DYNAMIC DUO OF NIGERIAN RISING STARS AZANTI & PsychoYP RETURN WITH NEW SINGLE “NAIJA FUNK” OUT NOW
REUNITE FOR JOINT ALBUM YP & AZANTI, VOL. 2 OUT MAY 31
Tapping into undeniable chemistry once again, rising Nigerian stars Azanti and PsychoYP serve up a scorching new joint single entitled “Naija Funk” out now via Def Jam Recordings. Listen HERE and watch the visualizer HERE. It bulldozes the way for their forthcoming collaborative album, YP & Azanti, Vol. 2, out May 31, 2024.
“Naija Funk” hinges on the inimitable interplay between the 22-year-old singer, songwriter, producer, and “boy wonder” Azanti and Nigerian rap phenomenon PsychoYP. An earthy beat propels the track’s momentum as Azanti immediately confesses, “I should’ve done you better.” Over an Afrobeats groove, PsychoYP counters with airtight and gritty rhymes. Meanwhile, the visualizer spotlights their back-and-forth as they perform in between a professional photo shoot. It serves as the perfect precursor to YP & Azanti, Vol. 2.
It also lands in the wake of their most recent collaboration “Clear Road.” Beyond piling up 1.2 million Spotify streams and counting, it reeled in critical acclaim from GRUNGECAKE and NOTJUSTOK who promised, “The unique blend of Azanti’s artistic flair and PsychoYP’s energy infuses ‘Clear Road’ with a depth that resonates, creating a captivating journey for the listeners.”
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.”
However, they’re back, bigger, and better than ever together on Vol. 2!
Azanti has been identified within the burgeoning Afrobeats/ Alté Cruise scene as ‘up next.’ Wonderland magazine recently raved: “The future is looking very bright for the highly-talented artist…Offering us an irresistible dancehall-meets-Afrobeat sound, rising Nigerian-born artist Azanti crashes into the music scene… The 19-year-old singer, songwriter and producer, pegged as ‘boy wonder’, makes his artistry look easy with his ethereal soul-cutting vocals, catchy flow and unique instrumentals…the lovable artist is reaching new heights and gaining some much-deserved recognition worldwide…he proves that the only way from here is up.”
ABOUT AZANTI:
Azanti wants to shift the center of gravity of Afrobeats. The 20-year-old singer/songwriter and producer from Abuja, Nigeria is set on taking over and introducing the world to his kaleidoscopic blend of R&B and Afropop. The 11 tracks on his debut album Heart Parts & Nostalgia rattle the core of the genre, introducing playful energy, and a knack for off-kilter, but infectious melodies, that results from the fresh perspective he brings as one of Afrobeats’ youngest stars. It’s meant, in part, to encapsulate Azanti’s lifelong musical journey. Born in Abuja, he absorbed various cultures through his family’s travels throughout the world. From age three, Azanti was mimicking the artists on the records his mother played, which included Nigerian legends like Yinka Ayefele, Tope Alabi, and King Sunny Ade. As a child of the Internet age, he encountered all sorts of music—from pop to R&B to rap—through YouTube. Soon he’d start making music of his own. He sent some early demos to local trap star PsychoYP, asking for advice, but a few emails later, he was the newest addition to YP’s Apex Village collective. They solidified the deal with 2020’s YP and Azanti, Vol. 1 joint EP. HeartParts & Nostalgia is the next step, and it’s an achievement in its own right, but Azanti never wants to lose sight of his work ethic. “Since I was young, music was all I’ve known,” he says. “When I’m making music that everything goes away and I’m in my own world. Nothing else gives me the same peace of mind.”
SOCIAL ASSETS: HERE
FOLLOW AZANTI:
INSTAGRAM | TWITTER | FACEBOOK