Popcaan Reacts To Death Of Ghanaian Dancehall Artist Unruly Grank

Jamaican Dancehall superstar Popcaan has reacted to the stabbing death of rising Ghanaian artist Unruly Grank, aka Soft Metal, allegedly by a fellow Cape Coast artist. Unruly Grank was previously known as Gully Grank, but changed his name after Unruly Boss’ visit to Ghana one year ago.

Grank, whose real name is Emmanuel Aikins, was stabbed to death with a cutlass in Cape Coast on Sunday (February 7).  The alleged assailant, Dancehall artist Shadow, has been arrested, according to reports by GhanaWeb and PulseGhana.

Police in the West African country confirmed the incident and said that Shadow, whose real name is Bright Ellis, stabbed Grank after a ‘misunderstanding’ ensued between them at the Orange Beach Resort near the Cape Coast Castle. Ellis, who also sustained injuries, reported to a police station to make a statement and was later arrested at an area hospital. 

Unconfirmed reports say that Grank first pulled out the cutlass, which was taken away by Ellis who stabbed Grank on his neck during the incident. 

Video surfaced online that showed friends and family wailing as Unruly Grank’s body was removed from the scene.

Popcaan, who has a huge fanbase in Ghana, reacted to news of Unruly Grank’s sudden death in an Instagram Story yesterday and wrote, “Strength to the cape coast youths. Rest up Grank @unruly.grank_” with the prayer emoji.

Grank reportedly met and displayed his talents to the Unruly Boss after the Jamaican’s visit to the Cape Coast Castle in January 2020, for the Year of Return.

Popcaan was supposedly impressed by a freestyle from Gully Grank, and offered him the name Unruly Grank instead, according to TasteNews.   The artist later wrote in an Instagram post last year, “@popcaanmusic gave me that name …I will make him proud with that name”.

Grank, 24, started out in the industry in 2016 and is said to have “taught himself to speak patois”. His first breakthrough hit was Jah Know which won best Dancehall song of the year at the Central Music Awards in 2018.

His recent tracks included Frass Pon Frass and Pull Up.