“Watching Me”… Now the world’s watching him
Whole time Zaylevelten just dey inside his yaad smoking… you know how it goes.
Nigeria’s rap scene is shifting, and a new underground wave is rising – one that echoes the raw energy of the US and UK’s scenes. Leading the charge is Zaylevelten, whose hypnotic sound has been making serious noise online. His breakout track Watching Me racked up 10,000+ streams in under two weeks, kicking off a movement that’s only getting bigger.
Zaylevelten’s sound is a mix of streetwise confidence, Western rap flows, and Nigerian slang – what Native Mag calls “raw, effortless swagger.” But while some try to label him ‘Alte,’ he’s made it clear he’s part of something bigger. This movement – whether you call it #CyberYouth, #TheUnderground, or #NewAge – is gaining real traction. Co-signs from Odunsi The Engine on Santi’s Subaruboyz livestream put him on the radar, and since then, names like Teeze (Native), Blaqbonez and UK starlet YT have cosigned him. Inevitable? No doubt.
Glad to say we’re not newcomers though, we’ve been tapped in with Zay since 2022. Our first intro? “Rich as $HiT” – a cult classic from his “Aizay” era (sadly, it’s no longer online). We were also there when Psycho YP held up his tape waiting for a Zay verse on “LEAN (2023). Obviously, with all the momentum he’s building, we had to catch up with Zay for a no-filter FaceTime chat about his come-up, creative process, and what’s next.
Your song Watching Me just hit 30,000 plays. How does that feel? Do you see it as validation or just another step forward?
It feels great – i’m pretty sure it’s way over 30k at the moment. It’s really just a start, but everything is lining up, and I’m happy. I thank God.
Your music is different from the mainstream Nigerian rap sound. Do you feel like an outlier, or do you think there’s a movement forming around your style?
Yes, there’s definitely a movement forming around this style, and it’s going to be insane later ‘cause this is just the beginning stages. I’ve met a couple of people who really align with the vision, and I can only see it becoming something great.
“No stress, I never sleep, but no stress, make I just get my cash for Zelle” – given the current state of the economy, were you leaning more playful or more serious?
Aside the fact that “yahoo” has been a leading rhetoric in Nigerian music, I’m really just rapping and having fun with it, of course if your life experiences resonate greatly then you’ve hit home.
Your visuals have a raw, street-hip-hop feel-gritty, handheld vibe, while your personal style leans more Western. What inspires that contrast?
Most definitely, being Nigerian is the single greatest influence. Our hip-hop culture has drawn loads of references from the West, back to MTV Base and Trace Naija times, I’m restoring the feeling, but in my own way.
You seamlessly code-switch between pidgin and Western rap styles. Is that a conscious artistic choice, or just natural to who you are?
That’s just me, fr. I grew up consuming a lot of Western media – music, movies, TV shows, cartoons – almost more than anything else, so that influences the way I talk, walk, dress, think. I don’t know if that’s a good or bad thing, but it is what it is.
At the same time, I grew up in Ikorodu, Lagos, and I interact with most of my homies in pidgin, so that naturally flows into my music. It hasn’t always been like that, but I find myself doing it a lot more these days.
What were some of your favourite movies or TV shows growing up?
‘Romeo Must Die’ my fave movie most def and naturally makes horror & thrillers my fave genre. If i had to pick a fave TV show it would be ‘Boondocks’ and ‘Naruto’ is the greatest anime of all time, no question.
Who are your favorite rappers? Who influences your sound the most?
I’d have to mention Young Thug, Future, Kendrick Lamar, Lil Wayne, Carti, Uzi. I listen to a wide range of rappers, but these guys are definitely the reason I sound the way I do. Some real legends.
If you could collaborate with any artist – Nigerian or international – who would it be and why?
International, I’d want to work with Ken Carson. I just know we’d make some crazy sh*t. In Nigeria, I’d say Rema – I don’t think we’d make anything that wouldn’t be a banger.
Who is Zaylevelten when he’s not making music? What do you do for fun?
Music is such a major part of my life, I’m almost never not doing something related to it. But fun for me is really just hanging with my friends, my girl, watching movies, playing games – basically anything I can do to get some dopamine without having to go outside.
I’ve gone days without leaving my house, and I love it. I’m an introvert. I spend a lot of time online too – I kind of hate social media, but I know how important it is as an artist, so I just be on there learning sh*t.
