C.E.O of SLIP Music was on Starr Chat with Bola Ray and we shared with you excerpts of his interaction where he exclusively spoke about Sarkodie, M.anifest, Stonebwoy, Shatta Wale and Obuor.
Mark Okraku Mantey however has made countless revelations, which has not been reported and it will spin your eyes in its sockets whilst your jaw drop if you get to know. So we shall take you through all.
Before we get to know about the fight that exactly happened between Mark and Shatta Wale during his Bandana days, let’s start with Mark’s childhood memories with his ‘Party Hard Father‘ and school life.
1. Mark Okraku Mantey who is 43 years now, went to Datus School Complex in Accra and continued later to St. Augustine’s College in Cape Coast for his ‘O Level’ education.
2. Mark’s Father, Nana Okraku Mantey who passed on recently at the age of 69 was a fun and party man. According to Mark, it doesn’t take his Dad anything to set a party scene at home whenever he feels like. Nana Okraku purchased kinds of musical gadgets, which is often music players. This brewed Mark’s love for playing songs with such gadgets available at his disposal.
His skilful playing around the age of ten attracted his Father’s attention, who recommends him to play at shows for his friends which most were funerals. So Mark was some sort of Funeral DJ at such tender age until when his Mom asked his father to stop sending him to funerals.
3. Mark didn’t give up playing music when he got to Augusco. He holds the record of being the youngest Augusco DJ as at then who played at the School’s Entertainment (Records Night) at the age of 13/14. An opportunity reserved for few Final Years in Augusco who are DJs but Mark had such opportunity in his 3rd year. He told Bola Ray he didn’t mind walking from Augusco to Adisco just to get music whilst he never even visited some houses in Augusco before.
4. Mark Okraku Mantey is not Mathematically inclined. So he failed his Maths exams in Augusco and subsequently failed his re-sit in the then Worker’s College. Where he met industry folks like Kwami Sefa Kayi who he described as a Comedian then. Mark couldn’t smoothly pursue his education to a higher level until he had a private Sixth Form Education at Labone Secondary School. At Labone, Mark met George Adjetey Anan (Pusha) who was then S.P at Labone.
5. Mark aka “cut” or “Salas” during his private Sixth Form Education started gallivanting in the music playing vicinity. He played at notable clubs in Accra at places deemed for the Elites. Such as old Accra clubs like Counter Baron, Bam Tarven, Prime Cuts, and Wood Man. By this means Mark met folks like the late P.V Obeng and others. Mark doesn’t like talking when DJing, he only serves the music hot and makes the music do the talking for him and he never played at crowded open space events, exclusively he was for the elites.
6. Mark gained popularity and made it to be part of the pioneer crew that started Joy Fm. At this age Mark was 21 and he hosted almost every show on Joy Fm in the exception of the Morning Show. However “Multi Track Show” was his primary programme on Joy Fm. He remained with the Kwasi Twum Multimedia Group of Companies, which birthed HitzFm where he is currently the Programmes Manager.
7. After one year with Joy Fm, Mark ventured into music production where his greatest fame and success was chalked. He executively produced Oheneba Kissi, Daasebre Dwamena, Lord Kenya and a chunk of others like Adani Best, Akyeame, Joe Frazier.
It will Shock you to know that Lord Kenya with all the hype is NOT in the top 10 best-selling recording artists Mark ever produced. According to him lovers of hip life were only noise makers then and don’t buy CDs so Oheneba Kissi and Daasebre Gyamenah actually did the numbers and the cash for him.
8. Mr. Okraku distributed ‘Bandana From Ghana’ for Shatta Wale back in the days. The outcome of this is their sour relationship as Shatta Wale accused Mark of stealing from the proceeds. “He insulted me and said I was a thief … if you do not forgive God won’t forgive so I jumped over that issue”. Mark said.
9. Mark is not married but hopefully, he says this year because change has come. He has 3 daughters from 2 women. Jozy of Tv3 music music fame gave him 2 as they lived for 10 years. Jozy is married now to a different man and Mark says Jozy is now in a “no go area” zone.
10. Mark was part of the team that wrote the Creative Arts manifesto for the NPP. He did not actually decline a Dep. Ministerial job. The fact is that an influential politician opted to lobby for him to get that appointment and he declined the offer. In his educational pursuit, Mark has recently acquired a Degree now and opting for his Masters soon.
So if you think Mark talks a lot, remember it’s only his pedigree in the showbiz circles that outweighs his lips
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