At midnight, Friday, August 18, 2023, the identical twins and music duo Micheal Boafo, alias B2, and Tony Boafo, alias Twist, together called DopeNation, released a new 7-track project.

Titled Ghanapiano, the extended play (EP) boasts guests like rap star Medikal, popular disk jockey DJ Faculty and rap superstar Sarkodie. 

In a video shared with Class News' Prince Benjamin (PB), Wednesday, August 16, the identical twins made some revelations about the project.

"Ghanapiano - What we want Ghanaians to feel on the piano," is how the duo has explained the EP's title. 

"We're about to take you [on] a musical journey," B2 said, with Twist adding: "An evolution of a new sound."

"This musically has to do with our culture. We're trying to merge all sounds of the old and new onto the piano," B2 noted, with Twist exclaiming: "Gboza!" 

According to B2, sonically, Ghanapiano is a sonic formula consisting a tasteful blending of "DopeNation's Funk," as a foundation, "plus [South Africa's] Amapiano, plus the Ghanaian sound."

Chiming in, the younger Twist added that it is "the Ghanaian embedded sound with different cultures fused into one sound, one genre. Yeah, that's Ghanapiano!"

The multi-hit producers and rappers excitedly spoke about their debut collaboration with rapper Sarkodie, nicknamed the Landlord.

"You know, we were like Sarkodie, on our track, you know, it's crazy. The world has not witnessed, or has not experienced, the fusion DopeNation, Sarkodie," B2 touted, beamingly adding: "Think about it. DopeNation, Sarkodie. How's it going to sound like?" He cracked a smile looking at Twist. 

On Tuesday, the informed Bela Mundi of Accra-based TV3 that the project's idea "actually started" with their megahit Gboza released in October 2022. B2 remarked that the song pays tribute to legendary music producer Da' Hammer, evidenced by "elements of Hammer's tunes in there".

Much work went into crafting the seven songs that just will not allow the listener to sit still. 

"We have friends who are producers in South Africa who actually opened their DAWs to us, their workstation, and we saw how they made their beats, learnt the elements and decided to make this type of sound," B2 disclosed. 

This is why for 22 minutes on the Ghanapiano tape, "you can hear the Amapiano instruments but it's like it's a Ghanaian sound." 

Wading in to address the notion that Ghanapiano does not sound original, Twist argued that it is not unethical but actually an accepted norm when music makers "bite [use; take inspiration from]" old songs "to create something new". 

"The keys and melodies are just there and it's like they've been exhausted. The only thing you can do is make them evolve," he eloquently concluded.

A listen to the Ghanapiano project gives one a sense that the duo has accepted its destiny as a mood-enchancer and pop hitmaker, all the while staying adventurous. 

Clap declares, "Now, everyday we party!"

Odeshie, a reference from the classic movie Isakaba, aptly notes "whatever the hater does, doesn't scare me".

Gboza, pays a subtle tribute to fellow Sekondi-Takoradi musician and Highlife icon Ambolley, and announces, for bookings, "yesterday's price is not today's".

On Wei, for a second, Mmaa Formula by rap legend Tic Tac, alias Tic, is shouted out, the twins address the pressures of being stars, note their successful run of hits, and when Medikal spits, he also salutes Tic's Philomena as he delves into sensual encounters.

Check My Zingo captures DopeNation offering to teach a new dance before Sarkodie roars as a lion roaming his territory. He also pays the collaboration a compliment: "DopeNation and the Landlord, if you are sure you can tackle this, come try." On the production, DopeNation is inspired by Da'Hammer's work on Oye Ohene with which rap legend Obrafour once asserted his Hiplife dominance. 

Knees and Toes gives the well endowed woman a high five, as the lads also fantasise a future where they have made so much money affluent figures like Dangote and Nana Kwame Bediako, alias Cheddar, cannot compare.

With DJ Faculty playing hypeman, the EP closes with a hypnotising number called Ali Baba on which the twins playfully instruct their audience to "bend down" and "stand up" repeatedly. 

DopeNation first recorded a mainstream hit in 2018 with Eish. Since then, they have never failed to keep their fans proud and on the dance floor. 

Their maiden album, Atta (Twins), was released in 2021, and housed the hit CEO featuring Medikal.