Rallying around a collective vision without comparison. Rising Nigerian stars Azanti and PsychoYP unveil their anxiously awaited new collaborative album, YP & Azanti, Vol. 2, out now on all platforms. To celebrate the release, the dynamic duo just released a sizzling cinematic music video for the single “Naija Funk.”
The pair’s inimitable chemistry powers up these nine tracks. From the jump, 20-year-old singer, songwriter, producer, and “boy wonder” Azanti and Nigerian rap phenomenon PsychoYP never slow down! On the opener “Don’t Need Nobody,” distorted synths and an upbeat drum groove underline hypnotic vocals as the hook hits hard. “I don’t need nobody. I’m out here by myself.” Meanwhile, “Somebody” traces the ups and downs of a turbulent romance, climaxing with a reminder, “There’s no need to lie.” Then, there’s “Breathe.” Off-kilter percussion gets caught up in the undertow of wavy electric guitar and their arresting back-and-forth. A lusty chorus echoes with a promise, “I can get your body in sync with me.” Reaching an emotional highpoint, the closer “Should’ve Been Here” cuts deep with heartfelt bars and raw confessions punctuated by a plea, “I need you to try to be real with me.”
Paving the way for Vol. 2, “Naija Funk” reeled in over 450K Spotify streams and counting in addition to receiving critical acclaim. It landed looks from Culture Custodian, NOTJUSTOK, and Music In Africa who praised how “the track, complete with moody vocals and hallowed piano chords, finds Azanti interpolating folk pulses via smooth Yoruba and English poetry, contrasted by PsychoYP’s drill-leaning melodic bars.” Plus, The Guardian Nigeria News raved, “The song raises the momentum set by the duo’s earlier single, ‘Clear Road,’ which also set a milestone for cultural fusion as it melded Hip Hop and Amapiano perfectly.”
Audiences worldwide experienced the duo’s prowess, passion, and power for the first time on 2020’s YP & Azanti, Vol. 1. The latter generated millions of streams and garnered tastemaker praise. Pulse Nigeria applauded the album as, “a rainbow of music and a bed of solfa roses,” and 49th Street noted, “YP & Azanti Vol. 1 is an effortless display of rap sung skill combined with trap, R&B and Afrofusion; creating a distinct and new sound out of Nigeria for the world stage.
