Renowned artist Phyno shares his reasons for rapping in Igbo, even though he initially launched his career with English rap. He disclosed that while he started out rapping in English, he chose to transition to his native language to provide a unique sound to the international music landscape.
Phyno also emphasized that growing up in an Igbo-speaking environment significantly influenced his choice to rap in Igbo. He shared this insight during a recent episode of the ‘In My Opinion’ podcast. He mentioned:
“As a child, I listened to lyrical emcees like Busta Rhymes, Jay-Z, 2Pac, Biggie, and many others. I absorbed a lot of Western music, and for a time, I was rapping in English as I was trying to discover my identity. However, when it came time to build a career, I asked myself a crucial question: ‘What can I offer the world? If I go to the UK, am I going to sell English to them? They own the English language.’ If I go to America, I’m presenting Igbo to them. That’s the essence of it. You need to provide something they don’t already have. I can’t enter your country and sell what you already possess. But if I offer something unique, it stands out.
“I grew up in a neighborhood influenced by highlife music, and I make it a point to blend all these influences into my music and art. I’ve even started wearing traditional Igbo attire because I want to look distinct and represent my culture.”
