No Guts No Glory (Phyno album)

No Guts No Glory (abbreviated as NGNG) is the debut studio album by Nigerian rapper Phyno. It was released by Sputnet Records and Penthauze Music on March 20, 2014.[1] The album features guest appearances from P-Square, Omawumi, Olamide, Stormrex, Efa, Flavour N'abania, Runtown, Ice Prince, M.I, Mr Raw, Timaya and Illbliss. Phyno enlisted Major Bangz, WizzyPro, Chopstix and JStunt to assist with production. Initially scheduled for release in November 2013, the album was strategically postponed in order to capitalize on the downtime of the Nigerian Music Industry during the first quarter of the year.[2] No Guts No Glory was supported by four singles: "Ghost Mode", "Man of the Year", "Parcel" and "O Set". It was primarily recorded in Igbo and Nigerian Pidgin. Critical reception to the album was generally positive, with many critics commending its indigenous sound and lyrical depth.

No Guts No Glory
Studio album by Phyno
Released	March 20, 2014 (2014-03-20)[1]
Recorded	2012–2014
Genre	Igbo rap afrobeats Igbo highlife
Label	Sputnet Records Penthauze Music
Producer	Phyno Major Bangz WizzyPro Chopstix JStunt
Phyno chronology
No Guts No Glory (2014) 2 Kings (2015)
Singles from No Guts No Glory
"Ghost Mode" Released: September 25, 2012 "Man of the Year (Obago)" Released: March 23, 2013 "Parcel" Released: October 11, 2013 "O Set" Released: March 4, 2014

Background and composition

On March 15, 2014, Phyno released the album's cover art and track listing.[3] He promoted the album by rolling out several tee shirts with the NGNG logo.[4] Phyno narrated his life story in a hilarious manner on the album's intro. "Alobam" is an ode to his friends who have contributed to his success; the song's instrumental is a cross between Drake's "Worst Behavior" and Olamide's "Sitting on the throne". "Good Die Young" samples Marvin Gaye's version of "Abraham, Martin and John" and is a tribute to the friends Phyno lost to diseases, accident and armed robbery. "Nme Nme" is a groovy highlife throwback song about life's enjoyment, while "Chukwu Na Enye" is a highlife song with a gospel feel. Nigeria's rich language diversity is displayed in "Aju (She Know It)".[5][6][7]

Singles and other releases

The Olamide-assisted track "Ghost Mode" was released on September 25, 2012, as the album's lead single.[8] It won Best Collabo at both the 2012 The Headies Awards and 2013 Nigeria Entertainment Awards. The music video for "Ghost Mode" was shot and directed in Lagos by Clarence Peters.[9]

The album's second single "Man of the Year (Obago)" was released on March 23, 2013.[10] The song was produced by Phyno and won Best Rap Single at The Headies 2012. The music video for the song was also shot and directed by Clarence Peters in Abakpa Nike, and features a cameo appearance from Illbliss. In September 2013, the Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation banned the music video from being broadcast.[11]

The album's third single "Parcel" was released on October 11, 2013. It was originally titled "Parcel (a Big Nwa)". The Clarence Peters-directed music video for the song was released on February 19, 2014. The album's fourth single "O Set" was released on March 4, 2014. It was produced by WizzyPro and features guest vocals by P-Square.[12] The music video for "O Set" was directed by Jude Engees Okoye and uploaded to YouTube at approximately 4 minutes.[13]

On May 22, 2014, Phyno released the Clarence Peters-directed visuals for "Alobam". The song was produced by Major Bangz and is an Igbo slang for "My Guy". In the video, Phyno paid tribute to some of his peers including Ice Prince, Flavour, P-Square, Olamide and J Martins.[14] On September 2, 2014, Phyno released the visuals for the Flavour-assisted track "Authe (Authentic)".[15]

Critical reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
Nigerian Entertainment Today	[7]

