Phyno Reveals Why He switched To Igbo Rap

Nigerian rapper Chibuzor Nelson Azubuike, widely known as Phyno, has explained why he raps in his native Igbo language.

Phyno shared that he initially started his music career by rapping in English before opting to make Igbo rap his style. However, he later switched to Igbo because he wanted to offer something unique to international audiences.

He discussed this during an episode of the ‘In My Opinion’ podcast, where he also noted that his background played a significant role in shaping his choice.

He said, “Growing up, I listened to emcees that were very lyrical like Busta Rhymes, Jay-Z, 2Pac, Biggie, and others. I absorbed all of that Western influence in my music. In the early days, I was also rapping in English.”

Phyno continued, “But when I reached a point where I wanted to turn this into a career, I asked myself, ‘What am I going to sell to the world? If I go to the UK, will I sell English to them? They own the English language.’ If I go to America, I am bringing Igbo to them. That’s what it is. You need to offer something they don’t already have. I can’t go to another country and sell what they already own. But if I present something they don’t have, it becomes unique.”

Phyno also mentioned that his neighborhood, which was influenced by highlife music, impacted his style to rap in Igbo. “I make sure to incorporate all those influences into my music and art,” he said. “I’ve even started wearing traditional Igbo attire because I need to look different and represent my culture.”

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