When he took his larger-than-life first steps into the music scene in 2020, it was clear that Ghana had found its next rap superstar in Yaw Tog. It was the year that his hit song “Sore” became the anthem to the world-conquering Ghana Drill movement. Even with so much early success, the 20-year-old has ducked in and out of the music cycle. “I decided to back off and do my thing,” he says to iMullar.
Born Thorten Owusu Gyimah, in Kumasi (a city in the Ashanti Region and the capital of Ghana Drill), Yaw Tog believes his hometown shaped him into the man and artist he is today. In many ways, his career defined the city’s place in Ghanaian music, its signature sound, artistry and mindset.
With success comes a lot of scrutiny, Yaw is no stranger to this. He’s had his fair share of ups and downs in the public eye. But Tog chose not to let it overwhelm him, instead, he channelled his growth into his music. “I’m still maturing. I’m not there yet,” he admits in conversation.
Last week, the release of his sophomore album, Young & Matured, marked a full circle moment in his musical journey. “This album is about my journey,” he explains. “Everything that has happened to me and how I have matured from it.” He has taken all that the industry has thrown at him, and he’s ready to tell his story the way he does best: on the mic. Speaking to iMullar, Yaw Tog talks to Frederick Adjavon on exploring themes of hope, perseverance and self-reflection on the album, turning a new chapter and how he’s going harder than ever.
The following Q&A has been slightly edited for length and clarity.
Being raised in Kumasi shaped his sound.
“Growing up in Kumasi helped me in many ways. There is a spirit here that motivates you to do a whole lot. That spirit brings flex, confidence, and inspires you to always stay on top of your game. The lifestyle here is very different.”
He’s evolved as an artist since his first single.
“Of course, every artist grows. I’ve really evolved as an artist, because when I started in 2020, I came out with a different flow, a different vibe and now everything has changed. How I go about my music and my art is totally different now. It’s new, I don’t feel the old vibes anymore. Every time I’m in the studio or I create something, it’s always something different and new to my ears. I’m not done yet. My next tune will be crazy.”
Travel opened his mind and developed his music.
“When I started travelling, it really helped me a lot. My second time coming to Accra felt like a whole different movie and I learned a lot. I remember when I went to the UK, I saw a lot of different things that really inspired me; How [the artists out there] worked on their music and how they dealt with the business as well. The first thing that I got to experience was that the industry was a circle, and when one person has the connection, they can connect everyone else. The right people make things move for you. I started thinking differently, trying to make things work out for myself in all the right ways.”
Why he took so long to release his sophomore project.
“My second project was supposed to come out in 2023 but it got delayed. There was a lot of back and forth with people that I was working with, but we’re good now, everything is back on track. Another reason was that I wanted to drop a classic album and that’s the reason why I took my time.”
The meaning behind Young & Matured.
“The reason I went for the name Young & Matured is that it got to a time in the industry where I saw that I’d been used and played. When I realised all those things, I started working on myself, watching every space that I go into – who’s there for me and who’s not? From that moment, I started thinking differently in order to level up. I knew I needed to learn from my bad experiences, with being played and all, in order to grow.”
Navigating the music business.
“When I stepped into the industry, I wanted to be so real. I just wanted to be myself and not play a character or lean into any false persona. However, later on, I realised I was getting fake love from a lot of people. I decided to back off and do my thing. A lot of meetings and interviews were the catalysts that made me decide to grow up and just do my thing… I’m still maturing. I’m not there yet.”
The songs that define the album.
“I started writing the first track, ‘Young & Matured,’ [in 2022] when I was on a tour bus in Germany with Santrofie. I think we were going to Berlin and it was a long drive. I was bored and I started getting ideas to work on my album. I was trying to get the natural connection. I decided to look at my past experiences with the industry and talk about what I’ve gone through. I can let the people know what’s happening, I can voice it on the microphone. I can create something different. ‘Young & Matured’ tells the people how strong and active I am, reiterating that I am not giving up now. And the fifth track ‘Can’t Stop,’ featuring Sarkodie, tells people that Yaw is not stopping anytime soon. We are going extra hard for the bag and the music.”
Choosing collaborations.
“After recording ‘Where We From,’ the only person that popped into my head was Fameye. I didn’t just decide to work with him on the song. The flows and the vibe of the song connected and naturally led me to him. With Sarkodie, I specifically made the beat for him. I told the producer to create a Sarkodie-type beat. I went out of my comfort zone to do it. For ‘2 Whiskey’ (with Medikal and Kweku Flick), same as with Fameye, it connected naturally. I didn’t plan any collaborations, everything connected naturally. It wasn’t something that I really struggled with.”
What his sophomore album represents.
“I’m trying to change my name. I’m trying to lift my brand up high because it’s been four years now and Yaw Tog is still doing his own thing. With the issues with my old people and going on stage at the VGMAs to say what I said, I wanted to express myself. Everybody that knows me, knows that I’ve turned hate into inspiration. I got an opportunity to express how I felt when I won that award and I took it. I feel like we grew up in a space where we are not allowed to be ourselves and know our worth. Our people want us to just grow up, be calm and humble. It shouldn’t be that way. We have to know who we are and the worth that we hold.”
Dealing with negativity and public scrutiny.
“I fight it every day. It got to a point where it got to me. I was just trying to understand why I was facing so much negativity. But at the end of the day I still needed to be myself. It’s Toglife. I can’t do it for anybody but myself. I just need to go harder.”
Experimenting with different genres.
“After dropping the album, I think people have realised that Yaw Tog is different from everybody. They thought I was just a rapper, but on this album I’m way more comfortable singing than rapping. With drill, it just happened, back then I was doing a lot of stuff – Afrobeats, Afro Swing, hip hop, trap and more. Drill naturally just happened. I can’t wait to drop my Afrobeats and Afro Swing songs […] When you listen to the songs on this Young & Matured, you were probably expecting something different but I just keep surprising people. When people hear that Yaw Tog is about to drop music, they think it’s only drill, until they listen to it and realise it’s made up of a lot of different genres. I’m always trying to come up with ways of creating different sounds.”
Plans for 2024.
“You guys should expect something different, something crazy. I can’t wait to start my European tour with my album. 2024 is going to be a different run. Stay tuned, I will be dropping another album at the end of this year. I’ve got everything ready. My next album will be even crazier. Trust me.
