I don’t collaborate with contemporary artistes for hype – Rex Omar

Highlife great, Rex Owusu Marfo popularly known as Rex Omar has said, he does not need to collaborate with young and talented artistes in order to keep being relevant in the Ghanaian Music Industry.

The GHAMRO Chairman expressed that, he has already made a mark in the music industry and therefore does not need to leverage on another artiste’s hype to be trendy.

In an interview with Zylofon FM, he said; “I featured Trigmatic on my Nhyira song, that guy is like a younger brother to me, I featured Okyeame Kwame and Samini too, they are all like my younger brothers. I’ll even go down to do it for some of the younger artistes. But I’m a very proud artiste because I know what I have in me. I will not collaborate with an artiste because I want to stay relevant. I’ve already made my mark, I’ve paid my dues, I have nothing else to prove to anybody in Ghana. If I’m doing a collaboration with an artiste, it’ll be based on me trying to help them or me just making them feel that they matter. I don’t need anyone to make a hit because I’ve made hits and I can make more.”

He also added that, the Ghanaian Entertainment Industry is such that, there is a general perception that old celebrities need to vacate the scene for the younger ones to take over.

“I don’t see how I should think that someone who is 60 plus should leave the scene for me to replace them. For what reason? What we have to encourage is that, the young should have the opportunity to learn from the elderly ones. This behavior of Ghanaians when it comes to entertainment is very wrong.” He said.

According to the 53-year old highlife musician, the attitude of retiring old musicians must be discouraged because creativity has nothing to do with age.

In a recent post on Facebook, the ‘Abiba’ hit maker cited legendary African musicians who are still active in the music business but are older than him.

“1. SALIF KEITA is 68 and still active in music

2. ALPHA BLONDY is 65, and still very actively performing

3. RICHARD BONA is 50 and very active

4. ANGELUQUE KIDJO Is 58 and is very active

5. FREDDIE MEIWAY is 56 and very actively performing

6. BAABA MAAL is 64 years and very active.

7. EBO TAYLOR is 82 and is actively touring the globe.

I, REX OMAR am 53, so please STOP asking me to leave the music for the so called kids for creativity has nothing to do with age,” he posted.