Jamaican dancehall star Konshens has asked his Kenyan fans to stop comparing him to fellow artist Vybz Kartel.
He posted the message on Instagram and used the long-running football rivalry between Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi to explain his point.
In a short video, Konshens said being compared to someone else takes away from a musician’s own achievements.
He said Ronaldo is a great player, but constant comparisons to Messi make it hard for Ronaldo to get peace and full recognition from other fans, for what he has done.
“You know me there, Cristiano Ronaldo a big baller. I just see him fans a problem. The man can’t get all him peace, everything dem compare him to Messi,” he said.
Konshens then addressed his Kenyan followers directly. He wrote in the post’s caption that he wished Kenyans would stop comparing him to Vybz Kartel, who is known as “di teacha.” “That’s like when my Kenyan fans try to compare me to di teacha! PLZZZZ DONT DO DAT”.
“Love me for me and don’t compare!!! CR7 fans jus love di dawg and dont compare an everything will be better,” he added.
Fans in Kenya have long debated who is the better dancehall star. During the 2010s, both Konshens and Vybz Kartel were very popular in Kenya.
Their songs were played in clubs, on radio, the streets and in Matatu ‘nganya’. Vybz Kartel became known as one of dancehall’s top lyricists, while Konshens won a loyal following with hits like “Gal a Bubble,” “Pull Up to Mi Bumper,” and “Stop sign.”
Though the two artists took different paths in their careers, their music still plays across Kenya.