Ghanaians would hype Twi Pop if a foreigner created it — Dr Cryme
Ghanaian musician Dr Cryme has stirred conversation in the music space after claiming that his “Twi Pop” sound would have gained wider acceptance if it had been introduced by a foreign artiste.
Speaking in a recent interview on Angel FM in Kumasi, the rapper expressed disappointment over what he believes is a lack of support for homegrown innovation. According to him, Ghanaian audiences often show more excitement towards ideas that originate from outside the country.
“If a foreigner had created Twi Pop, we would have jumped on it,” he said, adding that his genre has struggled to gain recognition because it was seen as different from the already established Hiplife sound.
Dr Cryme explained that beyond the sound itself, branding and naming a genre play a major role in how it is accepted by listeners. He noted that many music styles existed before they were properly defined, but once they were given a name, they gained identity and direction.
Drawing a comparison, he credited Reggie Rockstone for pioneering Hiplife, a genre that has now become widely recognised both locally and internationally. However, he stressed that Ghanaian music should not be limited to one dominant style.
“We cannot say Ghana music should be one style. Other countries have many genres that we even copy from,” he said.
The musician said his decision to create Twi Pop was intentional and driven by a desire to leave a lasting legacy. He described the genre as a fusion of local language and global sound, blending Twi lyrics with foreign-inspired beats to create something unique.
“The ‘Pop’ represents the foreign style, and the ‘Twi’ represents our local dialect,” he explained, adding that the idea was to make Ghanaian language music more globally appealing.
Dr Cryme also revealed that he proudly identifies as a Twi Pop and world artiste when performing or granting interviews outside Ghana, showing his belief in the potential of the genre on the global stage.
Despite the slow acceptance at home, he remains hopeful that Twi Pop will eventually gain recognition. He believes time and consistent support can help the sound break through, just like other genres that initially faced resistance.
“We would never know. Twi Pop might make waves in the years to come,” he said.
He ended with a strong call for Ghanaians to support creativity within the country, urging audiences to value and promote local ideas instead of waiting for foreign validation.
“Anyone who tries to be innovative should be supported. If we support outsiders more than our own, then we are not being fair,” he stated.