No Guts No Glory received generally positive reviews from music critics. Chiagoziem Onyekwena of Nigerian Entertainment Today awarded the album 4.1 stars out of 5, acknowledging it for widening "the landscape of indigenous Nigerian Hip-Hop".[7] Wilfred Okiche of YNaija said Phyno "makes some dubious decisions instead and dilutes the punch hinted at by the title."[6] Joey Akan of Pulse Nigeria opined that NGNG "sure works" and said its "importance far outweighs the personal benefits for Phyno".[5] Obina Agwu of Premium Times newspaper called NGNG a "solid debut rap album", but ended the review saying Phyno "fell for the common industry misconception that an album must parade big names".[16]

Accolades

No Guts No Glory was nominated for Rap Album of the Year at the 2014 City People Entertainment Awards.[17] It was also nominated for Best Rap Album and Album of the Year at The Headies 2014.[18]

Year	Awards ceremony	Award description(s)	Results
2014	The Headies	Best Rap Album	Nominated
		Album of the Year	Nominated
	City People Entertainment Awards	Rap Album of the Year	Nominated

Track listing

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
1.	"Intro (Chibuzo)" (featuring Stormrex)	Azubuike Nelson Stormrex	Major Bangz	2:28
2.	"Alobam"	Nelson	Major Bangz	4:37
3.	"O Set" (featuring P-Square)	Nelson Peter and Paul Okoye	Wizzy Pro	3:56
4.	"Nme Nme"	Nelson	Major Bangz	3:17
5.	"Man of the Year (Obago)"	Nelson	Phyno	3:21
6.	"Chukwu Na Enye" (featuring Omawumi)	Nelson Omawumi Megbele	Phyno	4:36
7.	"Aju (She Know It)" (featuring Olamide and Efa)	Nelson Olamide Adedeji Efa Iwara	Major Bangz	4:54
8.	"Parcel Skit" (featuring Chigul)	Chioma Omeruah	—	1:39
9.	"Parcel"	Nelson	Major Bangz	3:57
10.	"Kush Music"	Nelson	Phyno	4:28
11.	"Authe (Authentic)" (featuring Flavour N'abania)	Nelson Chinedu Okoli	JStunt	3:18
12.	"Anamachi Versace" (featuring Runtown)	Nelson Douglas Jack-Agu	Wizzy Pro	3:14
13.	"Good Die Young"	Nelson	Major Bangz	3:11
14.	"Ojigi"	Nelson	JStunt	4:07
15.	"Icholiya" (featuring Ice Prince and M.I)	Nelson Panshak Zamani Jude Abaga	Chopstix	4:12
16.	"Shey U Know"	Nelson	Major Bangz	3:43
17.	"Ghost Mode" (featuring Olamide)	Nelson Olamide Adedeji	Phyno	3:50
18.	"Holiday" (featuring Runtown)	Nelson Douglas Jack-Agu	Phyno	4:19

Bonus tracks

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
19.	"Multiply" (featuring Mr Raw, Timaya, Flavour N'abania and M.I)	Nelson Ukeje Okechukwu Enetimi Odom Chinedu Okoli Jude Abaga	Phyno	4:54
20.	"Paper Chaser" (featuring Illbliss)	Nelson Tobechukwu Ejiofor	Phyno	4:52

Notes

• "—" denotes a skit

Samples

• "Good Die Young" samples Marvin Gaye's version of "Abraham, Martin and John".

