Veteran Ghanaian rapper Nii Addo Quaynor, widely known as Tinny, has opened up about his early music journey, revealing that he initially rapped in Twi and English before switching to Ga to reflect his true identity and cultural roots.
“Yes, I actually started off rapping in Twi,” Tinny shared. “I was doing more Twi and English with just a little Ga—but I wasn’t a Ga rapper back then.”
Tinny explained that his early choice of Twi was based on its commercial reach, noting that it’s widely spoken across Ghana, which made it a practical choice for wider appeal.
“Twi is the most spoken language in Ghana. From a market perspective, it travels fast—so I chose it to gain traction.”
However, a period of self-reflection led him to change direction.
“I realized I wasn’t being authentic. I needed to be true to myself and my background. That’s when I went back to writing in Ga—songs like Makola Kwakwe came from that shift.”
Addressing rumours that acclaimed producer Hammer influenced his switch to Ga, Tinny set the record straight:
“It was my personal decision—long before I even met Hammer.”
He clarified that it was fellow artist Doggo who introduced him to Hammer:
“Hammer was looking for a Ga rapper for Doggo’s project. Doggo mentioned me, and when Hammer called, I went over. That’s how we met—so no, Hammer didn’t influence my style.”
Tinny described his collaborations with Hammer as creatively inspiring:
“Just being in the studio with Hammer was something else. He can mute everything and drop a bassline that drives you wild—even before layering other instruments. It brings out your raw creativity.”
Responding to comments from host George Quaye that some artists find Hammer difficult to work with, Tinny laughed and shared:
“Maybe it’s just a matter of understanding. I know I can be difficult, but Hammer still works with me.”
