Esteemed Highlife artist Ofori Amponsah, also known as Mr. All 4 Real, has expressed regret over some of his iconic hits, revealing that he recorded songs he is not proud of due to financial constraints.
Despite boasting a repertoire of hit songs such as “Emmanuella,” “Otoolege,” “Sardine,” and more, Ofori Amponsah acknowledged that certain tracks were produced out of necessity rather than genuine creative inspiration.
In an exclusive interview with Graphic Showbiz, the “Otoolege” hitmaker disclosed that financial challenges compelled him to create songs that didn’t align with his artistic integrity.
He explained, “In this music business, you sometimes do certain things to survive. I did a couple of songs that were popular all over Ghana, but honestly, I am not proud of those songs because hunger pushed me to do them.”
“Those songs didn’t come from within and I wouldn’t have done them if I were financially okay back then. But I had to pay the bills—utility bills, school fees among other things,” he disclosed.
Ofori Amponsah asserts that if a musician’s primary motivation for recording songs is financial gain, they may achieve a hit that trends briefly. However, both the artist and their hit will likely fade away quickly.
“Musicians who make their ‘stomachs’ their priority become irrelevant after a period of time. When you are a musician and you are always thinking of making money to pay bills or sort yourself out, you may not come out with a very good song.”
He underscored the significance of crafting music that emanates from personal inspiration, pointing to songs like “Abele” as exemplars of timeless and enduring tracks that leave a lasting impact.