{{Short description|Nigerian rapper}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = PsychoYP | background = solo_singer | image = | image_size = | caption = | birth_name = Nicholas Ihua-Maduenyi | alias = Psycho | birth_date = {{ birth date and age|df=yes|1998|10|28}} | birth_place = Abuja, Nigeria | origin = | genre = {{hlist|Alternative hip hop|alté|afropop|afroswing|trap|drill}} | occupation = {{hlist|Rapper|singer|songwriter}} | years_active = 2017–present | associated_acts = Ayuu | website = | label = Apex Village | instrument = }}
'''Nicholas Ihua-Maduenyi'''<ref>{{cite web |last1=Boluwatife |first1=Adeyemi |title=PsychoYP is the Chosen One |url=https://www.bounceradiolive.com/post/psychoyp-is-the-chosen-one |website=Bounce! |access-date=26 November 2022 |language=en |date=10 November 2021}}</ref> (born 28 October 1998), widely known as '''PsychoYP''', is a Nigerian alternative hip hop rapper, singer, and songwriter. He is a member of the music collective Apex Village.<ref name="CULTED">{{cite web |last1=Kelly |first1=Christopher |title=PsychoYP Is at the Apex of Alté Cruise Counterculture and He Ain't Coming Down |url=https://culted.com/psychoyp-is-at-the-apex-of-alte-cruise-counterculture-and-he-aint-coming-down/ |website=Culted |access-date=26 November 2022 |date=28 May 2022}}</ref> He came into the music scene with a critically acclaimed mixtape, ''YPSZN'', which earned him a nomination at the SAMAs, and the Headies for his second fit album ''YPSZN2''. Dubbed "The Fresh Prince of Nigerian Rap",<ref>{{cite web |title=The Fresh Prince of Nigerian Rap: The Psycho YP Story |url=https://culturecustodian.com/pyscho-yp-fresh-prince-of-nigerian-rap/ |website=The Culture Custodian |access-date=2 November 2022 |date=29 July 2019}}</ref> he is regarded as one of Nigeria's rap music pioneers in the alté music scene.
==Early life== {{Quote box |quoted=true |bgcolor=#ACE1AF|salign=center |quote = Music came to me when I found like-minded friends that also had a passion for it. Together we found where we could record and make what we wanted. I decided it was for me as soon as I started making what I knew would be Psycho YP’s sound. That was around 2016. |source = — ''The Guardian''<ref name="The Guardian">{{Cite news |title=Nigeria needs to embrace hip-hop, other alternative genres - Psycho YP |url=https://guardian.ng/sunday-magazine/nigeria-needs-to-embrace-hip-hop-other-alternative-genres-psycho-yp/ |location=Lagos, Nigeria|newspaper=The Guardian|access-date=2 November 2022 |date=4 July 2021}}</ref> |width = 25% |align = right }}
Ihua-Maduenyi was born on 28 October 1998 in Abuja, and comes from Rivers State.<ref name="The Guardian" /> While in secondary school in 2013, he met with Kuddi Is Dead, a member of Apex Village.<ref name="OkayAfrica">{{cite web |last1=Storm |first1=Camille |title=Interview: PsychoYP Wants to Lead the New Wave of Nigerian Hip-Hop |url=https://www.okayafrica.com/nigerian-music-hip-hop-psychoyp-interview/ |website=OkayAfrica |access-date=2 November 2022 |language=en |date=19 December 2019}}</ref> In an interview with ''OkayAfrica'', he said "as a kid, I was always around music. My mum would play Nigerian music, music from other African countries, and foreign music. I like to think she played a big role in putting me on this path by being in love with music. We'd have P-Square, Michael Jackson, Drake, and Lil Wayne (to name a few) on repeat every weekend. My two siblings and I all had experience with singing and rapping, but something about it just kept me going".<ref name="OkayAfrica" />
==Career== YP is an acronym for "Yung Papi".