Ghanaian music duo, DopeNation, has revealed that their innovative “Ghanapiano” sound is causing them to be overlooked by local award schemes.
The twin brothers asserted that their unique musical style doesn’t fit into traditional categories, leading to their songs being excluded from nominations.
“The main reason DopeNation is being sidelined from awards is just because of the fact that our songs don’t sync into the categories after the Ghanapiano idea. ‘Zormizor’ could have taken Hiplife Song of the Year, but then ‘Zormizor’ is not Hiplife.”
DopeNation
Despite the lack of award recognition, the music duo believes being sidelined isn’t entirely negative.
“The thing about sidelining that is nice is the fact that you won’t be getting awards and nobody would be talking about you, but you won’t look broke, that’s if you are doing the right thing. You will make money.”
DopeNation
The duo reiterated that their primary focus remains on creating quality music for their fans, rather than seeking validation from award shows.
They also stressed what they perceive as political influence behind some award shows, arguing that this negatively impacts creativity within the industry.
“Some politics dey that thing ein back wey it dey spoil the craft to the extent that when we represent as a country, you no get sound,” they said in pidgin, suggesting that artistes might restrict their creative output to fit existing award categories.
“Because someone is trying to make a song that fits the Highlife, Hiplife, Hiphop, so they align their music in a year based on the categories available. So, you are restricting yourself.”
DopeNation
DopeNation Says They Birthed Top Artists
The Ghanaian music duo, known for their infectious Afrobeat and hiplife hits, bared it all in a candid interview, shedding light on their tumultuous experience with Lynx Entertainment and the challenges they faced in Ghana’s music industry.
The interview revealed the duo’s frustrations, resilience, and determination to carve their own path after leaving the label.
DopeNation, consisting of twin brothers Michael and Tony Boafo, discussed their strained relationship with a prominent figure in the industry, widely speculated to be Kuami Eugene, a former label mate at Lynx Entertainment.
The duo described an environment where they felt sidelined and disrespected, citing an incident where they were penalized for collaborating on a hit song with Mr. Drew and Creamy, which they also produced.
Despite their contributions to successful tracks like “Zanku” and “Confirm,” DopeNation revealed they faced accusations of copying styles and were excluded from key discussions, including their departure from the label after just nine months to a year.
The duo highlighted how their exit from Lynx Entertainment was misrepresented in the media, with headlines suggesting they left abruptly, despite having parted amicably with label head Richie Mensah.
They noted that Kuami Eugene’s comments during an interview, coinciding with his album release, fueled controversy by implying the music duo’s contributions were minimal.
This led to public backlash and a sense of betrayal, as friends and fans questioned their decision to leave.
DopeNation emphasized their hard work, pointing out that they produced hits for multiple award-winning artists before Kuami Eugene’s rise with “Boom Bang Bang,” a claim that resonated with fans on social media platforms like X, where posts praised their influence and called for their recognition in awards categories.
Despite the setbacks, DopeNation’s story is one of perseverance. They spoke of overcoming industry tensions, including being discouraged from collaborating with artists outside the label and facing unwarranted criticism.
The duo channeled their energy into independent projects, achieving over two million streams for recent releases and earning widespread acclaim for their unique sound and production prowess.
Their interview has sparked conversations about the need for unity and fairness in Ghana’s music industry, with fans on X expressing admiration for their honesty and resilience.
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