“I’m Still Paying the Debts”: Bullet Reveals Financial Struggles Behind Launching Late Star Ebony

Ghanaian music executive and RuffTown Records boss Ricky Nana Agyemang, popularly known as Bullet, has opened up about the financial sacrifices he made while building the career of late Ghanaian dancehall star Ebony Reigns. In a recent revelation, the artist manager disclosed that he is still paying off debts he incurred while investing heavily in the singer’s rise to fame.

According to Bullet, the journey to turning Ebony into a household name required significant financial commitment long before the success and recognition arrived. He explained that he took loans and invested large sums of money into production, promotion, and other aspects of the young singer’s career in the early stages when her music had not yet achieved national popularity.

Ebony Reigns, born Priscilla Opoku-Kwarteng, emerged as one of Ghana’s most influential female artists in the mid-2010s with hits such as “Kupe,” “Poison,” and “Sponsor.” Known for her bold stage presence and dancehall-inspired sound, she quickly became a dominant figure in Ghana’s music scene and later made history as the first female musician to win Artiste of the Year at the Ghana Music Awards.

Bullet played a central role in her rise. As the founder of RuffTown Records, he signed Ebony as the label’s first artist after discovering her talent through industry connections. From there, he worked closely with her to develop her musical style, branding, and stage identity. The investment, he revealed, went beyond normal artist management expenses, involving loans and personal financial risks to ensure that Ebony’s music received the promotion and exposure needed to break into Ghana’s competitive entertainment industry.

Despite Ebony’s rapid rise and chart-topping hits, Bullet says the financial returns did not match the scale of his initial investment. Contrary to public perception that the singer’s success brought major profits, he claims he never made substantial money from her career and is still settling the debts accumulated during that period.

Ebony’s career was tragically cut short in February 2018 when she died in a car accident at the age of 20, a loss that shocked the Ghanaian music industry and halted what many believed would have been an even more remarkable international trajectory. The singer’s death left not only an emotional void in Ghana’s entertainment scene but also lingering professional and financial consequences for those who had invested in her career.

Bullet’s comments highlight the often unseen side of artist development in Africa’s music industry. While fans typically see the glamour of success, hit songs, awards, and sold-out performances, the early stages of building a star can involve substantial financial risk for managers, record labels, and investors. Promoting a new artist often requires funding studio sessions, music videos, marketing campaigns, and media appearances, sometimes without immediate financial returns.

In the years since Ebony’s passing, Bullet has continued to expand RuffTown Records, working with artists such as Wendy Shay and other emerging talents.