When Phyno made an emphatic return to the mainstream with his almost customary annual hit, it was with the defiant log drum-punctuated track “Do I,” which succinctly conveyed the effortless swagger with which he has kept up with the pulse of Nigerian mainstream music.
After tapping Africa’s biggest export, Burna Boy, for a remix that broadened his reach, Phyno followed up with a collaboration with British rapper Arrdee, signaling his move to partake in the “Afrobeats to the world” movement.
Phyno’s intentions are made even more clear with the release of his fifth album, Full Time Job, which celebrates his longevity as one of Nigerian music’s most dynamic voices. While the reticent rapper isn’t one to toot his horn, Phyno’s success serves as a blueprint and an inspiration for a generation of artists. He expertly combines rich Igbo cultural heritage with hip-hop and Afrobeats to create era-defining music, earning him the monikers Ezege and The Godfather.