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Ghanaian rapper D-Cryme has urged musicians to devote greater attention to the quality of their craft, warning against the growing trend of producing songs that enjoy brief popularity but quickly fade from public memory.
Speaking on the Afternoon Show, the rapper reflected on the evolution of music production, contrasting the limited technology available to artistes when he began recording around 2000 with the sophisticated tools available to musicians today.
D-Cryme recalled that artistes in the early 2000s relied on storage formats such as diskettes and Digital Audio Tape (DAT), with the risk of losing recordings due to technical limitations.
“In the year 2000, we recorded on diskettes and DAT before, later, the hard drive came. DAT is like a small cassette, and sometimes you could lose everything on the diskette.”
He noted that technological advancement has since made music production significantly more accessible, with musicians now able to record and produce entire songs using smartphones and artificial intelligence.
“Now, from that era until now, people can even record on their phones and do a whole production. There’s AI now too—you just give AI the headline and a few lyrics, and it composes everything for you.”
While acknowledging the convenience offered by modern technology, D-Cryme argued that easier access to production tools has also created a situation where some musicians put less effort into developing their craft.
According to him, the earlier era of music production made it easier to identify artistes who had invested considerable time and effort into their skills.
“That era was when you could really spot great artists. Now, even a simple slogan can become a great banger. Things are easier, simpler, and more advanced. But most of these artists hardly put in the work for it to stand the test of time.”
D-Cryme described some contemporary releases as “fast food music”, arguing that such songs may generate excitement immediately after release but often fail to maintain their relevance.
“They call it fast food music. After three months, you don’t even think of it or feel like you want to buy it.”
He contrasted the trend with the enduring music of Ghanaian legends such as Kwadwo Antwi, Daddy Lumba and Rex Omar, whose records continue to resonate with audiences years after their release.
D-Cryme urged contemporary musicians and producers to approach every project with longevity in mind, stressing that artistes should aim to create music they can remain proud of decades later.
“If that is how production was done back then, we wouldn’t be talking about the timeless records of our legends like Kwadwo Antwi, Daddy Lumba, and Rex Omar.”
He added that musicians should pay attention to every stage of production because they cannot predict how long a song will remain relevant.
“When you’re doing a production, because you don’t know how long it will last or how it will stand the test of time, do it well from the production stage—so that in the next five, 10, or 20 years, you feel proud and say, ‘Wow, I really put in the pen and the work.’”
D-Cryme’s comments add to the growing conversation within Ghana’s music industry about technology, artificial intelligence and the need to balance innovation with genuine artistry and craftsmanship.
