Ghanaian socialite Samuel Safo, popularly known as Showboy, sat down with Deloris Frimpong Manso on the ‘Delay Show’ to discuss his journey in music and life.
In the interview, Showboy opened up about his introduction to Criss Waddle and the cause of the fallout between them.
From close friends to bitter rivals, here are some critical things Showboy said about Criss Waddle.
Meeting and collaboration
Showboy and Criss Waddle first crossed paths in Maryland through a mutual friend. Showboy wanted an artiste to work with, and Criss Waddle needed a support system.
“A friend called me and said I should meet up with the new guy called Criss Waddle; he had come to Maryland for a business but needed one more person to finalise the business.
“So I went and met Criss Waddle. We got talking, and he told me he was into music but was not getting the necessary support. I also needed an artiste to work with. So, I told him we could work together,” he recalled.
Mistreatment by R2Bees
According to Showboy, Criss Waddle felt mistreated by his former team, R2Bees. Despite his loyalty, Waddle did not receive the support he needed, prompting Showboy to suggest they start their own label. The AMG Record Label was created. This move was intended to give Waddle the backing he deserved.
“His problem was that he had been on the R2Bees team but was not being treated well. He was very loyal to them, so I didn’t understand. He didn’t outright tell me, so I went to do my research.
“One day, I came across a video showing R2Bees with Sarkodie and other artistes on one side while Criss Waddle was among the common floor members. Meaning he wasn’t being treated right.
“So I saw all that and told him to forget R2Bees; let’s start our own label. So we started AMG Record Label,” he stated.
Founding and funding
Showboy disclosed that he had founded that record label and that all expenses were fully sponsored by him.
“My focus was on Criss Waddle as an artiste, so I funded everything. I was the money behind it while he focused on the music. I founded and funded the label.
“The cars and everything was mine. I had two jobs; I was a security man and a barrister at a coffee shop. That’s how I made my money, and that’s what I used to sponsor the label,” he added.
Business Betrayal
The partnership turned sour when Showboy accused Criss Waddle of cheating him in a car deal. Showboy alleged that Waddle took a percentage of the money from the sale without his knowledge, leading to a significant fallout between the two.
“I got pissed because it was all my money. Even the license I was using to operate was mine. So I didn’t understand why he did that, and that’s what caused our fallout. Up until now, I still don’t understand why he did that,” he explained.
No support
Despite their differences, Showboy acknowledged that Criss Waddle had supported him financially during tough times. However, he felt there was an imbalance in their relationship, with Waddle not reciprocating the support when Showboy needed it most.
Background
Criss Waddle and Showboy had been friends for over eight years and had a close working relationship.
Their bond was often witnessed on social media, especially in 2016, when their AMG music group was thriving, and Waddle released his popular song “Bie Gya,” featuring Stonebwoy.
However, their friendship came to an end after so many unresolved issues.