Award-winning Ghanaian rapper, Derrick Sarfo Kantanka, popularly known as Amerado, has revealed that his decision to pursue music was driven by the need to survive, rather than fame.

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“The main reason I got into music was to survive—I just wanted to eat,” he admitted. “Most of the time, I don’t even enjoy being an artiste,” he told  DJ Slim on Daybreak Hitz.

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According to him, he is also bothered by the constant pressure to give out money to fans, especially while stuck in traffic.

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“I feel restricted,” he said. “Whenever you’re in public, especially in traffic, you’re expected to hand out money to fans.”

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Despite the challenges he faces as an artist, Amerado says that his stage performances are nothing short of fulfilling.

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However, “The maintenance no be easy,” he added, stressing the demands and expectations that follow the life of a musician.

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Two years ago, the "Grace" rapper mentioned to Graphic Showbiz that he would never quit music to chase his academic dreams.

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At the time, he was a first-year student reading Political Science at the University of Ghana, Legon, where he acknowledged the huge demands of education but stressed that it would never influence him to shelve his music pursuit.

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“...I am never going to drop music. There’s no way I will quit music. No, not at all. I may give more time to my academics when school is in session and concentrate on music when we are on recess,” he said.

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Speaking on pursuing other career paths, the rapper mentioned that he will pursue politics as long as it doesn't affect his music career negatively.

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“I believe music business works hand in hand with politics because in both ventures, we are always working to convince people to become our core followers. Once I realise politics won’t hurt my music career, I will go into it," he said.

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Amerado is known for songs such as Grace, Obiaa Boa, Sin No More, Metua, Back 2 Sender , Kwaku Ananse, Abotr3, among others.

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In  2023, the musician made history by becoming the first rapper to win the Best Rapper award at the Vodafone Ghana Music Award (VGMA), which has now been rebranded as Telecel Ghana Music Awards (TGMAs.

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He was optimistic that his song, "Ankonam," would win Reggae Song of the Year at the 2025 VGMAs, however, he lost it to Stonebwoy.

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Meanwhile, he earned five nominations at the 2023 Telecel Ghana Music Awards (TGMAs) in the categories of Hiplife/Hiphop Artiste of the Year, Hiplife Song of the Year, Collaboration of the Year, Best Lyrical Performer of the Year and Hiphop Song of the Year.

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