Nigeria: PsychoYP and Azanti unveil Naija Funk single

‘Naija Funk’ arrives in the wake of their most recent collaboration ‘Clear Road’, which has amassed over 1.2 million Spotify streams.

Thematically, the new record listens as a call to action for individuals to fight for their romantic partners. Sonically, 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.

“Working with Azanti is always a new type of vibe,” PsychoYP said. “I can only do so much and I appreciate the ideas he tends to tilt towards. Whenever it is time to work, it’s just a good vibe. I am a very picky individual, so everything you are sending to me has to be fire. There are only so many people that can match my energy. Azanti is one of the few people that I know who can match my work rate.”

‘Naija Funk’ heralds their forthcoming 10-track collaborative album, YP & Azanti Vol. 2, out later this month. The project’s predecessor was released in 2020.

PsychoYP added: “We have so many records that should have been out already. We have so many songs that are on Volume 1 that are still not going to make Volume 2. A lot of the songs were mostly Azanti’s vibe and take. He had to record verses that he felt would match that energy.”

According to Azanti, the new album, a fusion-based project, takes their music to new heights and demonstrates more vulnerability. “This new project is even more sonically diverse because now I am in my pop bag and PsychoYP is also trying to hit some pop records,” he said. “We have grown as artists and our musicality has improved. You are going to hear it. In some songs, we referenced ’70s vibes, while in some other songs it’s ’80s and ’90s vibes.”