“When you do hip-hop as Tinny prices himself, you dare not toy with live band.” These were the exact words of Tinny’s manager, Richard Agyemang Berko when Beatwaves asked why his artiste does not perform with live band.

In his view, it is not always proper to perform hip-hop with live band at shows, explaining that the genre has its own ‘structure’ and as such must not be ‘recreated’ with live instruments.

Explaining further, Richard said playing hip-hop with live band only distorts the quality of sound that backs the hip- hop music.

“We do hip-hop, and hip-hop has its own structure. It does not play with live instruments as in high-life and hip-life. It is not almost proper with live instruments, because the sound quality is always not perfect.”

He noted that this was why Tinny needn’t go that direction, saying he dare not take that risk.

However, Richard said the hip-hop star has his own way and manner of performing live, and described that as “rhyming on the beat with a master CD player and a DJ on stage”.

He indicated that Tinny has been a Ga hip-hop singer, and has two songs: Kuntun Aha and Obi Do Ba which could be played with live band. These, Richard revealed, have hip-life rhythms.

When asked to name some other artistes who have very good tunes that could go with live band, he mentioned Obrafuor, saying the musician is a genius.

Tinny, recently at a show dubbed ‘Stars for Stars’ organized by Omanyeonline to support the Black Stars in the ongoing Ghana 2008 tournament, was the toast of the night. His rendition of Ka Bu Ame, the title track of his new album was great and attracted audience praises. At the show, Samini was the only artiste who performed with live band. Others ignored live band even though instruments were beautifully arranged on stage. Some of the musicians who performed at the show included Chicago, Obour, Obrafuor, 4×4, Nana Quame, Joe and Adex of Mentor II fame, Ebo, among others.