Stream | Phlow’s – Asuai Mini EP
by Phil Chard
When I interviewed Phlow a few months ago she spoke briefly about her upcoming EP with Swedish Producer Ryko. The 5 minute mini EP Asuai represents the culmination of their work. Utilising a unique format the Nigerian rapper delivers 4 verses and choruses over 4 different beats from Ryko that form the 5 minute offering.
Asuai translates to My Year in the Igbo dialect of Ukwani. The 4 songs trace the path of a relationship from the giddy butterflies on Little Girl, Big ‘Ole World to the heart breaking The Exit.
You can listen to Phlow discussing her plans for the Asuai and how she discovered Ryko on Soundcloud in my interview below.
#FeatureFridays Interview With Phlow
Words By Phil Chard
Last week's #FeatureFridays winner Phlow simply stomped out her competition in the voting poll by a big margin. With such a large following and a small yet impressive music catalogue to back her, I got hold of the Nigerian rapper to discuss her career thus far, being a women in rap and her career plans.
You seem to have a substantial following based off your margin of victory in the last [#FeatureFridays] poll. Can you give us brief rundown of how long you've been in the rap game?
It's been on and off, technically I got into the the game in 2014. But since 2009 I've been recording stuff. Way back in college I was part of a rap group and we would record songs and covers. My fan base is basically the rap heads here. My sound is not as popular as the usual African sound. But so far i've been able to get a little bit of a fan base
I read that you're a computer science graduate. So are you doing this Hip Hop thing part time or invested in it fully now?
I'd like to say I'm doing both part time. I'm doing the music part time and the work part time. It's a mix of both.
As it stands do you feel that your lifestyle cannot be fully sustained but the music?
In the long I'd like to think so, but between 2014 and now is a really short time so I'm just trying to see where it goes.
How did you link up with Tekzilla?
I met him in 2014. Within two months of meeting we started recording a lot of tracks. I went for this Hip Hop show that happens once a month with a friend. I got there and Tekzilla was the DJ and thankfully they let me perform. It was really good and Tekzilla hit me up and said he was working on a project I got into the studio and we worked on a song that is on the Mind Body and Phlow to [Reputation] the following week he hit me up again and it's been magic ever since.
As a woman in Hip hop how hard has it been to get your name out and get respected and recognised.?
Getting recognised and getting respect in this game are two different things. Getting recognised isn't that much of a problem because not that many of women are doing this. Getting respect is what you really have to work hard at. Some people just assume that you're a girl that you can just throw a couple of rhymes and “it's fine we'll listen to you”but to actually be respected and for them to be like “OK this girl can really really do what she's doing” is really tricky. I was recently part of the Hennessy VS Class [Rap] lyricist competition and it was really fun. I was the only girl and I was hoping I wouldn't have to get picked on that fact. I was one of the winners and I still like to believe that because it was a lyricists competition they really respected what I brought to the table Respect is something I'm working on trying to get every time.
When can we expect your album or follow up EP?
I'm working on an EP right now it's basically done. It's with a Swedish producer called Rayko so that should be dropping sometime in September. . It's a bit of a personal project. It's a different side. Then I've got another EP that I'm working with Tekzilla and another joint project with Cyclone. [The friend who took Phlow to the event she where she first met TekZilla ]
Are you trying to get signed or stay independent?
Well I'm approaching it as an independent. I have a production deal with Str8 Buttah that's where Tekzilla is from. I'm just working with them and seeing how it goes.
How frequently are you getting booked for shows out there?
Not very often actually, we have our own crowd but for the mainstream shows item pretty tricky.
Are there any rappers you're planning on working with on the content?
Yeah. Modenine is one, MI, there Poe, there’s lots of people I'd like to work with.
@Phlowetry
The AHHB Podcast Featuring Rushay, Phlow & GZE
by Phil Chard
The best podcast relating to all matters African of the Hip Hop variety has returned once again. This week Phil gets hold of a true Hip Hop OG - Mr. Rushay Booysen of South Africa to discuss the state of the rap nation and track how far things have progressed over the years.
Phil also speaks to 2 #FeatureFridays winners GZE and Phlow. Where the former shares details of his upcoming album Hustlemania abs the latter shares the details of her introduction into Hip Hop.
We also have music from MarazA, KLY, Flo Dee, YCEE, Ice Prince, Jnr Brown and Well$
Be sure to like and comments on the podcast via soundcloud or iTunes.
Submission | Teck-Zilla & Phlow – Phlowetic Justice
by Phil Chard
Now I'm crazy set, To hit my mark no sweat
A one way ticket to the tippy top I got, let's jet,With Pistol like aim, tell em I'ma hit off
That definition is- in- my name n****** I'm in my zone
A Lotta buzz I hear, but I don't see 'em standing in my way
Trafficking them chips to land, just where I want not where they may
We 'bout to make history people, you cannot clear that cache
The Nigerian duo of Teck -Zilla and Phlow have linked up on the song Phlowetic Justice. The song is play on Kendrick Lamar's Poetic Justice that incorporates the same sample from the Janet Jackson song and a sample from Kendrick's rendition off his second album. Phlow displays her lyrical prowess as she rides over the Zilla beat delivering a series of sharp tongued lyrics.