Veteran rapper Nii Addo Quaynor, popularly known as Tinny, has revealed that despite being a challenging personality to work with at times, celebrated music producer Hammer continues to collaborate with him.
“Maybe it’s the understanding. I dey worry, but Hammer still works with me,” he said in an interview on Joy Prime’s Prime Time Show with host George Quaye.
Known for his signature Ga rap style and pioneering role in Ghana’s hiplife movement, Tinny opened up about his early musical journey and creative evolution.
He disclosed that he didn’t start out as a Ga rapper.
“Yeah, I actually started as a Twi rapper. I was doing more Twi and English than Ga, but I wasn’t a Ga rapper,” he admitted.
“You see, Twi is the most spoken language in Ghana, so when you’re doing something in Twi, you perceive that the faster it will go. Consider merchandising and market-wise, I mean, it goes fast.”
However, something about that path didn’t feel authentic to him.
“So I decided to do my thing in Twi. But 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 paper and I wrote songs like Makola Kwakwe and others.”
Asked if it was someone else’s idea to switch from Twi to Ga, Tinny was direct: “No one, I decided myself.”
He also addressed rumours that Hammer was behind the switch in language.
“No, this was way before meeting Hammer. I was a Ga rapper before meeting him,” he clarified.
Tinny recounted how he was introduced to Hammer: “I remember I met Hammer through Doggo. When Dogo was going to record his album, Hammer was looking for a Ga rapper.
“So Dogo 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.”
Describing their creative chemistry, Tinny spoke passionately about their connection.
“The feeling alone was great. Because Hammer is the type that can mute everything and drop you some baseline that you go crazy… wow… even before dropping the strings and everything.
“So it brings the feeling out of you. Like the creativity to come out. I love working with Hammer, one of the best engineers so far.”
Despite his own admission of being difficult at times, Tinny said their mutual respect and strong artistic bond have kept the collaboration going.
“I dey worry but Hammer still works with me,” he reiterated with a smile.
