Hammer of the Last Two
Image: Samson Osei. CC BY-SA 4.0. Source.
Summary
Hammer of the Last Two, born Edward Nana Poku Osei, is a Ghanaian record producer associated with hiplife and hip-hop. His work with Obrafour and other rappers helped make production a defining creative force in Ghanaian popular music.[1]
Life and career
The production work around Obrafour's 1999 Pae Mu Ka provided a decisive early opportunity. In a later interview he described that project as a shared first venture, undertaken to establish a musical identity. The Last Two subsequently became a platform for developing artists and presenting their work through compilation projects.[1]
Music and style
In a 2013 interview, Hammer described building a track gradually: drum patterns could precede a bass line, instrumental colors and chords, followed by discussion with the rapper about the song's subject. Allowing vocals and lyrics to develop was part of the process. The emphasis on emotional effect and revision explains an approach to beatmaking that also encompasses arrangement and artistic direction.[2]
Works and performances
Alongside Pae Mu Ka, The Execution Diary and Sounds of Our Time are useful reference points. Hammer explained that the latter compilation gave a growing circle of performers a route onto radio before they had individual albums. 'Kiss the Bride', performed by Bollie, was one of its widely recognized songs.[2]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Kwame Dadzie: Hammer on producing Pae Mu Ka, Ghana Weekend, 31 May 2019. Accessed 23 October 2026.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Abdullai Isshak / enewsgh: Hammer interview, reproduced by gh.landmusic4life, 21 August 2013. Accessed 23 October 2026.