Brazy makes Afro-sexy music in four different languages

When it comes to making music, Nigerian rapper Brazy is all about following her instincts.

“It sounds weird, but I don’t really have a creative ​‘process’,” the 21-year-old says with a laugh, Zooming in from her home in London. ​“I go into the studio, and then me and the producer create a relationship first. Making the beat is the bulk of the session, I’m very involved in that. Then I just say the first thing that comes into my head. My process is based on vibes!”

The vibes in question: uninhibited sensuality and an ​“Afro-future, Afro-sexy” sound, as Brazy puts it. One of her latest singles, the compulsively replayable, super-smooth omg, nonchalantly flits between English and Yoruba; on Brazy Skank, she blends Afrobeats and baile funk rhythms with plenty of bravado and French lyrics.

Given the confidence with which Brazy approaches her music, it’s surprising that she’s only been releasing music since 2021. Having bounced around London and Nigeria her entire life, over the pandemic, she found herself hopping on friends’ tracks, which inspired her to make her own.

“Growing up in Nigeria had a huge, huge influence on my taste,” Brazy continues, ​“which then influenced my sound. There’s nothing I don’t listen to – techno, Afrobeats, American music, Chinese music, Indian music. I think that’s reflected in my music, which has no limits, no borders. It’s a blend of everything I’ve experienced and everywhere I’ve been.”

Brazy credits her parents for this insatiable musical curiosity. Everywhere her family went, there was music, ​“and as Nigerians, music is in our blood,” she says.

The first album that made a proper impact on her, though, was Dagrin’s CEO – a legendary Nigerian rap album that taught Brazy about the power of language in song. ​“That was the only CD my mum had in her car, so we’d play it over and over again. He raps in Yoruba and uses English here and there – even though I didn’t understand what he was saying at the time, I understood his flow, his beats. CEO was my introduction to everything.”

In a similar vein to what Dagrin did for her, Brazy just wants her listeners to have fun. ​“I want them to feel free, and to know that they’re the best,” she says. ​“We’re all hot and we’re all here together.”

10% What’s a piece of advice that changed your life?

My mum always says, just do your best. That’s all that matters because you can’t achieve perfection.

20% If you were cooking to impress someone, what would you make?

I would make my favourite dish ever, which is amala. It’s Nigerian and quite hard to make, so I reckon that’d be pretty impressive. I’m also a really good baker.

30% What’s your specialty bake?

I make a really good apple crumble and really nice banana bread.

40% You rule the world for a day. What’s going down?

I’d lift travel barriers so everyone could go wherever they wanted to. Maybe remove financial barriers as well – so that if you went to a country, you could try any food you wanted, do whatever you want, any activities you want, so you get to experience a different space [with] no restrictions.

50% Love, like, hate?

I love travelling and experiencing new cultures. I like dancing. I hate when people are super negative and don’t give things a chance. I hate bad vibes, essentially.

60% What’s your dream holiday destination?

I would love to explore Africa and go to places that are unexplored – waterfalls, mountains, beaches, places you wouldn’t think to travel like Tanzania or Zanzibar.

70% What’s a bad habit you wish you could kick?

I’m super independent and I want to do everything by myself. I wish I could just relax!

80% If you could go back in time and watch any musician perform, who would it be?

This is a classic answer, but Beyoncé. I’ve watched her every single time she comes to London. Every single time. She’s so amazing. I love how much detail she puts into her shows.

90% Can we expect an album soon?

Expect a lot more singles, is all I can say! Then maybe a full length project next year…

100% What can artists do to help save the world?

Continue making great music. Music saves lives.