2 Kings is one of the most important pieces of art that has been released in the last two decades.
The rap collaboration project between Olamide and Phyno is beyond music; it is a work of art that is aimed at enlightening Nigerians about the importance of building a relationship between two powerhouses from various geographical zones in the country, which can wreak havoc and introduce a form of cultural integration.
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Music is a powerful tool that not only makes people dance but also makes people reflect and understand that life is beyond the mundane, and it is an instrument designed to educate and build a bridge between the north and the south, the west and the east. On 2 Kings, Phyno and Olamide gave music listeners what they never knew they needed: a music project that discloses what can be achieved when music and art are put ahead of tribal bigotry and cultural animosity.
In this article, we will be looking at the importance of the music collaboration between heavyweights, Olamide and Phyno.
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2 Kings: Background Story
In 2015, Olamide and Phyno were at the peak of their respective music careers. Olamide, who hails from the Southwestern part of Nigeria, has dominated the rap music scene for almost five years, rapping predominantly in his native Yoruba language.
As for Phyno, he was one of the hottest musicians in the Nigerian music industry. Singing and rapping in both Pidgin and his Igbo language, he had a crossover appeal following the massive success of his debut studio album, No Gut No Glory, which was released in 2014.
The inspiration to commence the music project, 2 Kings, emerged following their partnership on the songs, ‘Ghost Mode’ and ‘Dope Money’. The song won Best Collabo at both the 2012 The Headies Awards and 2013 Nigeria Entertainment Awards.
Interestingly, ‘Ghost Mode’ would not appear on the collaboration album.
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How Good Was the Music Project?
The 10-track music project was solid. It was direct and to the point without excessive detours; the objective was to promote both Igbo and Yoruba culture. Both artistes came with their best pen game, enchanting their audience in their local language and showing them what could be achieved if they maintain a fluid mind and approach music with the mindset of a personnel member who wants to promote the cultural values of Nigeria and disclose the beauty of our tradition.
It was fascinating that the music project was done at the peak of their respective music careers, which means that they had a lot to offer their fans, and there was enough energy in their tank at the time. Nowadays, both artistes are record executives and are interested in promoting young talents; hence, this project came at the best time.
Simply put, the music project represented cultural pride, regional cooperation, and the rise of indigenous Nigerian rap into the mainstream.
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Primary Purpose of 2 Kings
As stated above, this music project represented several cultural impacts.
At first, 2 Kings gave the younger generation the freedom to embrace indigenous languages and express themselves in their native languages. Phyno and Olamide helped make Yoruba and Igbo rap commercially successful, encouraging pride in local languages and identities.
Further, Olamide and Phyno helped in bringing two major tribes together. This music project goes beyond a music project; it is the glue that made people from various parts of Nigeria bang their heads at clubs and gyrate at house parties without any form of tribal tension or people wincing at the language of one another. For example, the single, ‘Ladi’ was intensely popular, becoming one of the most prominent songs off the music project.
Lastly, the creativity and eventual success of this music project helped legitimize “local rap” as a powerful force in Nigerian music, influencing many younger artists. The discussion around songs such as Local Rappers reflected this shift. It is important to note that Phyno and Olamide are not the first musicians to make rap music projects in their native language.
Before the emergence of both artistes, there were musicians such as Nigga Raw and Da Grin, among several others, who made music in their native language. Phyno and Olamide simply used 2 Kings to educate, enlighten, and, of course, brighten the day of the fans.
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Conclusion
The Olamide and Phyno connection in 2015 was bigger than music. It represented cultural pride, regional cooperation, and the rise of indigenous Nigerian rap into the mainstream.
They waged war against rappers such as Ycee, M.I Abaga, and Vector. The 2 Kings made local rap cool, and everyone at the time wanted to jump on the bandwagon of ‘local rappers’.
