With the release of his debut mixtape, YPSZN, PsychoYP confidently announced himself as one of the most impressive rappers in the Nigerian music scene. While he isn’t yet as mainstream as he deserves to be — a burden of the genre he inhabits — his gifts remain impossible to deny.

Now, with his second body of work, YPSZN2 — a worthy follow-up to his career-defining debut — the rapper reaffirms his position as a star to watch. On the mixtape, he trades bars with the likes of Blaqbonez and Ladipoe, and it’s a testament to his skill that he is never outshined.

So, to get into the headspace of the talented star, we decided to find out what he’s been listening to recently, specifically when he is feeling any major emotion (ranging from happiness to anger) or doing something as simple as getting dressed.

From Drake to Young Thug, here are the artists that made PsychoYPs loop:

1. Happy:

2. Sad:

3. Angry:

4. In Love:

5. Heartbroken:

6. Turned On:

7. Uninspired:

8. Homesick:

9. Driving:

10. Getting Dressed:

With every new release, it becomes increasingly clear that Prettyboy D-O is incapable of making a bad song. The manic energy he brings to every track is utterly infectious, and whether it’s a solo effort or a one-verse feature, he is always a memorable presence. 

This year, he’s soared on two fantastic tracks, Mojo’s anthemic “Chop Life Crew” and “Dey Go Hear Wehh”, the first single off his upcoming debut album, Pretty World. He also dropped the iconic video for the Santi-assisted “Pull Up”, a standout off his Everything Pretty mixtape.

So, as we impatiently wait for the rapper to come through with his debut album, we decided to find out what he’s been listening to recently, specifically when he is feeling any major emotion (ranging from happiness to anger) or doing something as simple as getting dressed.

From Burna Boy to Nav, here are the artists that made D-O’s loop:

1. Happy:

2. Sad:

3. Angry:

4. In Love:

5. Heartbroken:

6. Turned On:

7. Uninspired:

8. Homesick:

9. Driving:

10. Getting Dressed:

Ladipoe has been one of 2019’s most quietly impactful rappers. He not only dropped one of the year’s best songs, the criminally underrated “Jaiye”, but he’s also been soaring as a featured act on a number of phenomenal deep cuts (Bella Alubo’s “Summer’s Over”, PsychoYP’s “ViBES”).

Granted, he didn’t drop as many singles as we might have liked, but the year wasn’t devoid of his stellar penmanship. So, we reached out to learn which songs the gifted rapper has been jamming, specifically when he’s feeling any major emotion or doing something seemingly mundane.

From Wizkid to Tems, here are the artists that made Ladipoe’s loop:

1. Happy:

2. Sad:

3. Angry:

4. In Love:

5. Heartbroken:

6. Turned On:

7. Uninspired:

8. Driving:

9. Getting Dressed:

BUJU has been one of the year’s most exciting new talents. He landed his big break with “Spiritual” — a Zlatan-assisted hit that ranks among the best songs of 2019. He then went on to earn a well-deserved nomination for ‘Rookie of the Year’ at the Headies.

Since then, the rising star has continued to put out music that reaffirms his gifts. His last two singles, the confident “L’Enu” and the romantic “Ohema” made our must-listen lists, and thankfully, he shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon.

So, in a bid to learn more about BUJU before he becomes the massive star he is clearly destined to be, we decided to ask him which songs he listens to when he is feeling any major emotion or doing something as simple as getting dressed.

From Hozier to Burna Boy, here are the artists that made BUJU’s loop:

1. Happy:

2. Sad:

3. Angry:

4. In Love:

5. Heartbroken:

6. Turned On:

7. Uninspired:

8. Homesick:

9. Driving:

10. Getting Dressed:

Since he made the jump from just producing to producing and performing, Maleek Berry has been a force to reckon with. He’s given us some of the best afropop songs of the decade — from “Been Calling” to “Kontrol” — and he hasn’t even released his debut album yet.

This year, he’s been a little quieter than usual, but that hasn’t stopped him from dropping two solid singles, “Flashy” and “Somebody Falling”. So, we decided to catch up with him to ask what he’s been listening to recently, specifically when he is feeling any major emotion or just getting dressed.

From Wizkid to Nas, here are the artists that made Maleek’s loop:

1. Happy:

2. Sad:

3. Angry:

4. In Love:

5. Heartbroken:

6. Turned On:

7. Uninspired:

8. Homesick:

9. Driving:

10. Getting Dressed:

The project, which includes features from gifted artists like Mr Eazi, Ajebutter22, Dice Ailes and Ladipoe, makes a strong case for Bella Alubo’s ascension in the music scene, as it shows her confidently holding her own against a bunch of heavyweights.

