{"id":295964,"date":"2025-06-16T00:02:51","date_gmt":"2025-06-16T00:02:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/peraltafinancing.com\/african-music\/they-said-i-sound-like-phyno-it-sent-me-into-depression-cruz-of-life-opens-up-on-rejection-reinvention-rising-from-the-east\/"},"modified":"2025-06-16T00:02:51","modified_gmt":"2025-06-16T00:02:51","slug":"they-said-i-sound-like-phyno-it-sent-me-into-depression-cruz-of-life-opens-up-on-rejection-reinvention-rising-from-the-east","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fivemor.com\/?p=295964","title":{"rendered":"They Said I Sound Like Phyno \u2014 It Sent Me Into Depression\u201d \u2014 Cruz of Life Opens Up on Rejection, Reinvention &#038; Rising from the East"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div id=\"mvp-content-main\">\n<div dir=\"auto\"><a href=\"https:\/\/47vibez.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/unnamed-5.jpg\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-351557\" src=\"https:\/\/47vibez.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/unnamed-5.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"439\" height=\"455\" srcset=\"https:\/\/47vibez.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/unnamed-5.jpg 439w, https:\/\/47vibez.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/unnamed-5-289x300.jpg 289w, https:\/\/47vibez.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/unnamed-5-93x96.jpg 93w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 439px) 100vw, 439px\"\/><\/a><\/div>\n<div dir=\"auto\">Exclusive Interview with <a href=\"https:\/\/47vibez.com.ng\/tag\/cruz-of-life\/\" title=\"Cruz of Life\">Cruz of Life<\/a>, the Afropiano Act Reclaiming His Identity One Vibe at a Time<\/div>\n<div dir=\"auto\">In Nigeria\u2019s music industry, the path to stardom is rarely straightforward. It\u2019s filled with identity battles, pressure to fit in, and the shadow of already-established giants. For Rowland Onyedikachi Chima, better known as Cruz, the journey began with a song, a comparison to <a href=\"https:\/\/47vibez.com.ng\/tag\/phyno\/\" title=\"Phyno\">Phyno<\/a>, and a painful decision to either blend in or break out.<\/div>\n<div dir=\"auto\">Now known by fans as <a href=\"https:\/\/47vibez.com.ng\/tag\/cruz-of-life\/\" title=\"Cruz of Life\">Cruz of Life<\/a>, this rising artist \u2014 born and bred in Lagos but seasoned in Imo State \u2014 is carving a unique lane with his sound: a fusion of Afrobeats and Amapiano, which he proudly brands as Afropiano.<\/div>\n<p>In this raw and revealing interview, Cruz speaks for the first time about:<\/p>\n<div dir=\"auto\">\u00a0\u2022 The depression he faced after being told he sounded \u201ctoo much like <a href=\"https:\/\/47vibez.com.ng\/tag\/phyno\/\" title=\"Phyno\">Phyno<\/a>\u201d<\/div>\n<p>\u00a0\u2022 Why he\u2019s not worried about Google showing Ted Cruz before him<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0\u2022 The grind of promoting music without a budget<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0\u2022 And why the title King of Vibe isn\u2019t just hype \u2014 it\u2019s a prophecy.<\/p>\n<p>Get ready to meet the Cruz that the search engines haven\u2019t caught up with yet.<\/p>\n<div><a href=\"https:\/\/47vibez.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/unnamed-1-2.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-351556\" src=\"https:\/\/47vibez.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/unnamed-1-2.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"325\" height=\"488\" srcset=\"https:\/\/47vibez.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/unnamed-1-2.jpg 325w, https:\/\/47vibez.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/unnamed-1-2-200x300.jpg 200w, https:\/\/47vibez.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/unnamed-1-2-64x96.jpg 64w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 325px) 100vw, 325px\"\/><\/a><\/div>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><b>\u201cCruz\u201d is such a bold stage name. Were you ever worried about the comparison with Tom Cruise or other famous Cruzes? How do you make the name yours?<\/b><\/p>\n<p>Honestly, I\u2019ve never worried about being mistaken for Tom Cruise or Ted Cruz. They don\u2019t make music \u2014 they don\u2019t even operate in this lane. I\u2019m not in competition with them. Right now, they show up on Google first, but that doesn\u2019t scare me. This is just the beginning of my story. With consistency, growth, and visibility, that narrative will shift. \u201cCruz\u201d is mine \u2014 not theirs \u2014 and soon, everyone searching that name will land on me, the African King of Vibes.<\/p>\n<div dir=\"auto\"><a href=\"https:\/\/47vibez.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/unnamed-2-2.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-351558\" src=\"https:\/\/47vibez.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/unnamed-2-2.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"312\" height=\"468\" srcset=\"https:\/\/47vibez.