Nigerian indigenous rapper, Phyno, narrated how his cultural background played a significant role in shaping how he expresses himself with the music he produces.
In a recent interview, he shared how the surroundings he grew up influenced his style of rap and lifestyle.
He said
“I grew up in the Eastern part of Nigeria, I speak Igbo language, I’ve spoken it all my life, I schooled in the Eastern part of Nigeria.
Basically, to me, it’s the best language I know, it’s the language I love to communicate with especially when you can speak it back to me and I love making music with this language
And also making music, I have western influence.I listened to Emcees that were very lyrical to like the Bustas, the Jay Z’s, Biggie and the rest, I listened to everything so I have that western influence in my music but then at some point in my life when I was still trying to find myself, I was rapping in English, too.
But when I got to a point where I had to make a career out of this, I asked myself a simple question, ‘What am I going to sell to the world? If I go to the UK, will I sell English to them?
They own English language.’ If I go to America right now, I am selling Igbo to them. That’s what it’s. So you have to sell something that they don’t have. I can’t come to your country and sell what you already have, it doesn’t make no sense But if I sell what you don’t have, it becomes an Enigma and a mystery, it’s like you don’t know how you’re in the mix but you are enjoying what this guy is bringing.
I grew up in a highlife influenced neighbourhood. I make sure that I bring all these things to the table, into my music and art.That’s why you see me most times in my song,like right now, am a guy that you would probably not see wearing an Igbo attire but it got to a point now that I wear it cause I have to look different , I have to tell you this is where am coming from, I would sell you something that would make you ask me a question and I would tell you that from where I come from, that’s what it is, this is what they call people that dress like this, I can’t sell you what you have, I can only sell you what you don’t have”.
