Four years ago, Azanti and Psycho YP debuted their joint project series with the aptly titled ‘YP and Azanti Vol 1’, which introduced their swaggering hip hop and R&B/pop fusions to the world. Based in Abuja, Psycho YP had become a mentor to a younger Azanti and signed him to his Apex Village collective. And before their duet, Psycho YP was already notorious for his ‘YPSZN’ series — a trifecta of albums that showcased his UK drill and grime prowess. With their joint release, a then 18-year-old Azanti was highlighted as a sonorous and skilled bard with his catchy hooks on ‘Caro’, ‘Ji Masun’ and ‘Focused’ shifting the public gaze to his textured vocals.

After taking a break, cued by Azanti’s additional record deal with Def Jam in 2022 and debut album ‘Hearts, Parts and Nostalgia’, the duo recently returned with their sophomore record. You’ve guessed it, ‘YP & Azanti Vol 2’. On the album, the duo present a more mature version of their style, layering their previous fusion sounds with electronic dance music influences. Thanks to songs such as the folk-esque ‘Naija Funk’, the horn-driven pop of ‘Somebody’ and lead track ‘Should’ve Been Here’, the album glimmers for its airy and eclectic programming and catchy song-writing. Here, the artists talk to NATAAL on their tight-roped relationship and their drive to become the next template for successful rapper-singer duos out of West Africa.

How did you start working together originally?

PsychoYP: One day, I was just chilling in my yard and a mutual friend played me some of his jams so I told him to send me more. Around the same time, Azanti started to contact me. I checked out his stuff and just felt like I wanted to sign him. I put him on a group chat with most of the producers from 44db who would send beats. For the first two days, we made a few songs. And then it flowed from there.

What’s the story behind YP & Azanti Vol II?

Azanti: For the first volume, it was like YP hopping on stuff that was introducing me to the industry. On this one, I think that I am taking more of a backseat. I am flexing more production types. I am less on the verses and I am doing more hooks. YP has the standout rap verses and performances where he is sounding like a different beast. He is sounding like Jay-Z, more mature and steezing. Volume 1 was more R&B while Volume 2 has room for hip hop to cut through.

Did you intend to connect with newer audiences?

Azanti: We know what our target audience wants to hear. The audience are people like us, youngins, shawties, hustlers, people trying to make money, or get a girl. This new project seems to be more braggadocio, more now-we-made-it type of vibes. It encompasses the four-year journey since Volume 1, where we are right now and prospects for the future. Meanwhile I am still trying to explain my several love interests and YP is explaining his bad guy, gangster-esque vibe too. I think it is a unique synergy of worlds. I am the more vulnerable, emotional character in this play, and YP is the bad cop type.

How do you both manage creative freedom as a duo?

Azanti: We are really diverse and genre-wise there are no limitations; but I always want to hear vulnerability. I want the listener to feel like we are about to tell a story, and we are being honest about how we see the world. With beats, it is more about the feeling; I can’t really explain it in genre-terms. But it is deeper than that. I don’t like beats that sound regular.

On most of the tracks in this volume, I do a hook and YP comes through with his verses. Usually, he is going to want to rap and go crazy on the beat, but sometimes he hears my vibe and decides that he wants to sing. It gives him the leeway to be on his singing shit. For me, I am testing the waters to see how my production enters the mainstream on the radio. YP and Azanti just opens up different sides of our creativity.

Talk to us about the sonic fusions in this record.

Azanti: We are fusion artistes so all of the songs feel vastly different. Volume 1 was an R&B project but we touched different sides to it, from trap soul, bashment and highlife, to dancehall and a little bit of afro. This new project is even more sonically diverse because now I am in my pop bag and YP is also trying to hit some pop records. We have grown as artistes and our musicality has improved.

What’s next with Psycho YP and Azanti?

PsychoYP: Working with Azanti is always a new type of vibe. 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 that can match my work rate. It’s always great to make classics. I would always look back at the series and appreciate it like, ‘We really made this shit!’