<ref name="MoreBranches">{{cite web |last1=Laketu |first1=Adedayo |title=IN Due Time with PsychoYP |url=https://www.morebranches.com/in-due-time-with-psychoyp/ |website=MoreBranches |access-date=24 November 2022 |date=20 September 2017}}</ref> In 2016, he launched his music career as a rapper on SoundCloud as Psycho, while based in Manchester, England,<ref>{{cite web |last1=Idowu |first1=Tomi |title=Psycho Overcomes The Sauce And Addresses A Side Chick on "Uber" |url=https://culturecustodian.com/psycho-uber/ |website=The Culture Custodian |access-date=4 November 2022 |date=27 March 2017}}</ref> and went on to release his EP "''Lost In The Sauce''" on 26 August 2016. In the following year, YP and Kuddi is Dead released a collaborative 4-track EP "''This Is What You Wanted''" on 21 May 2017,<ref>{{cite web |title=Psycho and Kuddi Is Dead Drift From Trap to Hip Hop on ‘This Is What You Wanted’ EP |url=https://culturecustodian.com/psycho-and-kuddi-this-is-what-you-wanted-ep/ |website=The Culture Custodian |access-date=26 November 2022 |date=22 May 2017}}</ref> and released a SoundCloud exclusive with "''This Is What You Wanted II''" on 21 February 2018, featuring Ayüü, Zilla Oaks, and Marv OTM. On 8 June 2018, he released "''YPSZN''",<ref>{{cite web |last1=Idowu |first1=Tomi |title=PsychoYP Is A Leader of His Class And His New Project ‘YPSZN’ Proves It |url=https://culturecustodian.com/psychoyp-ypszn/ |website=The Culture Custodian |access-date=26 November 2022 |date=8 June 2018}}</ref> with guest appearances from Fasina, Marv OTM, Denzel Oaks, Zilla Oaks, and Remy Baggins.<ref>{{cite web |title=PsychoYP's YPSZN Is Simplistic But Sophisticated |url=https://radrafrica.com/radrmusic/psychoyps-ypszn-is-simplistic-but-sophisticated/ |website=Radr Africa |access-date=26 November 2022 |date=21 June 2018}}</ref> The project spawned the hit track "Oga".
On the 28 October 2018, he released a music video for Oga, directed by Kuddi is Dead, and Lekinson. On 22 March 2019, he released "Oga (remix)" featuring Blaqbonez, and Ycee.<ref>{{cite web |title=PsychoYP Draws Verses From Dremo, YCee and Blaqbonez on ‘Oga Remix’ |url=https://culturecustodian.com/psychoyp-dremo-ycee-and-blaqbones-on-oga-remix/ |website=The Culture Custodian |access-date=26 November 2022 |date=22 March 2019}}</ref> On the 4th of November, 2019, he released "''YPSZN2''",<ref name="Pulse Nigeria">{{Cite news |last1=Alake |first1=Motolani |title='YPSZN2' is PsychoYP's manifesto to a larger market [Album Review] |url=https://www.pulse.ng/entertainment/music/psychoyp-ypszn2-album-review-skales-blaqbonez-ladipoe-boj-and-terri-feature/081ewbh |newspaper=Pulse Nigeria|access-date=26 November 2022 |language=en |date=7 November 2019}}</ref> with guest appearances from BOJ, Terri, Nathalie Sade, Dami Oniru, Ayüü, Zilla Oaks, Ladipoe, Skales, and Blaqbonez.<ref name="Pulse Nigeria" /> On the 12th of November, 2020, YP and Azanti went on to release their self-titled debut EP "''YP & Azanti, Vol. 1''".<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Alake |first1=Motolani |title=Psycho YP and Azanti present their chemistry on ‘YP & Azanti Vol. 1’ [EP Review] |url=https://www.pulse.ng/entertainment/music/psycho-yp-and-azanti-yp-and-azanti-vol-1-ep-review/9683kyy |newspaper=Pulse Nigeria|access-date=26 November 2022 |language=en |date=14 November 2020}}</ref> The extended play spawned the minor hit tracks "Caro", and "Focused".<ref name="CULTED" /> On the 11th of March, 2021, the official music video for "Caro" was released, directed by Cindy Ihua, and produced through Ceeander Entertainment, and Legacy Films.<ref>{{cite web |title=Watch PsychoYP & Azanti in the Fresh Visuals for "Caro" |url=https://www.morebranches.com/watch-psychoyp-azanti-in-the-fresh-visuals-for-caro/ |website=MoreBranches |access-date=26 November 2022 |date=12 March 2021}}</ref>
On 26 August 2021, YP released his first solo EP ''Euphoria'',<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Alake |first1=Motolani |title=On ‘Euphoria,’ Psycho YP has teeth and he bites hard [Pulse Album Review] |url=https://www.pulse.ng/entertainment/music/review-psycho-yp-euphoria/1rsq5j5 |newspaper=Pulse Nigeria|access-date=26 November 2022 |language=en |date=31 August 2021}}</ref> with guest appearances from Trill Tega, Rasstokyo, J Molley, PatricKxxLee, and Alpha P. On 20 December 2021, he headlined his first Lagos concert at Hard Rock Cafe in Nigeria,<ref name="MoreBranches 1">{{cite web |title=PsychoYP announces his first Lagos headline concert |url=https://www.morebranches.com/psychoyp-announces-his-first-lagos-headline-concert/ |website=MoreBranches |access-date=26 November 2022 |date=16 December 2021}}</ref> featuring guest appearances from Blaqbonez, Dremo, Laycon, Wurld, Alpha P, Terry Apala, Laime, Mojo, SGaWD, King Perryy, and many more.