Chibuzor Nelson Azubuike (; born 9 October 1986), known professionally as Phyno, is a Nigerian rapper, singer, songwriter, and record producer. A native of Anambra State, Phyno was born and raised in Enugu State. He started his music career as a producer in 2003 and primarily raps in Igbo. His debut studio album, No Guts No Glory, was released in March 2014. It yielded the singles "Ghost Mode", "Man of the Year", "Parcel", and "O Set". Phyno's other albums include The Playmaker (2016), Deal With It (2019), Something to Live For (2021), and Full Time Job (2024).
Early life and music career
1986–2013: Career beginnings and No Guts No Glory
A native of Anambra State, Chibuzor Nelson Azubuike was born and raised in Enugu State. His stage moniker came from the word phenomenal, which one of his friends from secondary school gave him. Phyno developed an interest in music production during his secondary school days. He initially wanted to become a pilot, but was told that he could be a doctor. He learned to play the drums and piano throughout secondary school and created his own rendition of every recording he heard. He studied public administration at the Institute of Management and Technology in Enugu, and started profiting from music during his second year there. Phyno told Ifeoma Onoye that Mr Raw was one of the few people he looked up to. He started rapping in 2010 and relocated to Lagos to further his music career.
Phyno started recording his debut studio album, No Guts No Glory, in 2012. The album featured guest appearances from Stormrex, Omawumi, Olamide, Efa, P-Square, Timaya, Flavour N'abania, Mr Raw, M.I, Ice Prince and Runtown. It was primarily recorded in Igbo and Nigerian Pidgin. The Olamide-assisted track "Ghost Mode" was released on 25 September 2012, as the album's lead single. The song won Best Collabo at both The Headies 2012 and 2013 Nigeria Entertainment Awards. On 7 December 2012, Phyno released the music video for "Ghost Mode", which was filmed in Lagos by Clarence Peters. Sputnet Records released the album's second single, "Man of the Year (Obago)", on 23 March 2013. The song won Best Rap Single at the 2013 Headies Awards.
In June 2013, Phyno performed for 25 minutes in Owerri as part of the Star Music Trek tour. As a supporting act on the 2013 Hennessy Artistry Club Tour, he toured with D'banj, Burna Boy, Chidinma, Vector, Pucado, Seyi Shay, Show Dem Camp, Kay Switch and Sean Tizzle. The music video for "Man of the Year (Obago)" was uploaded to YouTube on 20 August 2013. It was also directed by Clarence Peters in Abakpa Nike and features a cameo appearance from Illbliss. In September 2013, the Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation banned the music video from being broadcast. The album's third single "Parcel", originally titled "Parcel (a Big Nwa)", was released on 11 October 2013.
2014–present: Singles and 2Kings
The music video for "Parcel" was recorded by Peters and released on 19 February 2014. "O Set" was released as the album's fourth single on 4 March 2014. The song was produced by WizzyPro and features vocals by P-Square. The song's music video was directed by Jude Engees Okoye. On 22 May 2014, Phyno released the music video for "Alobam", which was directed by Clarence Peters. "Alobam" was produced by Major Bangz and is an Igbo slang for "My Guy". On 2 September 2014, Phyno released the video for his "Authe (Authentic)" song with Flavour. On 7 October 2014, he released the Major Bangz-produced track "Yayo", which debuted at number 8 on the Pulse Music Video chart. Phyno performed at the 2014 edition of the Star Music Trek tour in Nsukka, Enugu State. The Peters-directed music video for "Yayo" premiered on 5 January 2015. Opeoluwani Akintayo of The Daily Times of Nigeria gave the video an overall rating of 8 of 10, commending its use of props.
2 Kings, a joint album by Phyno and Olamide, was released on 1 April 2015. Both rappers announced plans for the album's release on social media. Phyno announced plans to release his third studio album, Deal With It, in March 2019. Supported by the singles "Agu" and "The Bag", the album features guest appearances from Olamide, Falz, Davido, Don Jazzy, Zoro, Runtown and Teni. In July 2021, Phyno released the single "Bia".
Artistry
Phyno told the Nigerian Tribune he raps in Igbo because he respects his culture and loves being himself. Although he primarily raps in Igbo, he incorporates a bit of Nigerian Pidgin and English into his music. Phyno believes the elements of music make it borderless.
Discography
Studio albums
- No Guts No Glory (2014)
- The Playmaker (2016)
- Deal With It (2019)
- Something to Live For (2021)
- Full Time Job (2024)
Collaborative albums
Filmography
| Film | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
| 2018 | Lionheart | as Obiora | Movie |
Awards and nominations
MTV Africa Music Awards
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | Himself | Best Hip-hop | Nominated |
Channel O Music Video Awards
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | "Alobam" | Most Gifted Hip-hop | Nominated |
City People Entertainment Awards
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Himself | Rap Artiste of the Year | Won | |
| No Guts No Glory | Rap Album of the Year | Nominated | ||
| 2013 | "Ghost Mode" (featuring Olamide) |
Best Collabo of the Year | Nominated | |
| Himself | Best Rap Artiste of the Year | Nominated |
Nigeria Entertainment Awards
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Himself | Best Rap Act of the Year | Nominated | |
| 2013 | Best Rap Act of the Year | Nominated | ||
| "Ghost Mode" (featuring Olamide) |
Best Collabo | Won |
African Muzik Magazine Awards
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | Himself | Best Newcomer | Nominated | |
| Best Rap Act | Nominated |
Nigeria Music Video Awards (NMVA)
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | "Man of the Year" | Best Afro Hip Hop Video | Nominated |
The Headies
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Himself | Artiste of the Year | Nominated | |
| Phyno for "Alobam" | Best Street-Hop Artiste | Nominated | ||
| No Guts No Glory | Best Rap Album | Nominated | ||
| Album of the Year | Nominated | |||
| "Parcel" | Best Rap Single | Won | ||
| "Dope Money" (Olamide featuring Phyno) |
Nominated | |||
| 2013 | Himself | Next Rated | Nominated | |
| Lyricist on the Roll | Nominated | |||
| "Ghost Mode" (featuring Olamide) |
Best Collabo | Won | ||
| "Ezioku" (Lynxxx featuring Ikechukwu, Illbliss, and Phyno) |
Nominated | |||
| "Man of the Year" | Best Rap Single | Won | ||
| "Anam Achi Kwanu" (Illbliss featuring Phyno) |
Nominated | |||
| "Ghost Mode" (featuring Olamide) |
Nominated | |||
| 2012 | "Shutdown" | Best Rap Single | Nominated | |
| Phyno (for "Shutdown") | Lyricist on the Roll | Nominated |
NET Honours
| Year | Nominee/work | Award | Result | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Himself | Most Searched Musician (male) | Nominated | |
| "HighWay" (DJ Kaywise featuring Phyno) | Most played alternative song | Nominated |
TurnTable Music Awards
| Year | Nominee/work | Award | Result | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Himself | Comeback of the Year | Won |
