Jeriq & Psycho YP- Evil Twins
We have seen this before. Two exceptionally talented rap artists recognizing a shared spirit and joining forces to craft extraordinary music. The likes of Jay-Z and Kanye, M.I and A-Q have paved the way, and now, right before our eyes, Psycho YP and Jeriq, one an alté rapper, the other a rapper that predominantly weaves his lyrics in Igbo, are recreating that kindred magic. Despite their contrasting styles, these two maestros have collaborated to produce something so astonishing, so joy-inducing, that I can barely contain my excitement.
I’m going somewhere here, but first you need to understand…
Psycho YP
Psycho YP made the decision to delve into the realm of music as a creator in 2016. That same year, he released his first musical project, the EP ‘Lost In The Sauce.’ Clearly, his mind had been buzzing with musical ideas long before his initial foray, as the EP became an overnight success, setting him up beautifully for the career that was to come. The following year saw the release of another EP, ‘This Is What You Wanted,’ a collaboration with his longtime colleague Kuddi Is Dead. On a roll, Psycho released another EP in February 2018, a sequel named ‘This Is What You Wanted II.’
2018 marked his year as he made that clear with the release of ‘YPSZN.’ This EP spawned hit tracks that thrust him into the limelight and never one to rest on his laurels, he followed up with ‘YPSZN2’ in 2019. By then, there was just no denying it – it was YP season. Over the years, Psycho YP has released about eight musical projects and has worked with several artists over the years, using his platform to direct the limelight on those artists still on the rise. His talent and very nature have definitely left an indelible mark on the music industry. His authentic and unique brand of music, marked by his pure and unbridled passion, his word craftiness, and lyrical finesse, along with his Alté style of rap, seamlessly infusing Afrobeats, Trap, Drill, and Grime have all highlighted him as a musician of his own kind, and truly that is what Psycho Yung Papi is.
Jeriq
At the age of 15, the fires of Jeriq’s passion for music had already been stoked so much so, that he dove into the creative process head first. He began recording music and, by 2015, the 16-year-old released his debut track, ‘Iyoo.’ Soon, Jeriq was consistently releasing music, with successful hits in 2018 like ‘Already Made’ and ‘Last Last,’ featuring Quincy. In 2019, he released ‘Update,’ ‘Paper,’ and ‘Hussle O Clock’ featuring Tidinz.By 2020, Jeriq was ready to release his first extensive musical body of work. To whet his audience’s appetite, he dropped the single ‘No More Nleka’ featuring Zoro and later that year, the EP ‘Hood Boy Dreams’ was released, setting the stage for his recognition among successful musical artists in Nigeria. In 2021, Jeriq collaborated with DMW rapper Dremo on another EP named ‘Ea$t N We$t,’ this collaboration helped him gain a larger following, especially in places in the west like Lagos and thus it helped set the pace for the success of his album.
In 2022, Jeriq made the biggest statement of his career with the release of his debut album, ‘Billion Dollar Dream.’ The project’s monumental success, claiming the number one spot on Apple Music and Audiomack, as well as dominating other streaming platforms, reflected the undeniable appeal of his music. His ability to express emotions in a raw and relatable manner, weave enthralling stories, and do it all in Igbo, a language not widely incorporated by established artists, paved the way for his rapid ascent.
Evil Twins EP
The tag team duo, Jeriq and Psycho YP, came together to cook up something special and now, they have presented their delightful creation for our consumption. After savoring my portion of the meal, I can boldly declare that it is a sumptuous masterpiece. The project features exhilarating rap and trap beats that have you nodding your head with maximum energy, choruses that you’re singing along to before you know it, verses that hit hard, and the King of the East himself, Phyno.
The finesse embodied in this project cannot be fully appreciated at once. In essence, you’ll find yourself listening repeatedly with your pods or speakers turned up to the very highest volume. Yet, like Oliver Twist, you’ll be left wanting more. It’s just that good.
