Hammer Explains Why Sarkodie Is Switching To Rap In English – Says Vernacular Limit Rappers
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Veteran Ghanaian music producer, Edward Nana Poku Osei, widely known as Hammer, has explained why Sarkodie is switching to rap in English.
Speaking in a recent interview, the Last Two leader asserted that vernacular limits rappers.
According to him, it is not an easy task for rappers in Africa to get global recognition and breakthrough if they rap in their native languages.
However, Hammer indicated that the story is different when it comes to songs. He stressed that the reach of rap on the global stage depends on the language used.
“It’s easy to sell vernacular in a singing format than in rap because ‘sing-songs’ have melody. Rap songs are words. So the beats drive rap songs. Listen to Zibote, we still don’t know what they were talking about but we love it because it is a song-song.
It is easier for a ‘sing-song’ to cross over, like Asake with the Yoruba. He can cross over with it because it is a ‘sing-song’ but if you rap in Yoruba you will go hungry,” he told Kwame Dadzie on Joy FM.
On why Ghanaian rapper, Sarkodie now do more English rap, Hammer explained:
“Sarkodie has suffered out there. The reason he has transformed into an English rapper, is that he has to move on because the vernacular rap will limit you.”
Hammer revealed Sarkodie impressed him with his rap delivery on his ‘No Pressure’ album—which was released on July 30, 2021.