Love me for me – Koshens urges Kenyans to stop comparing him to Vybz Kartel
By William Muthama, July 17, 2026Jamaican dancehall star Koshens has appealed to his Kenyan fans to stop comparing him to fellow dancehall icon Vybz Kartel, saying he wants to be appreciated for his own music and achievements.
The singer shared the message on Friday, July 17, 2026, through his Instagram page while drawing a comparison with the long-running rivalry between football legends Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.
In a video, Koshens said constant comparisons often take attention away from an artiste’s own accomplishments, just as he believes comparisons between Ronaldo and Messi have overshadowed Ronaldo’s legacy.
“You know me there, Cristiano Ronaldo a big baller. I just see him fans a problem. The man can’t get all him peace, everything dem compare him to Messi,” he said.
He added that fans should celebrate an artiste’s success without measuring it against someone else’s career.
Love me for me
In the caption accompanying the video, Koshens turned his attention to his Kenyan fan base, saying the situation reminded him of how some Kenyans frequently compare him to Vybz Kartel, popularly known as “di teacha.”
“That’s like when my 🇰🇪 Kenyan fans try to compare me to di teacha! PLZZZZ DONT DO DAT🤣. Love me for me and dont compare!!! CR7 fans jus love di dawg and dont compare an everything will be better 😃,” he wrote.
Long-running comparison
Comparisons between Koshens and Vybz Kartel are not new among Kenyan dancehall fans. For more than a decade, the two have often been pitted against each other in conversations about who is the better entertainer, lyricist or performer.
The debate gained traction during the 2010s when both artistes enjoyed massive popularity in Kenya, with their songs dominating clubs, radio stations and street playlists.
While Vybz Kartel built a reputation as one of dancehall’s most influential lyricists, Konshens earned a loyal following through hits such as Gal a Bubble, Pull Up to Mi Bumper and Turn Me On.
Their music has remained a staple in Kenya’s entertainment scene, with fans continuing to debate their influence despite the artistes taking different career paths over the years.