Joey B Opens Up on Asthma Battle, Going Silent, Shaker’s Role in His Career, and the Making of Sexy High Life

For years, the Ghanaian rapper and singer has managed to stay relevant without chasing noise, controversy, or constant social media attention. He disappears, returns when he feels like it, drops something unexpected, then somehow finds himself right back in the centre of the conversation.

In a rare sit-down interview, Joey B opened up about the quiet years, his health struggles, the people who shaped his journey, and the thinking behind his latest project, Sexy High Life. For an artist who barely does interviews, this one felt like a proper archive moment.

The silence was not laziness. It was health.

One of the biggest revelations from the conversation was Joey B’s battle with asthma.

According to him, he did not even know he had asthma at first. He would feel weak, tired, and unable to breathe properly, but he initially treated it like malaria, cold, or sinus issues. It got worse because of his studio lifestyle.

Joey explained that he used to sleep in studios, and the conditions there made the situation harder on his body. At some point, he had to step back and take his health seriously.

But quitting music was never an option.

When asked whether the illness ever made him consider giving up, Joey’s answer was firm: absolutely not. He only needed time to regain his strength.

That explains a lot about his long periods away from the public eye. Fans may have thought he was simply being mysterious, but behind the silence was a real health situation and a need to recover properly.

Shaker changed everything

Joey B also spent a lot of time giving flowers to the people who helped him early on, especially Shaker.

He described Shaker as one of the most important people in his career. In fact, Joey said if someone gave him a million dollars, he would give Shaker a good portion of it for putting him on.

Their story began in school. Joey had been repeated in class six, something he said deeply affected him and made him more introverted. But that same setback eventually placed him on a path where he met Shaker at Accra High.

According to Joey, Shaker heard him freestyle and immediately took his number. From there, things started moving. Joey began spending time around Shaker, missing classes sometimes just to be around the music.

Looking back, Joey sees that moment as part of God’s timing.

It is one of the most interesting parts of his story. Something that felt embarrassing at the time later became the reason he crossed paths with one of the people who would shape his music life.

The name “Joey” came from a stranger

Another funny part of the interview was the story behind his name.

Joey B’s real name is Daryl. The name “Joey” was not a childhood nickname from family or some carefully planned artist brand. It came from a random American man at school who called him Joey because, in his words, he looked like a Joey.

His friends heard it and started calling him that too.

Joey later checked the dictionary and found out a joey is a baby kangaroo, which made him feel insecure at first. But the name stuck. Years later, it became one of the most recognisable names in Ghanaian music.

“Tonga” was a blessing he did not see coming

Of course, the conversation had to touch on Tonga.

Joey described the hit song as a blessing. He admitted that he does not particularly enjoy hearing it now because it has become tiring to him, but he understands what it did for his career.

He revealed that the idea came after hearing a song during a night out. The next day, he went to the studio and wanted to create something with a similar feeling. He also said he co-produced Tonga, adding ideas and elements during the creation process.

The song eventually became one of the biggest records of his career and helped push him into a wider space.

He also spoke about Sarkodie’s role in his rise. Their relationship started naturally through tours, humour, and music circles. Sarkodie later pushed for them to work together, which led to songs like Two Parties.

Joey B says he has been independent since 2013

One of the most important details from the interview was Joey B’s independence.

He revealed that he has been an independent artist since 2013. For him, survival in the industry has come down to knowing how to save, invest, and move wisely.

That part of his story matters because Joey B has never operated like the typical mainstream artist. He does not flood social media. He does not force releases. He does not chase every trend. Yet his name keeps coming up.

His formula seems simple but difficult to copy: make what feels right, protect your peace, and trust the timing.

Small God helped him learn discipline with money

Joey also shared a personal story about Small God, whom he called “Godfather.”

He said Small God once helped him open a bank account and pushed him to take saving seriously. According to Joey, Small God was strict with him at the time and encouraged him to put money aside instead of spending carelessly.

Years later, Joey still remembers that lesson clearly.

It is a rare glimpse into the behind-the-scenes relationships that helped shape him, not just as an artist, but as a person navigating fame, money, and adulthood.

Sexy High Life is Joey B doing what he feels

On his new project, Sexy High Life, Joey made it clear that he was not trying to overcomplicate anything.

He described it as a project made for the weather, something cool for people to hold on to. The sound, according to him, was inspired partly by his time in New York and by the idea of flipping older Ghanaian sounds into something fresh.

He mentioned sampling highlife influences and blending them with a “sexy drill” feel, similar in spirit to what artists like Cash Cobain do with older records.

Songs like Princess, Roses, News at 8, and collaborations with artists like Bisa Kdei came up during the conversation. Joey spoke warmly about Bisa, calling him a legend and praising the quiet but profitable path Bisa has built for himself.

The project may not have arrived with loud promotion, but that is very Joey B. He makes the music, puts it out, and lets people find their way to it.

His advice to new artists is simple

Toward the end of the conversation, Joey shared advice for younger artists.

He told them not to focus only on songs or hits. Instead, they should enjoy the process, trust their instincts, and make the kind of music they genuinely feel.

For Joey, talent alone is not enough. Grace matters too.

That belief seems to explain how he has lasted this long. He has never looked desperate for attention, yet attention keeps finding him. He has never tried too hard to explain himself, yet people remain curious about him.

Joey B is still Joey B

The interview reminded fans why Joey B remains one of Ghana’s most loved artists.

He is funny without trying too hard. Spiritual without sounding performative. Private, but not empty. Grateful, but still honest about hurt and disappointment. And above all, deeply aware of the people and moments that helped build him.

Sexy High Life may be the new project, but the bigger story is Joey B himself: an artist who has survived illness, silence, industry shifts, and time, while still sounding and feeling like nobody else.

He may disappear again after this. Knowing Joey B, he probably will.

But when he returns, people will still listen.