Hammer Opens New Chapter In Hiplife

Hammer of the Last Two Popularly known as the 'Last Man Standing', Hammer of the Last 2, one of the instrumental geniuses who set out from Presec burst onto the music scene six years ago and has managed to earn the love, respect and recognition of his homeland and beyond.

The creator of the most respected hiplife artiste (Obrafour) and a few other artistes with very good songs (Deeba, Dogo, Tinny, Joe Frazier, Kwaw Kese, Okra, K.K. Fosu, TH 4 Kwages, etc) has finally inaugurated his record label with an outstanding compilation album with the theme 'Sounds Of Our Time'. The album hosts the graduates of 2004 from the Last 2 camp.

Music aficionados will remember Hammer as the one who did Obrafour's hit album 'Pae Mu Ka' and later followed up with Dogo, Tinny, Kwaw Kese, Okra. He became more serious with his trade after Obrafour's 'Pae Me Ka' became a hit.

This December and next year to be precise, Hammer officially becomes a triple threat since the release of his first compilation album nationwide. Featuring on the album are hit singles like 'You May Kiss the Bride', 'Ngbe Yee Yoo', 'The Workshop', 'Dora', 'Agyinamoa Kwesi', 'Asomdwe' and this doesn't end there. He will officially launch the album in January 2005.

Some say the highly sought after Hammer was born with the Midas touch but sadly Hammer has stopped making beats for outsiders unless you are a Last 2 member. The compilation is jammed packed with a host of "foot soldiers" (groomed artistes) who are eager to pay Hammer back for his countless contributions on an amazing array of hit beats and songs he's made.

Surprisingly Hammer introduces Scizo who is fortunate to ride on his first jama beat, 'Ka Shika Le'.

Hammer also collaborates with a slew of top-notch hiplife and highlife stars, including Obrafour, K.K. Fosu, Prince Jorge, Mr. Whyte, Red Eye and Adane Best for a peace song which was meant for the past elections, love song, a gospel song by Nana Kofi Frimpong, war song displaying the lyrical prowess by Motia and Okra called the Workshop, an ewe song by Agbeko and an English song by Trigger and Nigger. It also has a lot of messages that are vicious and educative.

Ghana Music.Com asked Hammer what Sounds Of Our Time compilation album stands for? "The transition from the first beat I played till now. A revolution of beat production to executive production", he said.

He has been a servant of hiplife for long and is writing a brand new chapter in the hiplife scene. "This compilation will be for foot soldiers who will graduate for 2004 and I'm currently grooming foot soldiers for 2005. The compilation will encourage new artistes and especially upcoming to come out", Hammer added.

Long hailed as Hammer's signature or mouthpiece, Nii Mantse blessed the compilation with nice interludes on the compilation.

We asked him also about the last Two camp, which Hammer has managed to train a sound engineer, called Jay Foley and the first female hiplife group called Last Page.

"I've been very blessed," says Hammer. "Currently there are 40 boys in camp been groomed for 2005.?Last 2 wants to flood the market with talents not people who just getaway with choruses". The Last Two camp has managed to generate enemies because of the degree of their excellence. After releasing this compilation it will pave the way for the recording of Kwaw Kese, Agbeko, Boli and Okra which will be ready by June 2005.

Last 2 is proud to say that they introduced signatures on songs and are happy to see other engineers follow their footsteps.

Because of his contribution to the hiplife game, Hammer hopes an organization should come out and introduce the hiplife awards so that categories like backing vocalist, best chorus, best rap group, best lyrics, best collaboration, etc can be opened.

He thinks sound engineers and musicians are here to make hiplife sell in millions not hating each other but been proud of each other.

My foot soldiers have never disappointed me that's why I think it will boom. Ghanaians will enjoy airplay of the songs while the boys prepare for concerts to make the compilation a successful one", Hammer added.

After serving hiplife for six years he's out to make own money and to protect the boys from hungry and cruel executive producers. If you want something done right, you do it yourself, and that's what he's doing for the foot soldiers.

The official website will be active very soon and the address will be www.thelasttwo.com but incase you are in hurry to grab (a) copies of the album you can call him on 233 24 451 9130 or email at last2@yahoo.com.