ALBUM REVIEW: Phyno – No Guts No Glory

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.