YPG Jones
Bio
YPG Jones is a Mozambican Hip-hop, Dancehall, Afrobeat and Reggae artist. He started rapping (as a pastime) in 2006 while living in the UK and was highly influenced by garage, grime and hip-hop. He lived in an Afro-Caribbean neighbourhood and this also gave him a lot of access to reggae and dancehall music.
After returning home, he wanted to fuse the styles he liked so much with the more urban and popularized rap and hip-hop. This fusion brought about a lyrical dexterity that he utilizes depending on what message/vibe he wants to put across. In 2010 he formed the band YPG & The Pioneers and they went on to perform at various concerts and festivals within Mozambique.
In 2015, he and ODC Beats opened Cypher Studios in Maputo, Mozambique. It currently functions as a commercial recording studio and a creative hub for talented artists.
His debut album the AFRCN man was released in 2022 and won the Best Reggae/Ragga/Dancehall award at the 2023 BOMU Awards. All his music is available on digital platforms.