Chibuzor Nelson Azubuike, Populary known by his stage name Phyno was at Cool FM Lagos on Wednesday, September 4, 2019, with radio host Do2tun to promote his new album.
Phyno who has often been described as an “Igbo rapper” for rapping in his native language “Igbo” addressed the issue on air by saying people shouldn’t box him in a corner.
In a conversation with Do2tun, Phyno was asked how he felt about being tagged as ‘just an igbo rapper’. In Dot2tun words,“Music is universal.. But they try to box rappers like, ‘He’s a rapper from the East (of Nigeria). Do you like that?”
Phyno said, “Trust me, I think it’s a box. I should be proud of where I’m from, right? But then again, making it feel like my music is just meant for people in that region is a box already.”
After Do2tun then said he know Phyno has been trying to change it, Phyno said, “Anything you put your energy in drains you. That shouldn’t be my problem, but then again, it’s a box generally, trust me. It’s not something I should be feeling good about. I’m a musician, I’m a rapper doing what I know how to do best, how I want to do it.
“But if you want to start judging from how people see you and put things in their heads, then you’d see this is already a box and it will be difficult to get out of it. So, just do your thing.”
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Furthermore, Phyno explained why the ethnic diversity of Nigeria will forever influence how people respond to music they can understand. He then says, “Nobody says Tekno or Patoranking, the boy from the East, but they’re from the East. (They) probably (box me) because I make music in Igbo…
“But then again, Wiz does music in Yoruba whether you like it or not. Davido does music in Yoruba whether you like it or not. So why box only Olamide?”
He also said, “Exactly. It’s your native language. Speak it, be proud of it. Don’t box anybody for what they do. Do you really think I didn’t go to school or that I don’t have my certificate at the end of the day? This is how I know to do my music the best way I can.”
Phyno’s 21-track project features prominent acts like Olamide, Runtown, Don Jazzy and so forth. On the album, Phyno excellently again rapped in his native Igbo tongue – even Davido joined him to speak Igbo on the track titled, ‘Ride For You.’
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