Veteran Ghanaian rapper Nii Addo Quaynor, popularly known as Tinny, has shared the real reason he switched from rapping in Twi and English to performing in his native Ga — a decision that ultimately shaped his identity in Ghana’s hip-hop landscape.
In a recent interview, the “Makola Kwakwe” hitmaker revealed that he initially rapped in Twi and English to appeal to a wider audience.
“Yeah, I actually started as a Twi rapper. I was doing more Twi and English than Ga,” Tinny said. “Twi is the most spoken language in Ghana, so naturally, I thought using it would help my music spread faster. From a marketing standpoint, it made sense.”
But things changed when Tinny took a step back and asked himself an important question: “Am I really being myself?”
“I realised I wasn’t being original. I needed to represent where I come from — my roots. That’s when I went back to the drawing board and wrote songs like Makola Kwakwe. That was all me.”
There have been rumours that iconic producer Hammer convinced him to switch languages, but Tinny set the record straight:
“Nope. Nobody influenced that decision. I was rapping in Ga long before I met Hammer.”
He recalled meeting Hammer through fellow artist Doggo, who introduced him when the producer was looking for a Ga rapper for a project.
“Doggo told Hammer about me. I was at home when Hammer called. I drove there, we linked up—and that’s how it all started.”
Tinny described working with Hammer as an intense and inspiring experience:
“The energy alone was crazy. Hammer can mute everything and drop just a bassline that will blow your mind. It brings the creativity out of you.”
And what about talk that Hammer is “difficult to work with”? Tinny laughed it off:
“Maybe it’s a matter of understanding. I’m a handful myself, but Hammer still works with me. That says it all.”
Now firmly established as one of the most iconic Ga rappers in Ghana, Tinny’s story is a powerful reminder that authenticity wins in the long run.
