Highlife star Kofi Kinaata has revealed he acknowledged the risk of potentially diminishing listeners’ experience with too many of his own additions ahead of the release of Have Mercy Pt 2.

To strike the right balance, he decided to bring in rap heavyweight Sarkodie to elevate the track. 

“When a song is already doing well and making waves, some people will never appreciate any additions you make to it,” he said. “They'll say: ‘He's ruined the song completely’.”

Kinaata shared the story of how Sarkodie, whom he saluted as Abusapanyin (Family Head) and The Landlord, came through for the project despite a busy schedule.

“When I went to him, he told me he was in the middle of something, having a photoshoot, but then said I should give him five hours and see what God would do,” Kinaata recounted to hosts Kwame Dadzie and Doreen Avio on Hitz FM.

“When I woke up the following morning, I noticed he had sent me his verse. He is the one who saved the day because my fans were disturbing me for part two.”

Kinaata explained that Have Mercy was essentially a prayer, and he intentionally kept his part short, allowing Sarkodie to “continue with his prayer” in the remix.

Kinaata also noted how fans had responded on the dance floor to the spiritual song.

“Even though we slowed the tempo down for the second part, Kasoa people have told me they are twerking to that also,” he joked, adding that his native Effiekuma in Takoradi were already twerking to the original faster version.

The singer’s reflections reveal both the challenges and fun of remixing a beloved hit while balancing its spiritual message with fan expectations.

According to Sark Updates on YouTube, the photoshoot Sarkodie was busy at was for the announcement of his historic Rapperholic: Homecoming at the Kumasi Baba Yara Sports Stadium, which took place on Saturday, September 27, 2025. The channel further explained that it was after the photoshoot and getting home at night that Sarkodie asked Kinaata to give him five hours to send in his verse.