“This particular project is what synergy sounds like,” King Perryy tells Apple Music. “This is the first project where I have 100 per cent synergy with the artist on each song.” One key factor is King Perryy’s decision to create all seven tracks with a close-knit set of collaborators from Port Harcourt and neighbouring regions in Southeast Nigeria. On N****s from the South, Perryy features newcomers and stalwarts of the Port Harcourt music scene, from trappers to pidgin rap enthusiasts, producers—and even a local praise singer known for “gyration”, a combined form of praise singing, energetic chanting and drumming used at various public events. “One thing that I’m trying to also do with the project is to shine more light on people from the south,” says the artist born Anthony Offiah. “So it’s only right for what’s happening right now. A lot of people that are talented and are from the south need to be heard.” Building on a legacy established by the likes of Duncan Mighty and Timaya, carried forward by the likes of Burna Boy and Omah Lay, Perryy is a leader of the new school having himself apprenticed under Timaya before starting Continental, his own imprint. “NFTS is not just a project, it is a movement. There is a unique sound from the south. We are known for our lingua franca [pidgin English], and we are known for our rawness and our realness,” says Perryy, who aims to correct misconceptions of the southeast as a troublesome and uncooperative lot. “Most of the time, people mistake us for, let’s say, violent people, but we are one of the most peaceful people and we’re filled with love,” he explains. The reputation, in part, is meant to discredit legit claims of disenfranchisement from Nigeria’s oil wealth which is sourced from the region. Globally minded yet regionally specific, NFTS is less a soundtrack to a movement and more a call to action. “Our sound from the south is always known for freedom, boldness, upliftment” says Perryy. “NFTS is just me putting us on the map properly.” Here, he talks through the album. “Believe” “There’s a Burna Boy sample at the beginning, where he’s saying: ‘Please believe, don’t explain, just believe.’ ‘Believe’ is a very, very powerful word that we always say in Southern Nigeria. Any little thing someone says, you hear someone else respond by saying, ‘Believe’. Growing up, I’ve had insecurities and it took me a while to actually believe and become who I am right now. I had to unlearn a lot of things, because of my environment, insecurities and stuff. So I had to go through a lot of process to learn to be better, to be the best person, to become better for myself.” “Hustle” (with Hitboy Kellz and Erigga) “Erigga was one of the first people that ever believed in me. I didn’t know him. I listened to him a lot. But I used to work with producer E Kelly. I always go to his studio and help him record rides and just work with him. Hitboy Kellz is one of the artists that I feel like the world needs to listen to. He’s actually very, very talented.” “Gbege” (with Kaestyle and PsychoYP) “So ‘Gbege’ means ‘problem’. In this song, I’m saying, ‘I don’t want no problems. I don’t like problems. But if you have problems, no problem.’ That’s one of the things [about people] from Southern Nigeria—we are very bold. We’re not scared of anybody. It’s not like we like trouble, but we’ll tell you straight to your face that whatever it is, we’ll be very real [with] you. Both Kaestyle and YP have this unique sound. You can’t talk about the drill music in Nigeria without calling YP. With Kaestyle, there’s a fusion of highlife and drill, which is actually very beautiful. I don’t think drill will ever go away. I think it’s going to get better.” “Whine Dey Go” (with Timaya) “Timaya is featured on this song and he is a legend. Timaya is the Don Dada. There’s a lot of people that have tapped from his influence. He’s done a lot for the Nigerian dancehall community, with his dance steps, his words and his standing for his people. That’s one very unique thing about us in Southern Nigeria: we always stand for our people. I was signed to his label; now I’m signed to my own label and we have a song together which is very, very crazy.” “Confirm Parole” (with DanDizzy and Ajebo Hustlers) “DanDizzy is a very special talent. Ajebo Hustlers are a big, big deal. I’ve been listening to them before I even started doing music properly. ‘Confirm Parole’ is me just taking it back to when I would come back from school, and it’s like, I’m in the hood with my friends, and all we’re talking about is how we want to make it out; how we want to leave, and just do more amazing things. These are just the conversations that we always have as youths. We are always trying to uplift ourselves and let everyone just know that, ‘Yo, we are going to be all right, regardless of anything.’” “Money Long” (with Jeriq) “I remember always going back to the village in Eastern Nigeria every December to go see Grandma and just stay for a few weeks before we come back to Port Harcourt. We would listen to the likes of Flavour and vintage highlife music. And you could tell from the beginning of my first single, ‘Man on Duty’—you could hear the highlife element in that. And ‘Money Long’ is one song that I’ve always had. This is very exceptional, and I think it’s good for the culture for people to hear me and Jeriq with this particular song. It’s a special record and one of my favourites.” “Cruise & Sara” (with Zerrydl) “‘Cruise & Sara’ is just free vibes—‘Let’s go out, let’s have fun and not think about the cost; let’s catch a cruise.’ Zerry is a very cool, chilled guy. There’s 100 per cent synergy in the record.”