Nigerian rapper Chibuzor Nelson Azubuike, popularly known as Phyno, has expressed his belief that marriage can hinder an artiste’s success in the music industry.
Speaking on a recent episode of the In My Opinion podcast, Phyno described music as a “jealous career” that demands full commitment. When asked if he believed marriage could impact a musician’s career, he said, “Check everybody. Statistically, I feel so. Music is a jealous career.”
The rapper further explained how the demanding nature of music has often led artistes to make significant sacrifices, such as pausing or abandoning their education. “That’s why people drop out of school to face music. The ones that had to juggle the two, you have to give them kudos because it is not easy,” he said.
Phyno highlighted that some artistes, after achieving a certain level of fame, later return to school to complete their education. “Sometimes, some people get to a certain fame level and rush back to school and come back to continue from where they stopped because you have to actually face one. Music is tasking; it takes all your time,” he explained.
Reflecting on the creative process, he emphasized that music often draws from personal experiences unless an artiste relies on songwriters. “Another thing about music is that it is what you pass through that you put into it, life experiences, except if you use songwriters,” he added.
Born and raised in Enugu State, Phyno hails from Anambra State and began his music journey as a producer in 2003. Renowned for rapping in Igbo, he gained prominence with his debut studio album No Guts No Glory, released in March 2014, which produced hit singles such as Ghost Mode, Man of the Year, Parcel, and O Set.