A rare feat in the Nigerian music industry is to be consistent. Another rare feat is having the opportunity to be in a song with all the A list artistes in the music industry in Nigeria. Meet the only Nigerian artiste that has featured all A List artistes in Nigeria.
Chibuzor Nelson Azubuike popularly known as Phyno has achieved this feat .Nigerian rapper, singer, and producer Phyno made his name in 2014 with his debut album, No Guts, No Glory, whose lead single, the Olamide collaboration “Ghost Mode,” earned Best Collaboration honors at both the Nigeria Entertainment Awards and the Headies.
Known for rapping in the indigenous Igbo language, he combines elements of hip-hop, R&B, Afro-beat, and Igbo highlife, and continued to enjoy success with subsequent releases like 2016’s The Playmaker and 2019’s Deal with It.
He began playing drums and piano in his teenage years and initially was drawn more towards production. After relocating to Lagos in 2010, he shifted focus to his career as a rapper using his nickname, Phyno. Sessions for his debut album began in 2012, and over the next two years he released a handful of singles, the most prominent of which was the Olamide-assisted “Ghost Mode.”
With two awards and several more nominations already to his credit, he released No Guts, No Glory in 2014, rapping primarily in Igbo and Nigerian Pidgin languages. The album was loaded with guests like Runtown, Timaya, Flavour N’abania, and Omawumi. A year later, Phyno and Olamide teamed up for a second collaboration, this time recording a full album called 2 Kings. 2015 also saw the inaugural edition of Phynofest, a popular annual festival series that has continued to grow in size each year.
He remains the only Nigerian artiste to have featured in songs with almost all if not all A list artistes in Nigeria . From Omawunmi, Burna Boy, Tiwa Savage, Psquare, Dbanj, 9ice, 2face, Wizkid, Tekno, Davido, Timaya, Flavour, Jmartins, Sound Sultan and others.
A big kudos to him for a job well done.