Diandra Interviews PsychoYP: Embracing Insanity

There comes a point where you can no longer fight destiny. If you are an artist, by your nature, you are not only creative, but totally crazy. For PSYCHO YP, drill music has become a platform for him to embrace his insanity; use the crazy, dynamic personality his surroundings have noted into something he deems impressive. Music makes him embrace himself like never before, and the result is a sound and energy that will make you hit the club. 

Diandra: If The YPSZN Trilogy, could be compared to a movie trilogy, which would you pick and why? What character would you be and why?

PSYCHO YP: YPSZN 1. Solely because that project was made at a point where Psycho was still in his rawest form. Exploring. There wasn’t no Big YP at this point. Just Psycho. The energy, the vocal texture, the rawness in engineering. All round special body of work. 

Diandra: What aspect of your personality does Drill Music most represent and how so?

Drill music brings out the violence for me. As a person that’s very cautious and thinks about the numerous possibilities things could go negatively I feel like drill music helps me embrace all of that and the way we live life, and for many people around me that’s what helps bring it to life. 

So more time I might not talk or freestyle in the studio, but a drill beat comes on and I´m up and active. It’s crazy. 

Diandra: You picked your name out of the fact that people were calling you Young Psycho. Why did they choose that name for you, and what about music brings out your insanity versus your sanity?

PSYCHO YP: People in secondary school in Abuja called me Young Papi. Aka Papi Chulo. Then it somehow changed to Psycho after a couple years. I think it was crazy lyrics or something random cus we were always rapping but it stuck. And I feel like geniuses are always crazy so it deffo fits. 

Diandra: You have been called by The Guardian ¨The Heart of Afro Hip Hop,¨ what would you say this new iteration of the genre brings to the world, especially in terms of adding to how we define love?

Psycho YP: I feel like it’s a way of showing appreciation. I know the world is going to appreciate me one day for this sound and doing my part to keep it alive. A lot of other people are doing the same thing and we love and appreciate them for it. Being the heart of it all just means im inspiring somebody and always will. 

Diandra: With so many features but still not one with one of your favorite artists, Stormy, what is a brief note you would leave Stormzy, if you could, to convince him for a feature? What would be the theme of the song?

Psycho YP: I don’t even know. I just know we gotta make some gully shit. And a couple internationals too but idk.  Stars will align if they must. 

 Diandra: Your parents CLEARLY brag about you. What was their proudest moment of you to date, and what did they say that you will keep with your forever?

Psycho YP: I think proudest moment must be one of the tours cus that’s just crazy to see. I really can’t tell their proudest moment because we blessed to have numerous W’s. They taught me how to be patient and grateful. and that goes such a long way if you stick to it. 

Diandra: When you compare London´s Drill Scene to Abuja’s Hip Hop scene, what is one thing you wish they would learn from the other?

Psycho YP: We just gotta learn how to match the video output level. There’s so much music but not enough videos and not enough people with the vim to act on potential hits. 

Diandra: If Apex Village, your collective, were an actual village, what would be three of its laws?

Psycho YP: 

1. Stealing lighters – minimum 3 months jail time 

2.Stealing smoke – minimum 3 years jail time 

3.Everybody must attend the weekly party. 

Diandra: Describe the moment, you started to feel your own popularity grow and excited at the potential of global stardom?

Psycho YP: I mean the point where my mom had people in her office posting me and my music I knew we were up. 

You made your music career as you were in college, if music could give you a diploma, what would you think it would say you graduated with or from?

Psycho YP: PhD Diligent Lyricism

Click Here For More Info. on PsychoYP. Naija Funk Comes Out May 3.