Wei Ye Oteng has recalled how, over the years, living in Ghana has taught and inspired several music superstars from Nigeria.
The popular music producer and instrumentalist asserted:
“If we ignore that creativity is the base, and we need to be original, the Nigerian sound will keep moving ahead of us”.
Wei Ye Oteng
He explained:
“They have the people, they are producing more, they are moving ahead, their sound – they have the money…”.
Wei Ye Oteng
He reminded the audience of a time when the likes of “Tony Harmony and 2Face Idibia [now 2Baba]” would drive all the way from Nigeria to Ghana and go to a studio like “Hush Hush” to work.
He revealed:
“Nigeria’s Highlife superstar, Flavour N’abania, has slept in my studio for about a week before. Ask Ricky Anokye who brought him to my studio”.
Wei Ye Oteng
Rhetorically, he asked:
“Why do all these people come here to gather momentum and the fundamentals and go and make it? It’s because we have the originality but we are failing to practice it”.
Wei Ye Oteng
He added that Nigerians have the numbers and when they come to Ghana, they pick things here, and they can capitalize on it.
He cited when Chris Brown went on the 106 & Park stage in 2013 and intimated Azonto is from Nigeria. Meanwhile, Ghanaians made it.
He admonished Ghanaian music makers:
“Let’s be original, let’s create our own stuff, and stop falling on too many loops . I’m not saying it’s not good”.
Wei Ye Oteng
Wei Ye Oteng on why Ghanaian music sounds Nigerian, uninspired, boring, ‘disgraceful’
Wei Ye Oteng said Ghanaian music sounds Nigerian because local music makers are using samples created and curated by Nigerian producers.
He said:
“Do you know why most people think now Ghana our songs sound like the Nigerians’? It’s because most of the samples we are using are from Nigeria. Nigerian producers create the samples”.
Wei Ye Oteng
However, he added that he has bought numerous samples and sent shout-outs to Two Kings, he said if you call him for samples, he will resell them and take his margin.
He pointed out that the same drum rolls can be heard in the music of about 50 producers, indicating that’s the reason all the songs sound familiar these days.
The popular music producer cited that there are times singer Akwaboah does what he is known for and his outstanding composition and arrangements of songs.
He added:
“But if Akwaboah wants to do some of the trendy songs, see the kind of [cliché] beats he rides on – so you see? The difference is clear”.
Wo Ye Oteng
Oteng said it is now “difficult” for most of Ghana’s veteran music figures to do music.
He explained:
“It’s not because they don’t have desire, but it’s because they wish they could do a few changes to the beat given them but it is impossible because it’s done and unalterable.
“Ghanaians are doing a disservice to ourselves, and disgracing the producers of old who sat in the studio and did those creative creations that some of us learned from and were inspired by that and has today made us who we are”.
Wo Ye Oteng
He gave a standing ovation to “Uncle Zapp [Mallet]” for being one of the creative music programmers.
Others, in his view, are Jay Q, Morris Babyface, Roro, Appietus, Kaywa, and Da Hammer, among others.
He argued:
“You wonder why we keep mentioning the same names, the same range? It’s because these people were creators. Within their minds, they took their time, took their pianos and other instruments, and created”.
Wei Ye Oteng
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