In a recent turn of events, Dancehall musician Vyper Ranking has clapped back at King Michael, following the latter's comments that questioned Vyper’s place among the top dancehall artists in Uganda. King Michael, in a YouTube interview, made headlines after claiming that Vyper’s music lacked depth and that he didn’t belong in the upper echelons of the dancehall scene.
Responding swiftly to the critique, Vyper Ranking shot down the allegations, stating that he doesn’t recognize King Michael as a legitimate dancehall artist. According to Vyper, the long-standing artist’s remarks were an attempt to disrespect his craft, but he wasn’t having any of it.
“I do not know King Michael as a dancehall artist, but it is enough if he recognizes me as one,” Vyper said, adding that it's hard to talk about dancehall in Uganda without mentioning his name. “I worked hard for that, and I deserve it. I will not mention his name. Maybe it’s because he was in the industry before we were born,” Vyper continued, implying that Michael’s criticism stems from outdated opinions.
The drama unfolded when King Michael criticized Vyper's music, claiming it lacked the "depth" required of a top-tier dancehall artist. Vyper, unbothered, took the opportunity to break down what it truly takes to be considered a respected figure in the genre. "A good dancehall artist must follow the genre’s principles: music, flow, and lyrics on the dancehall beats,” Vyper explained, suggesting that King Michael’s music doesn’t adhere to these foundational elements.
Vyper further accused Michael of judging him without fully understanding his music. “He talked about me because he doesn’t listen to my music, and he was quick to judge. Such a person cannot advise me because if we are to compare, I’m so far above him,” Vyper emphasized. He also pointed out that even international visitors, particularly Jamaicans, have recognized his talent and impact on the dancehall scene.
The tension doesn’t stop there. Vyper bluntly criticized King Michael’s contributions to the genre, saying, “I do not think he has five dancehall songs. And he stopped years back. I only know two songs, and by then I was very young. That is not dancehall.” For Vyper, a lack of consistency and impact on the genre disqualifies Michael from any serious consideration as a dancehall artist.
To further drive his point home, Vyper compared King Michael to other more relevant and successful names in Uganda’s music scene, including A Pass. “I can only listen to artists like A Pass because he is very talented, his brand is doing well, his music is trending, and he has done many successful things,” Vyper stated. “But looking at DJ Micheal, he has been around for so long but surprisingly had his first major concert recently.”