<ref name="MoreBranches 1" /> In 2022, he released his third mixtape album ''YPSZN3'' on 2 November. The mixtape album's lead singles include "Bando Diaries", "IC3", and "Stronger", which features a guest vocal from Zlatan. On August 17, 2022 he collaborated with Favi and Hotkid on Crime.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kanmodi |first=Funmilayo |date=2022-08-20 |title=FAVI Features Psycho YP On Latest Single 'Crime' {{!}} LISTEN! |url=https://notjustok.com/uncategorized/favi-features-psycho-yp-on-latest-single-crime-listen/ |access-date=2024-11-11 |website=NotjustOk |language=en-US}}</ref> On 8 November 2022, ''YPSZN3'' debuted on the newly launched Nigeria ''TurnTable'' Top 50 chart at number 26.<ref>{{cite web |title=Nigeria Top 50 Albums |url=https://www.turntablecharts.com/charts/2 |website=www.turntablecharts.com |publisher=TurnTable Charts |access-date=19 November 2022}}</ref>
==Artistry== PsychoYP is known for fusing Afrobeats, Afroswing, Hip hop, Trap, Grime, Drill and R&B,<ref name=ms>{{cite web |last1=Gorman |first1=Molly |title=PsychoYP on shaping his sound and the Nigerian music scene |url=https://www.missionstatementmagazine.co.uk/post/psychoyp-on-shaping-his-sound-and-the-nigerian-music-scene |website=Mission Statement |access-date=24 November 2022 |language=en |date=27 April 2022}}</ref> to create his musical element. In high school, his friends began calling him Yung Papi,<ref name=ms /> and "Papi Chulo".<ref name="MoreBranches" /> Nicholas eventually picked up "Yung Papi" as an acronym for YP,<ref name="MoreBranches" /> before adopting Psycho, from a movie he watched to form the stage name PsychoYP.<ref name=ms /> Nicholas "PsychoYP" cited the Nigerian rapper M.I, and the American rappers Drake, Lil Wayne, and Gucci Mane, as his musical influence and/or inspiration while growing up.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Bourdin |first1=Nils |title=PsychoYP, trap music in Abuja |url=https://pan-african-music.com/en/psychoyp-and-abuja-trap/ |website=PAM - Pan African Music |access-date=26 November 2022 |date=20 February 2020}}</ref>
==Discography== ===EPs=== {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |+ List of studio extended plays, with selected details and chart positions ! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:14em;"| Title ! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:17em;"| Details ! scope="col" colspan="1"| Peak chart positions |- ! scope="col" style="width:2.8em;font-size:90%;"| NG<br /> |- !scope="row"|''Euphoria'' | * Released: 26 August 2021 * Label: Apex Village, ONErpm * Formats: Digital download | |}
===Collaborative EPs=== {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |+ List of joint EPs, with selected details and chart positions ! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:14em;"| Artists ! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:14em;"| Title ! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:17em;"| Details ! scope="col" colspan="1"| Peak chart positions |- ! scope="col" style="width:2.8em;font-size:90%;"| NG<br /> |- | PsychoYP & Kuddi Is Dead !scope="row"|''This Is What You Wanted'' | * Released: 21 May 2017 * Label: * Formats: Digital download | |- | PsychoYP & Kuddi Is Dead !scope="row"|''This Is What You Wanted II'' | * Released: 21 February 2018 * Label: Apex Village * Formats: Digital download | |- |PsychoYP & Azanti !scope="row"|''YP & Azanti, Vol. 1'' | * Released: 12 November 2020 * Label: Apex Village * Formats: Digital download | |}
===Mixtapes=== {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |+ List of mixtapes, with selected details and chart positions ! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:14em;"| Title ! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:17em;"| Details ! scope="col" colspan="1"| Peak chart positions |- ! scope="col" style="width:2.8em;font-size:90%;"| NG<br /> |- !scope="row"|''YPSZN'' | * Released: 8 June 2018 * Label: * Formats: Digital download | |- !scope="row"|''YPSZN2'' | * Released: 4 November 2019 * Label: Apex Village * Formats: Digital download | |- !scope="row"|''YPSZN3'' | * Released: 2 November 2022 * Label: Apex Village * Formats: Digital download | 26 |}
