Former Black Stars captain Asamoah Gyan recently took to social media to share the struggles he has faced due to his straightforward personality and refusal to conform.
While addressing the Kantamanto fire incident, Gyan shifted focus to discuss how staying genuine has often led to disrespect and criticism.
He compared his experiences to those of musician Shatta Wale, highlighting similarities in how both have dealt with hatred while staying true to their authentic selves.
Asamoah Gyan explained that his humility is often misinterpreted as a weakness, even by individuals, including some accomplished legends, whom he has surpassed in achievements.
He emphasized that he does not hesitate to call out such behavior, even if it results in being perceived as disrespectful.
Gyan likened this approach to Shatta Wale’s, noting that both share a tendency to stand their ground and address issues directly when their values are challenged.
“I’ve achieved more than some of my colleagues, but when I see them, I respect them. Because I respect them, they try to disrespect me and take me for granted. But when they do, I quickly let them know that they cannot try that with me. I make them aware that I have achieved more than them, and it’s out of respect that I obey them,” Gyan explained.
He continued, “That is how Shatta Wale is. When Shatta Wale sees Reggie Rockstone and other legends, he will bow down. It doesn’t mean he is stupid. But when those legends step on his toes, he will insult them to remind them of their place. That guy, watch his life and watch mine. It’s a natural gift.”
Asamoah Gyan further emphasised his belief that he has always been “the chosen one,” receiving opportunities amidst millions of others.
“From my infancy, I’ve always been favoured and chosen for opportunities. You can ask around. It’s a gift that no one can take away from me. I always stand out. Out of thousands, and millions, I’m often the chosen one. That’s how Shatta Wale is. Sometimes, I get shocked by these personal traits,” he stated.
The former Black Stars captain then recounted how years ago, after the success of Shatta Wale’s “Bandana” track, the artiste was blacklisted by the music industry because he refused to conform and remained true to himself.
“When he released ‘Bandana,’ it blew up and he was happy. But fast forward a year or two, I saw Nii Armah (Shatta Wale) on the streets looking dirty and unkempt. According to the facts I gathered, at that time, Shatta Wale didn’t comply with the industry’s expectations. He is a real person. You can’t tell him what to do, so people in the industry wanted to control him. Because he didn’t allow that, they cut his music off from the mainstream media and sabotaged him to the point where he went broke,” Asamoah Gyan said.
He added, “He was from a rich home but decided to go on the streets. I was coming back from training when I saw him, and I parked and cried. My classmate, who after the ‘Bandana’ hit was looking like that, I was hurt. So, I stopped in front of Blue Lagoon, where he stayed with his friends, and interacted with him. I asked what happened, and he said, ‘Life happened.’”