Are you into clubbing, or more of a chill-at-home type? If we ran into you on a random night out, where would we find you?
I hate clubbing, can’t lie. If you ran into me at night, it’s definitely not at a club. You’d most likely see me at a suya or burger spot. I would say shawarma, but I don’t think I’d willingly buy shawarma without an external force driving me to do so.
External force driving you?
I don’t really like shawarma like that, I’m more of a pizza guy but if I had to go get shawarma, it would have to be from THIANCEE – if you guys see this, you know what to do.
What’s your relationship with fashion? You name-dropped Givenchy and Balenciaga in Watching Me. How would you describe your personal style?
I mention a lot of high fashion and streetwear in my music because I love fashion. I’m the type of n*gga who’d spend my last bread on clothes before I spend it on food and I thrift a lot. I don’t know how to describe my style – I just like getting fly.
I could put on a whole fit just to feel fresh while I record music. I wanna make clothes and bags later too – just watch out for my merch.
What are some of the hottest Nigerian brands out right now that are also synonymous to the underground music scene?
Definitely ‘Popwave’, ‘Bolapsd’ and ‘ClappedMob’ – they’re cold.
What’s the backstory behind Watching Me?
This music sh*t is funny because I never thought Watching Me would be the one to start the buzz. I produced the beat myself because I had gone almost a month without really recording. All the beats on my laptop weren’t talking to me, so I had to lay everything down from scratch.
Crazy this is how we find out you’re an Artist-Prod
Yeah, I played every note, chose the sounds in my head, recorded the vocals immediately, and it just kept coming together naturally. I knew it was a banger, but I didn’t expect it to go crazy like this.
What’s your recording process like? Do you write, or are you a punch-in artist?
I’m a punch-in artist – I don’t write. I find that it flows better when I’m in front of the mic, take a minute to think of the lines, and then record as soon as I get it.
Every time I finish a session, I play it back, and it’s almost like I didn’t even make the song – I can’t remember the lyrics, so I have to listen to it like a fan.
You’ve gone through a few name changes – from Aizay to Tenski to now Zaylevelten. Do these name changes mark different eras? What made you settle on Zaylevelten?
I had to change the name because people found it difficult to pronounce Aizay – almost everyone said “Eze” instead of “I-Zay.” So, I just kept the Zay and joined it with my other alias, Levelten. That’s how I got Zaylevelten – I just like longer names, and I’m happy it stuck.
We’ve seen Afrobeats and Alté go global. Do you think Nigerian underground rap has the same potential? Or is it still waiting for its breakout moment?
Like I said, it’s just a matter of time. I don’t think we’ve ever seen this kind of motion in the Nigerian rap scene before. I tap in with new n*ggas every day – really, really tough n*ggas who understand it – and that’s what makes me believe this sh*t is going global.
If 10 years from now, people say, “Zaylevelten was one of the first to…” – how would you finish that sentence?
“Zaylevelten was one of the first to make it out of Ikorodu as a complete rapper, shaking the whole scene without having to water it down or sell out”.
Does Zaylevelten drink or smoke? What’s your go-to vice, and does it play a role in your creative process?
I don’t encourage people to do drugs say NO to drugs but yeah i do smoke weed, i drink too only when i’m at social gatherings cuz i have social anxiety and alcohol helps make it a lot easier to talk to people i won’t talk to on a regular day. It don’t really affect my creative process i’m not one of those artists that have to smoke before they hit the booth, i could make my best work sober as a judge i just have the habit of smoking and i have actively been trying to quit cuz it doesn’t help!
On a lighter note, just to wrap up, on ‘Watching Me’, you rap: “Slim petite b*tch and got ass like jelly, I might keep some thick sh*t but I might not wed it.” What’s the word, slim petite or thick women?
I love my slim sh*t fr but jt depends on how im feeling. Shoutout both my slim and thick women
Zaylevelten is proof that something real is brewing in the Nigerian underground. The numbers, the co-signs, and the movement behind him are undeniable. Some of this star power (valid glaze) was showcased when Santi hosted the pioneers of the NG 🇳🇬 Underground on his Subaruboyz stream and it was instantly clear Zay is tipped for success. Whether the industry catches up or not, he’s already making waves on his own terms.
Written by Chris Iloeg | On behalf of 501 Ent.
