Phyno's 'Full Time Job' is a testimony to how rooted he is in craftsmanship

The rapper's three-year break before releasing another studio album was well worth the wait, and it shows in this carefully curated and crafted project.

Nigerian ace rapper and music executive, Chibuzor Nelson Azubuike, popularly known as Phyno, has released his fifth studio album, Full-Time Job, and it lives up to expectations as a project from a veteran artiste who has consistently championed traditional music and cultural representation

Making a strong entrance into the industry with his debut album No Guts No Glory in 2014, which had smash tunes like Alobam, Ghost mode and more, the 37-year-old rapper has since released four more studio albums, including his latest, Full-Time Job. Although Phyno took a three-year break, his comeback project is a well-delivered reminder of why he has excelled in the music space for over a decade.

The intro of the album 'It's Nothing' gives you everything you need, as a rapper should on a project: introspection, self-awareness, and skillful showmanship. The rich production, delivered by one of the highly under-recognized yet spectacular hip-hop producers in the game, Major Bangz, cements the song's quality. A very strong hip-hop intro, allowing the rapper to express himself properly. The skilled MC goes in hard, delivering and showcasing his prowess as one of the best rappers the continent has ever seen. The vocal performance by Emma Odia enhances the cultural identity Phyno subscribes to.

The album’s tempo quickly elevates with 'Back Outside' featuring Phyno’s signee, Cheque. The amapiano-inspired, log-drum-infused record, paired with Cheque’s catchy hook, is a song for the streets and a potential club banger. Phyno flows effortlessly—a thoroughly enjoyable track. A foreign presence is introduced on the project in the form of British rapper Chip on 'Eyes on Dem'. One might have expected a drill or grime track, or at least a proper hip-hop song, but there’s a twist: it’s a mid-tempo, funk-inspired 80s-style record. Chip delivers his verse through singing, and Phyno follows suit. Though it’s a decent track that caters to a broader audience, it may not be particularly memorable. Phyno's 2023 hit 'Do I' boosts the tempo again, offering listeners familiar ground. Songstress Fave is introduced on 'Deep,' with love as the central theme. Like most duets between male and female artists, the song focuses on affection, with both expressing how deeply they are in love. Fave shines with her patois-influenced vocal delivery.

'Time of My Life' showcase Phyno’s "the world to Afrobeats" approach, in contrast to the more common phrase, "Afrobeats to the world." A drill track might have been expected, but British drill rapper ArrDee is instead featured on an amapiano-infused Afrobeats tune. Impressively, ArrDee delivers some lines in Phyno’s native language, Igbo. Both artists share verses, making the song a potential fan favourite if promoted well. The title 'Nwayo Nwayo,' which translates to "softly, softly" already hints at a feel-good Igbo highlife tune, and Phyno delivers exactly that. The lead guitar cuts through the track, providing an ear-catching touch. Phyno follows this with 'Men Don Show Face,' which delivers just what is expected. Featuring veteran highlife singer Flavour, the song benefits from Flavour's expertise in crafting irresistible hooks. The groovy and rhythmical Oghene music formula—responsible for hits like 'Levels,' 'Game Changer,' 'Egedege,' and 'Big Fish'—is applied brilliantly, resulting in a definite hit record.

Phyno continues his strong run with 'Grateful.' The hip-hop track samples Princess Njideka Okeke's 2004 gospel classic 'Kporo Ya Isi Na Ala,' and Phyno stays on theme, offering praises to his creator and reflecting on his life journey. The sample adds soul to the track, which complements the rapper's introspection. Phyno maintains this reflective tone with the interlude 'Nwoke Esike' (loosely translating to "Man of Strength"). The piece features Nigerian fraudster and convicted felon Hushpuppi, whose ironic intro and outro advise listeners to live within their means, be content, and work hard. Phyno’s singing, backed by solemn choir-style vocals and meliorated by a lead guitar, reiterates the message of being a "man of strength," showing up in the face of adversity.

The tempo shifts again with the Afrobeats-infused "Trouble Maker." Another interesting change comes with 'Pinterest,' an urban Afro-fusion/Afro-swing tune featuring British-African group NSG. Here, Phyno plays on the guests’ turf rather than keeping things local, as he did with ArrDee. The song is beautifully delivered and ideal for summer. Grammy-winner Burna Boy makes an appearance on the remix of Phyno’s 2023 smash hit, offering a familiar sound for listeners. As expected, Burna Boy delivers an exciting performance. Mavin singer-songwriter and producer Johnny Drille, who has been relatively quiet lately, makes a surprising appearance on 'Sweet Karma,' a love-themed track, as expected. The album concludes with 'Anthem Ndi Eze,' another Oghene-inspired song, which rounds off the project beautifully. It is well-produced and seems destined to become an anthem representing Igbo culture.

Overall, the album boasts impressive production and direction, with standout contributions from Nigerian producer Jaysynths. He showcases his versatility across eleven of the fifteen tracks, including gems like 'Back Outside,' 'Do I,' 'Deep' (co-produced with Greamer), 'Time of My Life,' 'Nwayo Nwayo,' 'Men Don Show Face,' and 'Grateful.' Major Bangz also makes significant contributions, producing the album’s intro, 'It’s Nothing,' and the soundscape-shifting 'Pinterest.' Duktor Sett and NiphKeys add their touches to tracks like 'Nwoke Esike.'

The album is cohesive, on-brand, and culturally rich. Although it also caters to a broader audience, the traditional rhythms and influences never falter, keeping local listeners connected no matter where they tune in from. Even for those unfamiliar with Phyno’s language, the music composition and delivery offer something enjoyable. Phyno's performance feels effortless, with seamless delivery across both his rapping and singing, solidifying the album title and affirming that he is well-rooted in his craft, treating it as a full-time job even if there are breaks in between

Overall, it’s a solid 7.8/10 album, easily one of the year’s best projects from a Nigerian rapper, and it also stands out as one of the rapper's best projects in his catalogue.

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