Wave-making, popular music producer and rapper Phyno; Famed for rapping in Igbo, just put out his latest effort, the 2Kings album. A joint production with Olamide, whose musical flavour is Yoruba-infused, 2Kings is enjoying massive airplay. In this interview with JOE AGBRO JR., Phyno, a Public Administration graduate of the Institute of Management Technology (IMT), Enugu, talks about his early years, music experience, and why he believes Nigerian musicians have to creatively market their music. Excerpts:
How was your growing-up years? I grew up in the east, in Enugu. Music was all I did. So, basically, I grew, and developed skills.
How was your own story?
I wasn’t in a choir. I grew up in Abakpa, a particular area in Enugu. That’s basically where I schooled. All in Enugu.
So, you’re a proper Enugu man?
Yeah
Professionally, when did you start doing music?
As an artiste, I released my first single in 2011. But I’ve been a producer for so long. I’ve been producing songs since 2003. It was almost eight years before I released my single.
Who have you produced songs for and what influenced you to do your own music?
Initially, before I started doing production, I wanted to do my own music. That was the truth. But, at that time, I felt it wasn’t yet time. So, I had to still stay with the music, no matter what. Another angle to stay with the music was production. I stayed with production, learning more, producing, and getting better in the process. I produced stuffs for popular artistes like Nigga Raw, J Martins, Bracket and Rugged Man, and a lot of upcoming artistes as well.
Did your parents support your music career given that many parents did not support the careers of their children initially?
I think that era has passed. I don’t think parents actually stop their children from getting into music today. That was a phase. Back then, some people thought music wasn’t profitable. People looked at music and were like ‘you’re doing music; you’re going to be a drug user and this and that. You’re going to be the black sheep of the family’. But, now, I think music has changed. Now, people do music for passion. You can see the likes of Wizkid, Davido, P-Square, and Tuface. Although, I was almost a victim of such circumstances because my parents didn’t want it at first. But I had to make them believe in me. They are comfortable with it now.
Now, you also do most of your songs in Igbo. What informed that?
It’s something I like doing. Then, secondly, anything that brings money to me is business. If people pay me to come and perform, then, that means I’m doing something right. I’m doing music because I love it, but if it comes with the money, then, it’s better.
Do you think rapping in Igbo has increased your popularity?
Of course. You know me as Phyno, the guy that raps in Igbo. It’s something to be proud of. And then, my own tribe (Igbo), everybody loves what I do. They call me, and encourage me to keep doing it. So, I think I’m doing the right thing.
Recently, you did a joint album, 2Kings, with Olamide. Olamide raps in Yoruba and you rap in Igbo. Why did you guys do that collabo?
Everything about I and Olamide did not start today. We started from the days of Ghost Mode, before his album Street OT. We’ve done a lot of collaborations. But this particular album was done due to popular demand. People were asking for it, so we had to give it to them.
How was the whole experience of recording the album?
It was fun. It’s the only thing I know how to do. So, I have fun just making albums, and doing music. And he (Olamide) does as well. He also a hard worker. We just blend.
You’ve done collabos with a lot of artistes. Is there any artiste you’ll want to do a collabo with?
For my own song, I can do collaborations with anybody. There a lot of artistes I feel. People like Burna Boy, Wizkid, Davido, and P-Square. I love what they do. I can put anybody on the song as long as you have the talent to deliver, I’m good with you.
With Igbos, you’re definitely a king with good acceptance. But do you speak Yoruba at all?
I know a couple of words. I have Yoruba friends including Olamide. We play around with Yoruba words. But I can’t brag about speaking the language.
During the build-up of the just concluded gubernatorial election in Lagos, there was this rancour between Igbos and Yorubas?
Don’t ask me that please. I don’t have anything to do with politics.
You also have your own recording label. How tough is it to produce music in Nigeria?
It’s tough like it has always been tough. And it depends on what you mean by production. Production is meant to be fun. If you mean marketing, then, that’s another aspect.
Now that you’ve differentiated it, how is the marketing side?
Marketing is one of the problems we face in Nigeria but the thing is it’s a Nigerian problem. And a Nigeria problem, I believe, would always have a Nigerian solution. The artistes have already put themselves in that shoe, so, they don’t really hope on market sales.
Everybody is focused on business, getting endorsed and maybe any other way to make money apart from the market sales. Piracy is a major thing when it comes to marketing, but it still doesn’t stop Nigerian artistes as far as I am concerned from making ends meet from their music. So, I hope one day it’s going to die down, but as far as I’m concerned, it affects the market. But talking about the present situation of today, it still doesn’t stop artistes from making money. It’s a problem but it’s not a major problem. Trust me.
So, it’s like you’ve found a way to circumvent the pirates and just go about your own business?
That’s what I’m telling you. It’s a Nigerian problem, and every Nigerian problem has a Nigerian solution. If you tie yourself to your market sales, that’s when you have a problem. If you’re buzzing and you have music everywhere, and go for events, you would rarely even ask ‘what are my sales like?’ Like now, in Nigeria, the piracy thing is one of the reasons why we don’t measure our music like, ‘I sold a million copies.’ From who? Where? The way it is being measured outside the country in countries like South Africa, we don’t even measure our music that way because of piracy. So, we’ve already taken our minds off that particular part of the market and rather say, ‘there are other ways of making money.’ That’s the good thing about Nigeria. They don’t tie themselves to just one way. There’s always a plan B, a plan C. and it’s good.
You have this unique hairstyle that stands you out anywhere. What informed that?
It’s just a brand. It’s just a way of looking. It was inspired by some of my mentors.
Do you see yourself changing it in the future?
Yes, why not? I see myself changing it in the future, but not like any time soon.
Now, you’ve attained stardom. How is life like?
I’ve attained stardom. My music has achieved stardom which was my major aim at least to be heard. It doesn’t change anything for me, being who I am and speaking my mind and still relaxing with my guys. While sometimes, it is difficult, sometimes it is easy. You get access to what people don’t get access to it. But also where you’re supposed to come out and be free, they’d be like, ‘people are going to mob you.’ But I don’t mind. It’s already a part of me.
But definitely, you must have had some occasions where some things you didn’t expect happen to you?
If somebody recognises me, that means they’re my fan. I will just have a little chat with you and it’s not a problem.
Have you ever found yourself in an embarrassing situation?
Embarrassment is a part of living too. When I get embarrassed, I just overlook it.
Is Phyno single, married or in a relationship at the moment?
My life is private for now.
If you were not producing music or singing, what would you have been doing?
I love merchandising. I love fashion so much. So, maybe I’ll be flying some fashion line like a shoe line. Or I’ll probably be working in an office. I went to school now. Its music and music for now. But that doesn’t me that something won’t change later.
On a final note, do you have anything to say to your detractors?
They should keep doing (that). I love them. They make me popular.
