Veteran rapper Nii Addo Quaynor, known in showbiz as Tinny, says no one influenced his decision to switch from rapping in Twi and English to Ga.
He made the revelation in an interview with George Quaye on Joy Prime’s Prime Time Show, clarifying the bold move that would later define his brand and career.
“Yeah, I actually started as a Twi rapper,” Tinny said when asked about his early music days. “I was doing more Twi and English than a bit of Ga, but I wasn’t a Ga rapper.”
He explained that language choice in music often comes down to reach and marketability.
“You see, Twi is the most spoken language in Ghana, so when you’re doing something in Twi, you perceive that it will go faster. Consider merchandising and market-wise—it goes fast. So I decided to do my thing in Twi.”
But something didn’t sit right.
“Later on, I realised that I’m not original. I have to be me and represent where I’m coming from. That’s why I went back to my pen and my paper and I wrote songs like Makola Kwakwe and others.”
Read also: I was appalled anytime I heard Tinny rapping in Twi – Hammer of the Last Two recounts
When asked who advised him to make the switch to Ga, Tinny was emphatic: “No one, I decided myself.”
George Quaye probed further, citing rumours that famed producer Hammer was behind the shift. Tinny dismissed the claim.
“No, this was way before meeting Hammer. I was a Ga rapper before meeting him. I remember I met Hammer through Doggo. When Doggo was going to record his album, Hammer was looking for a Ga rapper.
“So Doggo actually told Hammer about me, and I was home when he called me. I drove there, and I met him—and the rest is history, as they say. So it wasn’t Hammer at all.”
On working with Hammer, Tinny had nothing but high praise.
“The feeling alone was great. Because Hammer is the type that can mute everything and just drop you some baseline that makes you go crazy… wow… even before dropping the strings and everything.
“So it brings the feeling out of you. It brings out the creativity. I love working with Hammer—one of the best engineers so far.”
Asked about claims that Hammer was difficult to work with, Tinny laughed it off.
“Maybe it is the understanding. I dey worry, but Hammer still works with me.”