=== Singles === ==== As lead artist ==== {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" border="1" |+ List of charted singles, with selected chart positions ! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Title ! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:1em;"| Year ! scope="col" colspan="3"| Peak chart positions ! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:18.5em;"| Album |- ! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"| NG<br /> ! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"| SA<br /> ! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"| UK<br /> |- ! scope="row"| "Who Dis"<ref>{{cite web |last1=Abimbolu |first1=Debola |title=Listen to PsychoYP's literally socially-conscious new single, "Who Dis" |url=https://thenativemag.com/listen-psychoyps-new-single-dis/ |website=The Native |access-date=26 November 2022 |date=21 July 2017}}</ref> | rowspan="1"| 2017 | — || — || — | rowspan="3" {{Non-album singles}} |- ! scope="row"| "To the Max"<ref>{{cite web |last1=Abimbolu |first1=Debola |title=Psycho YP tag teams Odunsi on new single, "To the Max" |url=https://thenativemag.com/psychoyp-odunsi-repping-city-new-single-max/ |website=The Native |access-date=26 November 2022 |date=12 December 2018}}</ref> (featuring Odunsi) | rowspan="1"| 2018 | — || — || — |- ! scope="row"| "Be Like You"<ref>{{cite web |last1=Peter |first1=Dennis Ade |title=Listen To Psycho YP's Groovy New Single, "Be Like You" |url=https://thenativemag.com/listen-psycho-yps-groovy-new-single-like/ |website=The Native |access-date=26 November 2022 |date=23 May 2019}}</ref> | rowspan="1"| 2019 | — || — || — |- ! scope="row"| "Euphoria" | rowspan="1"| 2021 | — || — || — | rowspan="1"| ''Euphoria'' |- ! scope="row"| "IC3"<ref>{{cite web |last1=Mudasiru |first1=Wisdom |title=Psycho YP, Zilla Oaks & BackRoad Gee bring the heat on ‘IC3’ |url=https://culturecustodian.com/psycho-yp-zilla-oaks-backroad-gee-bring-the-heat-on-ic3/ |website=The Culture Custodian |access-date=26 November 2022 |date=11 August 2022}}</ref> | rowspan="5"| 2022 | — || — || — | rowspan="3"|''YPSZN3'' |- ! scope="row"| "Bando Diaries"<ref>{{cite web |title=PsychoYP & Odomodublvck combine on new drill song, "Bando Diaries" |url=https://thenativemag.com/psycho-yp-odomodublvck-bando/ |website=The NAtive |access-date=26 November 2022 |date=9 June 2022}}</ref> | — || — || — |- ! scope="row"| "Stronger"<ref>{{cite web |last1=Overo |first1=Naomi |title=PsychoYP and Zlatan Link Up For "Stronger" |url=https://culturecustodian.com/psychoyp-and-zlatan-link-up-for-stronger/ |website=The Culture Custodian |access-date=26 November 2022 |date=26 October 2022}}</ref> (featuring Zlatan) | — || — || — |- ! scope="row"| "Midlife Crisis"<ref name="Wonderland">{{cite web |author=Wonderland Staff |title=PsychoYP Releases "Midlife Crisis" And "WYDTM" |url=https://www.wonderlandmagazine.com/2022/05/06/psychoyp-midlife-crisis-wydtm-new-noise/ |website=Wonderland |access-date=26 November 2022 |date=6 May 2022}}</ref> | — || — || — | rowspan="2" {{TBA}} |- ! scope="row"| "WYDTM"<ref name="Wonderland" /> (featuring Azanti) | — || — || — |}
== Awards and nominations == {| class="wikitable" !Year !Award !Category !Nominee/Work !Result |- |rowspan="2" |2018 |rowspan="2" |Nigerian Teens Choice Awards |Choice Fast Rising Artist |rowspan="2" |Himself |{{nom}} |- | Choice Hip Hop Artist |{{nom}} |- |rowspan="2" |2020 ||South African Music Awards |Rest Of Africa Artist |Himself for ''YPSZN2'' |{{nom}} |- |The Headies |Best Rap Album |''YPSZN2'' |{{nom}} |- |rowspan="2" |2023 |rowspan="2" |The Headies |Best Rap Single |"Bando Diaries" |{{pending}} |- |Best Rap Album |''YPSZN3'' |{{pending}} |}
=== Featured in ===
* Crime By Favi<ref>{{Cite news |last=Online |first=Tribune |date=2023-06-20 |title=Authenticity, ambition: Favi marks new era in career with new single ‘Omo Oro |url=https://tribuneonlineng.com/authenticity-ambition-favi-marks-new-era-in-career-with-new-single-omo-oro/ |access-date=2023-08-06 |newspaper=Nigerian Tribune|language=en-GB}}</ref>
== References == {{reflist}}
Category:Living people Category:1998 births Category:Nigerian musicians Category:Nigerian hip-hop singers Category:Nigerian male rappers Category:21st-century Nigerian rappers