Ugandan dancehall star Vyper Ranking has responded strongly to fellow singer King Michael, following the latter’s recent comments criticizing the new generation of dancehall artists.
In a recent interview, King Michael — known for his early contributions to Uganda’s urban music scene — acknowledged the rising talent in the dancehall space but claimed that many new artists lack meaningful messages and catchy hooks in their songs.
“They have good voices, yes, but most of them are missing the message and signature phrases that define great dancehall music,” he said.
But Vyper Ranking, best known for hits like “Transport Money”, didn’t take those remarks lightly.
“First of all, I don’t consider King Michael as a Dancehall artist,” Vyper said boldly. “Secondly, if he can recognize me as a Dancehall artist, that is enough. It’s hard to talk about Dancehall right now and not mention my name. Because I worked for it — I am Dancehall.”
The outspoken artist continued his takedown by questioning King Michael’s relevance in the genre:
“I’ve never mentioned King Michael as one of the Dancehall musicians in Uganda. I’ve never even heard anyone else call him that. So, he can’t lecture me about Dancehall.”
Vyper Ranking also pulled international receipts to back up his claims, referencing the recent visit of Jamaican superstar Dexta Daps, who allegedly sought to meet him during his trip to Uganda.
“Even when Jamaican artists come here, they easily recognize me as a Dancehall artist — unlike him. Dexta Daps wanted to link up with me during his visit, but I was out of the country,” Vyper added.
The sharp response from Vyper Ranking has reignited conversation within Uganda’s dancehall scene about credibility, legacy, and the new wave of artists reshaping the genre.
With tensions rising, fans are now left wondering — will King Michael respond, or let Vyper’s words speak for themselves?
