Nicholas Ihua-Maduenyi[1] (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.[2] 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",[3] he is regarded as one of Nigeria's rap music pioneers in the alté music scene.
Early life
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.
Ihua-Maduenyi was born on 28 October 1998 in Abuja, and comes from Rivers State.[4] While in secondary school in 2013, he met with Kuddi Is Dead, a member of Apex Village.[5] 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".[5]
Career
YP is an acronym for "Yung Papi".[6] In 2016, he launched his music career as a rapper on SoundCloud as Psycho, while based in Manchester, England,[7] 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,[8] and released a SoundCloud exclusive with "This Is What You Wanted II" on 21 February 2018, featuring Ayüü, Zilla Oaks, and Marv OTM.[9] On 8 June 2018, he released "YPSZN",[10] with guest appearances from Fasina, Marv OTM, Denzel Oaks, Zilla Oaks, and Remy Baggins.[11] 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.[12] On the 4th of November, 2019, he released "YPSZN2",[13] with guest appearances from BOJ, Terri, Nathalie Sade, Dami Oniru, Ayüü, Zilla Oaks, Ladipoe, Skales, and Blaqbonez.[13] On the 12th of November, 2020, YP and Azanti went on to release their self-titled debut EP "YP & Azanti, Vol. 1".[14] The extended play spawned the minor hit tracks "Caro", and "Focused".[2] 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.[15]
On 26 August 2021, YP released his first solo EP Euphoria,[16] 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,[17] featuring guest appearances from Blaqbonez, Dremo, Laycon, Wurld, Alpha P, Terry Apala, Laime, Mojo, SGaWD, King Perryy, and many more.[17] 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.[18] On 8 November 2022, YPSZN3 debuted on the newly launched Nigeria TurnTable Top 50 chart at number 26.[19]
Artistry
PsychoYP is known for fusing Afrobeats, Afroswing, Hip hop, Trap, Grime, Drill and R&B,[20] to create his musical element. In high school, his friends began calling him Yung Papi,[20] and "Papi Chulo".[6] Nicholas eventually picked up "Yung Papi" as an acronym for YP,[6] before adopting Psycho, from a movie he watched to form the stage name PsychoYP.[20] 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.[21]
Discography
EPs
List of studio extended plays, with selected details and chart positions