So, with the project already garnering a passionate fanbase, we at Zikoko decided to talk with the versatile star to discover the kind of songs she likes to listens to when she is feeling any major emotion or doing something as simple as getting dressed.

From Mr Eazi to Sade, here are the artists that made Bella’s loop:

1. Happy:

2. Sad:

3. Angry:

4. In Love:

5. Heartbroken:

6. Turned On:

7. Uninspired:

8. Homesick:

9. Driving:

10. Getting Dressed:

Lady Donli has always been a gifted and shockingly versatile artist, and following the success of her 2017 breakout hit, the Tomi Thomas-assisted “Ice Cream”, she started getting the attention she’d always deserved.

2019 finally saw her fully claim her crown. After an album rollout that deserves to be taught in schools, Donli dropped her stunning debut LP, Enjoy Your Life, and the project remains one of the year’s very best releases.

So, we at Zikoko decided to ask the star what songs she listens to when she’s feeling any major emotion. While she prefers silence when she’s angry or uninspired, her other choices reveal her expectedly eclectic taste.

From Rema to Blackmagic, here are the artists that made Lady Donli’s loop:

1. Happy:

2. Sad:

3. In Love:

4. Heartbroken:

5. Turned On:

6. Homesick:

7. Being Driven:

8. Getting Dressed:

While people keep struggling to find a box to force him into — is he a rapper? a singer? an afropop star? another hip-hop messiah? — YCee continues to swerve, demolishing the hefty expectations fans tend to thrust upon the artists they love the most.

Back in 2018, following a string of releases that focused on his gifts as a singer, observers began to wonder if he was done spitting. As a pointed reminder of his versatility, he dropped “Balance”, nabbing a well-deserved ‘Lyricist on the Roll’ nod for good measure.

It’s this interesting duality that YCee will be exploring on his upcoming debut album, YCee vs Zaheer. So, while we await the project, we decided to ask YCee what he listens to when he is feeling any major emotion or doing something as simple as getting dressed.

From Reekado Banks to Drake, here are the artists that made YCee’s loop:

1. Happy:

2. Sad:

3. Angry:

4. In Love:

5. Heartbroken:

6. Turned On:

7. Uninspired:

8. Homesick:

9. Driving:

10. Getting Dressed:

Over the past year, Oxlade’s steady transformation into an afropop mainstay has been a delight to watch. Since his standout appearance on Blaqbonez’s “Mamiwota”, he has been impossible to avoid — dropping solid singles (“Shugar”, “Legend”) and teaming up with other exciting stars.

Deservedly nominated for ‘Rookie of the Year’ at this year’s Headies — alongside Crayon, Barry Jhay and Buju — and set to perform at Wizkid’s second headline show at the O2 Arena, Starboy Fest, it’s clear that Oxlade isn’t going anywhere anytime soon.

So, in an attempt to discover the kind of artists that inspire the up-and-comer, we at Zikoko decided to ask him about the songs he listens to when he is feeling any major emotion (ranging from happiness to anger) or doing something as simple as getting dressed.

From Santi to Adele, here are the artists that made Oxlade’s loop:

1. Happy:

2. Sad:

3. Angry:

4. In Love:

5. Heartbroken:

6. Turned On:

7. Uninspired:

8. Homesick:

9. Driving:

10. Getting Dressed:

Joeboy has been one of 2019’s brightest stars. After the fantastic “Baby”, his masterful breakout hit, the afropop newcomer impressed with an equally great follow-up, “Beginning”. This trajectory rightfully earned him four nods at the upcoming Headies, including ‘Next Rated’ and ‘Song of the Year’.

By far the biggest success story out of Mr Eazi’s emPawa initiative — a platform created to help turn “emerging [African] artists into global superstars” — Joeboy joins the likes of Rema and Fireboy DML as one newcomer that’s set to carry the afropop torch for a whole new generation.

Now, in an attempt to discover the artists that Joeboy loves as much as his fast-growing fanbase seems to love him, we at Zikoko decided to ask which songs he listens to when he is feeling any major emotion (ranging from happiness to anger) or doing something as simple as getting dressed.

From Tems to Wizkid, here are the artists that made Joeboy’s loop:

1. Happy:

2. Sad:

3. Angry:

4. In Love:

5. Heartbroken:

6. Turned On:

7. Uninspired:

8. Homesick:

9. Driving:

10. Getting Dressed: