Hyzah

The 22-year-old’s music is equal parts energetic and enthralling, taking a cue from the rhythmic cadences, evocative storytelling tradition, and call-and-response scheme of storied Nigerian genres like apala and Fuji with further inspiration from trap, soul, and ‘90s afrobeats. Born and raised in inner-city Lagos, Hyzah’s life is heavily influenced by the bright lights and propulsive energy that reflect the pulse of Nigeria’s cosmopolitan hub. As he tells it, an itinerant lifestyle as a teenager with no prospects for tertiary education forced him to work as a cobbler for a bit. In 2021 a gritty video of Hyzah freestyling went viral and caught the attention of Canadian popstar, Drake, which also led to features in Complex, Uproxx, and HipHopDX. Taking things further, Drake followed Hyzah on Instagram and sent a message of encouragement to the young musician. The visibility of Drake’s co-sign led to more attention for Hyzah with artists like The Game, Olamide, Zlatan, and Russ reaching out to appreciate his talent and discuss potential collaborations. In the time since then, Hyzah has continued to work on his music which he self-describes as “freedom sound,” a melodic and raw retelling of factual events from his life and that of the people around him that he says explores the nuances of his come-up and how life has unfolded since then.