The foundational kicks of Ghanaian hip-hop are back. Legendary music producer Edward Nana Poku Osei, universally known as Hammer of The Last Two, has officially released his newest single, “Sika,” featuring rap heavyweights Sarkodie and Teephlow. Serving as the highly anticipated eighth single from his monumental Upper Echelons project, “Sika” is a masterclass in hip-life royalty.
“Sika” offers fans a high-stakes lyrical spar. Sarkodie attacks the heavy, cinematic instrumental with the raw, breathless energy reminiscent of his early career, while Teephlow balances the track with tactical precision and complex rhyme schemes.
The Twi title means money. On paper, it is a wealth record. In context, it is also a reunion: Hammer signed a young Sarkodie in the late 2000s and later developed Teephlow at The Last Two before the rapper “graduated” from the label in 2016. Putting both MCs on the same Hammer beat in 2026 is the kind of full-circle moment this track was built for.
Stream it here: https://mipromo.ffm.to/hammer-of-the-last-two-sika
MiPROMO, Ghana’s long-standing and largest digital distributor, distributes the single through its global partnership with Virgin Music Group.
The Vision Behind ‘Upper Echelons’
Hammer had been largely away from frontline production for close to a decade, focusing on other ventures. The return was not a sudden impulse. Fans kept asking. Media personality Bola Ray publicly pushed him to re-engage. The decisive nudge came from Sarkodie, one of Hammer’s loyal colleagues both professionally and personally.
Preparation took more than two years of research and studio work. Hammer consulted peers, including E.L. Shaker and Altra Nova, among others, for updated reviews on DAWs, current production updates, updated sound packs, and current production methods. Hammer is also a big proponent of studio chemistry, stating that sending beats by email does not constitute actual production. Almost every featured artist on the project came into the room. The album, he said, is not a mere comeback… “It’s also a producer’s album, which features artists that I’ve admired but never got the chance to work with.”
The album is not a mere comeback. It’s also a producer’s album, which features artists that I’ve admired but never got the chance to work with.
Hammer of The Last Two
The concept is in the title. While his legacy is deeply rooted in breaking new artists—like Obrafour, Kwaw Kese, Edem and Tinny—Upper Echelons was conceived with a different mission. The 20-track album is a celebration of the “crème de la crème” of Ghanaian talent, exclusively featuring established, elite acts—the upper echelon of the industry—rather than a discovery compilation.
The project was teased years earlier. In late 2024 he briefly considered splitting it into a six-track EP plus a follow-up called Roadmen, citing the time cost of insisting on in-person sessions. By December 2025 he had expanded it again into a 20-track album, announced with the lead single “The Boys” (Joey B, Sarkodie, Medikal) and an original February 2026 album date.
Singles have continued to roll out through 2026—”Still Hammer,” “Retribution,” “The Fire,” “Frankie’s,” “Time Machine,” and “Settings“—with “Sika” arriving as the eighth official cut. Save the Upper Echelons playlist on YouTube Music, Audiomack, or Spotify now so you don’t miss out when new tracks are added.
That slow drip matches the philosophy: no rush, no remote-file shortcuts, just elite Ghanaian voices on Hammer drums. “Sika” is the latest proof of concept. Stream it, then go back through the earlier Upper Echelons singles. The full 20-track statement is still being assembled.
Stream “Sika” Now
Ensuring this cultural moment reaches every corner of the diaspora, “Sika” is distributed globally by MiPROMO, maximizing its footprint across all major Digital Streaming Platforms (DSPs).
Listen to the collision of legendary production and elite lyricism today.
