Music producer, Jeff Tennyson Quaye, popularly known as Jay Q, shared insights on how introducing ‘jama hiplife’ transformed the financial fortunes of Buk Bak and other hiplife artists.

Speaking with Kwame Dadzie on Joy FM’s Showbiz A-Z, Jay Q explained that many hiplife musicians struggled financially until the release of Buk Bak’s ‘Sika Kokoo’ album.

“We were lost as hiplifers because Buk Bak had released two songs but were still struggling, as were VIP and others. Highlife artists were thriving while we were unsure if rap or hiplife would survive,” Jay Q recounted.

The turning point came with Buk Bak’s ‘I am going to come’ album, particularly the song ‘Kluu Blofo’. Jay Q recalled, “When Bright sang ‘sebe oo sebe’, it resonated with the idea I had in mind. Although Bright was initially skeptical, Ronnie, of blessed memory, encouraged them to consider my vision. The drum was hip hop, but I introduced strings and the traditional Ga gome rhythm to the track.”

Agiecoat, an experienced figure in the music business, recognized the potential of the album and marketed it effectively. “Agiecoat saw my vision and selected ‘Kluu Blofo’. Despite being the last track on the promo CD, it became a massive hit,” Jay Q noted.

This success marked a significant financial milestone for Buk Bak, allowing them to purchase their first cars and boosting Jay Q’s own production earnings.

However, Jay Q faced criticism from the media for diverging from traditional hiplife styles by incorporating local rhythms.

Known for his distinctive “bottle breaker” signature, Jay Q has produced for a range of artists including Buk Bak, VIP, 4×4, Castro, Mzbel, Daddy Lumba, Nana Acheampong, Obrafour, Obour, and Nkasei.