Ghanaian singer and 2025 TGMA Unsung Artiste of the Year, Yaw Darling, has addressed the backlash following his comments about being compared to Patapaa, explaining that his words were misunderstood and never meant as an insult.
In an interview with Andy Dosty on Showbiz Review Xtra, Yaw Darling clarified his initial statement, saying he only meant to express a preference for being likened to fellow singer Kuami Eugene due to their similar musical styles.
“I am a singer; Patapaa is not a singer, and we all know that,” he stated. “I meant I’d like to be likened to Kuami Eugene, who is one of the greatest singers in Ghana. I’d be happy to be compared to a singer and not an artist performing another genre.”
Yaw Darling acknowledged the criticism that followed his remarks, especially from media personality Sammy Flex, who advised him to apologize publicly. In response, the rising star revealed that apologizing was always his intention and said he plans to do so on X (formerly Twitter), despite being on tour in the Central Region.
“Patapaa is a good musician, and he came to mind, but I think people took it differently. If I didn’t express myself well, I want to use this opportunity to apologize,” he added.
He further explained that Patapaa’s name was the first to come to mind because of the stark difference in their musical styles.
“We have some who make music and others who simply sing. Patapaa’s music is different, trendy, and just jams. But with my kind of music, I take my time to write it, and that can be compared to Kuami Eugene and not Patapaa,” he said. “I’m not saying Patapaa’s music isn’t good, but it’s different from my style. I mentioned his name because I love his music and we’re both from the Central Region.”
Yaw Darling emphasized that he respects Patapaa’s talent and did not intend to demean him in any way. “I didn’t say it in a nice way, but I didn’t mean what I said in a negative way,” he concluded.
The controversy began when Yaw Darling suggested in a previous statement that he preferred to be compared to Kuami Eugene rather than Patapaa, a comment that sparked mixed reactions online.