Personnel

• Azubuike Nelson – primary artist, producer, writer, performer
• Major Bangz – producer
• Wizzy Pro – producer
• Chopstix – producer
• JStunt – producer
• Stormrex – featured artist, writer
• Peter and Paul Okoye – featured artist, writer
• Omawumi Megbele – featured artist, writer
• Olamide Adedeji – featured artist, writer
• Efa Iwara – featured artist, writer
• Chinedu Okoli – featured artist, writer
• Douglas Jack-Agu – featured artist, writer
• Panshak Zamani – featured artist, writer
• Jude Abaga – featured artist, writer
• Ukeje Okechukwu – featured artist, writer
• Enetimi Odom – featured artist, writer
• Tobechukwu Ejiofor – featured artist, writer
• Chioma Omeruah – writer, skit
• The Goretti Company – management

Release history

Country/Digital platform	Date	Version	Format	Label
Nigeria iTunes	March 20, 2014	Standard	CD digital download	Sputnet Records Penthauze Music

References

1. "No Guts No Glory (Bonus Track Version)". iTunes. 20 March 2014. Archived from the original on 17 September 2014. Retrieved 6 September 2014.
2. Enemigin, Oritseneye (11 November 2013). "Phyno Says No Guts No Glory To Drop in 2014". Hip Hop World Magazine. Archived from the original on 13 June 2014. Retrieved 11 September 2014.
3. "Check Out Phyno's #NoGutsNoGlory Full Album Tracklist". Fuse. 15 March 2014. Archived from the original on 6 October 2014. Retrieved 16 September 2014.
4. Chard, Phil (13 June 2014). "Phyno – Alobam [Official Video]". The African Hip Hop Blog. Archived from the original on 6 October 2014. Retrieved 16 September 2014.
5. Akan, Joey (4 April 2014). "Music: Phyno: No Guts; No Glory". National Mirror. Pulse. Archived from the original on 25 October 2014. Retrieved 17 September 2014.
6. Okiche, Wilfred. "Album review: Phyno's 'No guts, no glory' is the feel good album of the year". YNaija. Archived from the original on 6 October 2014. Retrieved 16 September 2014.
7. Onyekwena, Chiagoziem (24 March 2014). "Say Hello To The Man of the Year – Phyno (Album Review)". Nigerian Entertainment Today. Archived from the original on 24 September 2014. Retrieved 17 September 2014.
8. O, Ovie (25 September 2012). "PREMIERE: Phyno ft Olamide – GhostMode". NotjustOk. Archived from the original on 6 September 2014. Retrieved 5 September 2014.
9. "New Video: Phyno Feat. Olamide – Ghost Mode". Bellanaija. 7 December 2012. Archived from the original on 7 April 2014. Retrieved 5 September 2014.
10. "PREMIERE: Phyno – Man of The Year (Obago)". NotjustOk. 23 March 2013. Archived from the original on 8 August 2014. Retrieved 5 September 2014.
11. "NBC bans Wizkid & Phyno's song: "Olamide & Wande Coal should be banned too" Charles Novia reacts". Royal Times. 18 September 2013. Archived from the original on 7 September 2014. Retrieved 5 September 2014.
12. "Phyno ft. P-Square – O Set (Pro. WizzyPro)". NotjustOk. 4 March 2014. Archived from the original on 6 September 2014. Retrieved 5 September 2014.
13. "Watch Phyno x P-Square's 'O Set' Video". Okay Africa. 8 June 2014. Archived from the original on 18 July 2014. Retrieved 5 September 2014.
14. Okoth-Obbo, Vanessa (28 March 2014). "Phyno Hits The Streets In 'Alobam'". Okay Africa. Archived from the original on 7 September 2014. Retrieved 6 September 2014.
15. "VIDEO: Phyno Feat. Flavour - Authe". Naij News. Archived from the original on 15 February 2015. Retrieved 5 September 2014.
16. Abimboye, Micheal (27 March 2014). "Album Review: Phyno's No Guts No Glory, By Obina Agwu". Premium Times. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 17 September 2014.
17. Jasanya, Olamide (24 June 2014). "Who won what at City People Entertainment Awards 2014". Nigerian Entertainment Today. Archived from the original on 28 June 2014. Retrieved 29 July 2014.
18. Ochugba, Mary (10 October 2014). "The Headies unveils 2014 nominees". Business Day. Archived from the original on 28 October 2014. Retrieved 17 October 2014.