Artiste – Phyno
Album – No Guts No Glory
Features – Omawumi, Flavour,
Runtown, M.I, Ice Prince, Efa,
Olamide, P-Square, Chigurl &
Stormrex
Producers – Major Bangz, Phyno,
Wizzy Pro, Chopstix, Phyno & Jay
Stuntz
Running Time – 01:07:17
Record Label – Sputnet/Penthauze
Records (2014)
Self proclaimed Man of the Year
and indigenous hip-hop royalty
Phyno Nelson finally sets his
debut album “No Guts No
Glory” (which is undoubtedly this
most anticipated album of 2014)
free. The over-lengthy album which
is preceded by hit singles
“Obago”, “Parcel” and awarding-
winning single “Ghost Mode”
features many big names in the
Nigeria music arena just for
presentation.
Coursed to solidify Phyno’s footing
in the music industry, NGNG is an
LP that oozes attention-demanding
attitude, from the art direction to
musical content. NGNG might not
leave you in the lurch, but it will fail
to quench your thirst.
Overall Phyno delivers a solid debut
LP slightly weakened by so-so fillers
and half baked collaborations, but
read our track-to-track review for a
broader view:
1. Chibuzo (feat. Stormrex):
NGNG opens brilliantly with
“Chibuzo” featuring the vocals of
over-looked high-life vocalist
Stormrex. Although the guest did
not sing, she gives an undeniable
depth to the track as she assists
Phyno who gives insight to the
journey of his life thus far over the
banging Major Bangz production.
“Chibuzo” familiarizes you with
Azubuike Chibuzor Nelson.
2. Alobam: Heavy is the perfect
word to describe “Alobam”.
Slightly inspired by Drake’s Worst
Behaviour, the declaratory hip-hop
track picks up where the opening
track left off, with Phyno’s edgy and
attitude packed delivery intact as
he shouts out his hommies.
3. O Set (feat. P-Square): Very
cheesy but highly infectious and
loveable, Phyno dumbs things down
on the P-Square assisted “O Set”.
This number obviously was crafted
with the sole intention of landing a
club hit hence the star-power of
Africa’s leading duo P-Square was
summoned and they did just that.
The Wizzy Pro produced song
maybe be tagged empty and
pointless but it is very needed; “O
Set” will cause a frenzy and launch
Phyno into international waters if
treated as a single.
4. Nme Nme: The pressure to
make a high-life song is
understandable but “Nme Nme”
has no business being anywhere
near the tracklist of “No Guts No
Glory”. Average at best, the cut
proclaims enjoying life yet makes
the LP less enjoyable.
5. Man of the Year (Obago):
“Obago” is without a doubt one of
the best tracks on NGNG. Phyno
brags like true hip-hop royalty; he
evens digs deep down to his origin
as he spits; “ …East coast nigga,
now I’m banging in the West”.
Phyno’s performance on this record
is complexly dynamic, mind-blowing
and deep; he is truly the man of the
year.
6. Chukwu Na Enye (feat.
Omawumi): Only God knows why
“Chukwu Na Enye” is the sixth track
on NGNG, only God. Why place a
song with the theme of gratitude
and spirituality which will work
perfectly as the closing track in-
between “Obago” and “Aju”? Was
somebody drunk? Secondly
Omawumi is a fantastic vocalist but
a female with a stronger command
of the Igbo language would have
done a better job. That said; the
cut has its wow moments.
7. Aju (feat. Olamide & Efa):
This song was not meant to
happen! It lacks the fire felt in
previous Phyno collaborations with
Olamide like “Dope Money” or
the latter’s “Baddest Guy Ever
Liveth”; and who let Efa crash the
party? As expected Phyno and
Olamide let out steam like animals
on the super production credited to
Major Bangz while Efa struggled as
she delivered lines in his native
dialect Lokaa, but ultimately failed
to rise up to the occasion.
8. Parcel Skit (feat. Chigurl):
Skits are key elements of hip-hop/
rap albums and Chigurl killed this
one to say the least. “Parcel Skit”
is refreshing and hilarious on
different levels… Awesome!
9. Parcel (A Big Nwa): It is safe
to say “Parcel”, “Obago” and
“Alobam” are the centre pieces of
the album. Major Bangz lays the
foundation for yet another big
indigenous hip-hop anthem and
“Parcel” works perfectly on the
dance-floor.
10. Kush Music: “Kush” is
cut off the same cloth as the
second, fifth and eighth tracks and
is almost as good as them. Phyno
bravely chants “you don shine your
eyes?” in the chorus on the tribal
hip-hop song which glorifies “kush”.
Obviously the light-skinned rapper
bares his love for smoke and
getting high in a grand fashion that
will influence even a non-smoker to
bump to the track.
11. Authe (Authentic) [feat.
Flavour]: The authenticity of
“Authentic” is to be questioned as
international high-life star Flavour
who is guest artiste on the groovy
mid-tempo ear-candy, laces a hook
very similar to Burna Boy’s hook in
“Gba Gbe E”. Produced by Jay
Stuntz, the song is very similar to
“O Set” in aspect of mainstream
acceptability, international appeal,
radio appeal, getting the party
started as well as launching Phyno
properly into international waters.
12. Anamachi Versace (feat.
Runtown): The highlight of this
track is the bumping production,
kudos to Wizzy Pro who is also to be
blamed of the groovy production of
“O Set”. Featuring label-mate
Runtown, “Anamachi Versace” is
a pretty decent rap song about
swag.
13. Good Die Young: A solid
rap album is never complete with
an emotive, powerful and soulful
track and “Good Die Young” does
the job on NGNG. Sampling Mavin
Gaye’s 1970 hit “Abraham,
Martin & John”; Phyno shows a
softer side as he talks about his life
deeper than he did in “Chibuzo”,
touching provoking topics like the
death of MC Loph and more. “Good
Die Young” is the kind of record
that will set Phyno on the path to
legend-dom and Major Bangz as a
classic hip-hop producer, the
production is engaging.
14. Ojigi: “Ojigi” produced by
Jay Stuntz is a filler that is hard to
digest and easily forgettable.
15. Icholiya (feat. Ice Prince
& M.I): Producer Chopstix build a
solid foundation for Phyno, Ice
Prince and M.I to play on.
“ Icholiya” sees M.I show flashes of
his pre-Chairman days and Ice
Prince failing to heat things up with
his Aboki rap-style. At end of the
day Phyno steals the show
nonetheless. Afro hip-hop fans will
masturbate to the track.
16. Shey U Know: Songs like
this do damage to a beautiful body
of musical work. “Shey U Know” is
ridiculously poor attempt to create a
typical love song. Epic fail!
17. Ghost Mode: “Ghost
Mode” is an energetic collaboration
that arguably ignited the success of
Phyno. Many do not know that the
fiery track is produced by Phyno.
18. Holiday (feat. Runtown):
NGNG closes is a very dull way. The
album which is already too lengthy
is dragged to a boring end with a
shallow typical eastern tune.
Album art's cover link:maxi.tooxclusive.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/PHYNO-No-Guts-No-Glory.jpg
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