his one-second song Gringo on Friday, 27th April and the internet has been abuzz with mixed reactions. The Shatta Movement stans say their daddy’s video is the best out of Africa and can’t talk about anything else. Others are not so impressed and feel it is simply overhyped and over-rated.
Directed by internationally renowned video director Sesan for Film Factory and produced by David Nguyen, the music video which is a little over seven minutes long even though the song itself is less than three minutes long is said to be Gbee Naabu’s most expensive music video ever, thanks to Xylofon. The video has been trending since its release and fans have taken to making their own videos either miming to the song or just chilling while it plays in the background.
The scene of the video is set in 1885 with Shatta acting as El Shatta who comes from nowhere to snatch the girlfriend of the Smalltown villain Snake Eye, and instead of sticking to the script Shatta is heard singing about dating a very 21st century Cardi B, but it doesn’t seem to matter much to SM fans. Not everyone is kissing El Shatta’s ass on this one, with critics condemning the video as just an excuse to promote violence and drunkenness.
TV3’s Stephen Appiah has posted his thoughts on the video, and has described it as “lyrically empty”. Taking to his Facebook page, he posted:
I just want to say Gringo is lyrically empty.. Lyrics: Shatta Wale –
Intro
Yeah Joint, jus lemme know when di ting ready
Ah yeah
Mmm, leff dem
Verse 1:
Shout out to man gringo
Yes gringo, ringo
Wha’ happen
Hey Mandingo
Oya make me tell dem
Me never see nuh badman weh ah wear kaba
K3 sugar daddy fey
Am3 k33 maaba
If ah gyal say picture, me nuh say nah, nah
Everybody know me run dis town, yahman
Kudi, Kudi we ah smoke inna every corner
Ask ’bout Shatta Movement inna Ghana
Gyal dema whine when dem hear da number one banger
I like dema twerk
Can’t date Gaga
Hook:
Me dey and still ah hear what dem all are talking ’bout
Bad mind, fake friends me see dem walking out
If ah dem mute
I go talk about dancehall now
Verse 2:
If to haffi really to date a gyal
Me ah go date Cardi B
Woah, gyal so sleek
Gyal body hot like water weh yah bubble inna bath
Mmm, me nuh want to talk
‘member every soldier know haffi live inna di bush
Ah we rasta can show you di right kush
You seh unnu ah dancer
Come wit ya coun’ nush
If u issa man beat ah gyal – dat ah bush
Hook:
Me dey and still ah hear what dem all are talking ’bout
Bad mind, fake friends me see dem walking out
If ah dem mute
I go talk about dancehall now
Verse 3:
If ah nah me?
Who ah go talk ’bout it
Kenya, Ghana
If ah gyal seh push
Make sure you push it inna womb
Make sure she ah bad like wuu!
If you got a long cock, make sure you put it inna
Cuh di woman dem like it used
If you reach out, that’s nice
Slow down the dose before unnu ah go meet ???
Bwoy dis ah mi farmland
Me nuh wan’ see no bwoy fly over it like a crow
Bwoy watch ya mouth
Watch how you talk, cuz dis badman you see can act very cold
POW!!