Don’t Turn Dancehall Into Hate”:Sugar Ranking to Shatta Movement & BHIM Nation Fans

Ghanaian dancehall artiste Sugar Ranking has appealed to fans of Shatta Movement and BHIM Nation to stop attaching unnecessary emotions and hostility to musical competition, warning that such actions could negatively affect the industry’s growth.

Speaking during an interview on Daybreak Hitz on July 21, 2026, Sugar Ranking said both fan bases have played significant roles in promoting Ghanaian dancehall and should focus on supporting the culture rather than creating divisions.

According to him, Shatta Movement and BHIM Nation have achieved remarkable success, but some supporters are attempting to undermine the efforts and contributions of the pioneers of the genre simply to gain attention online.

“Shatta Movement and BHIM Nation have done tremendously well. But the fans, they are trying to distort the toils of the giants seriously because they want to trend,” Sugar Ranking stated.

He explained that music is part of showbiz and healthy competition is one of the elements that keeps the industry exciting. However, he urged fans not to allow personal emotions and hatred to influence how they perceive artistes’ lyrical battles.

“We are here for the betterment of the industry. Sometimes competition makes the industry interesting. If the person is competing without hate, without anything attached to it, followers should follow as such. They should stop trying to add emotions to it,” he said.

Sugar Ranking stressed that dancehall culture has always involved lyrical rivalry, which should not be mistaken for physical conflict.

“Dancehall has come to stay. It will stay. The dancehall culture is violent — not physical violence, but lyrically. It’s lyrically violent. They should accept it that way,” he explained.

The artiste noted that reggae dancehall is built around strong lyrical expressions, debates and competitive performances, and fans must understand that such exchanges are part of the culture.

“That is dancehall, that is reggae dancehall, that is the culture. Lyrically violent, they should accept it that way,” he added.

Sugar Ranking identified fans as his major concern, urging them to protect the unity and progress of Ghana’s music industry.

“The fans are my only concern now,” he said, while expressing appreciation to supporters across different camps.

“I love all of them — BHIM Nation, Shatta Movement, the Ranking Family. Now they say it’s true, it’s Ranking Family, BHIM Nation and Shatta Movement,” he added.

He further acknowledged other established dancehall movements, mentioning High Grade and describing the relationship between the different groups as connected through their shared love for the culture.

“We have High Grade, we have others. High Grade and Ranking Family, we are the same,” Sugar Ranking stated.