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/unnamed-2-2.jpg 312w, https:\/\/47vibez.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/unnamed-2-2-200x300.jpg 200w, https:\/\/47vibez.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/unnamed-2-2-64x96.jpg 64w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 312px) 100vw, 312px\"\/><\/a><\/div>\n<p><b>You\u2019ve called yourself the King of Vibe \u2014 what does that actually mean to you, and do you think Nigerian music has space for a real \u2018vibe king\u2019 right now?<\/b><\/p>\n<p>King of Vibe isn\u2019t just a tagline for me \u2014 it\u2019s an identity. My sound hits different. My energy is authentic. Wherever I go, I carry that vibe, even when I\u2019m not singing. And yes, there\u2019s space \u2014 a big one. Nigeria has its big three, but the stage is wide enough for more crowns. The real thing is being prepared. So when my time comes fully, I\u2019ll be ready to carry that title and expand the sound beyond trends.<\/p>\n<p><b>You started in 2020 with Time 4 Money featuring Yovi, and then went quiet. What really happened behind the scenes during that long break?<\/b><\/p>\n<p>The truth? Hustle happened. I had no budget. I was pushing Time 4 Money from inside the house, all on my own. It got to a point where I had to pick between promoting music or eating. So I went back to the grind. I never stopped recording though \u2014 I stayed writing, evolving, waiting for a shot. It was hard, but necessary. Today, I see that silence as the training ground for who I\u2019ve become.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><b>A lot of Lagos-based artists look down on talent from the East. Has being an Imo State-based artist affected your rise in the industry \u2014 positively or negatively?<\/b><\/p>\n<p>Here\u2019s the thing \u2014 I was born and raised in Lagos (Okoko, Maiko, Ojo), but my music journey started in school, in Imo State. My mom made sure we never lost our roots. Every December, we went back to the East. That connection gave me range \u2014 I can flow in Yoruba, Igbo, pidgin, anything. But yes, I\u2019ve felt the imbalance in the industry. Lagos gatekeeps a lot. But this is my first official Lagos push, and I believe strongly that the tide is about to shift in my favor.<\/p>\n<p><b>Let\u2019s talk about \u201cAfropiano.\u201d That\u2019s a word you\u2019ve used to describe your sound. Is it just branding, or are you really creating a new subgenre of Nigerian music?<\/b><\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s real. Afropiano exists, but very few artists are truly pushing it with meaning. I\u2019m not just blending Afrobeat and Amapiano for vibe\u2019s sake \u2014 I\u2019m building a sound that carries weight. It\u2019s bounce + emotion + storytelling. I\u2019m not trying to sound like everyone. I\u2019m here to stand out, and Afropiano is my anchor.<\/p>\n<p><b>\u201cGum Body\u201d and \u201cGood Conduct\u201d are very different in tone. Are you still experimenting with your sound, or have you found your signature?<\/b><\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s not experimentation \u2014 it\u2019s versatility. I want to show people that I\u2019m not a one-trick artist. \u201cGum Body\u201d was love and groove. \u201cGood Conduct\u201d was more conscious. KOV is the full vibe. I can rap, I can sing, I can glide on blues, street beats, hip-hop, house \u2014 anything. I want fans to expect range from me, not repetition.<\/p>\n<div dir=\"auto\"><b>You\u2019ve been called \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/47vibez.com.ng\/tag\/cruz-of-life\/\" title=\"Cruz of Life\">Cruz of Life<\/a>\u201d by fans. Where did that name come from, and do you feel pressure to live up to it?<\/b><\/div>\n<div dir=\"auto\">It came from evolution. People used to call me \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/47vibez.com.ng\/tag\/phyno\/\" title=\"Phyno\">Phyno<\/a>\u201d because of how I looked and sounded. It honestly started to depress me because I wanted to be me, not a shadow. I tried other names like \u201cRm-Flip\u201d and \u201cRm-Cruz,\u201d but people kept mispronouncing or confusing them. Then I remembered my dad used to call my elder brother \u201cCruzzo.\u201d He never used it \u2014 so I did. Brushed it up and came out as Cruz. Fans added \u201cof Life\u201d because I brought the cruise \u2014 on stage, off stage, everywhere. I embraced it. Now it\u2019s bigger than a name. It\u2019s identity.<\/div>\n<p><b>Let\u2019s be real: the music industry is full of hype and fake love. Have you experienced betrayal or backstabbing in the game yet?<\/b><\/p>\n<p>Not yet, and hopefully never. But I\u2019m aware of how the game works. For now, my circle is tight \u2014 we move like family. My team isn\u2019t just business; they\u2019re brothers. We have values, and we correct ourselves when needed. If betrayal ever happens, we\u2019ll handle it like men \u2014 no loud drama, just correction and forward movement.<\/p>\n<p><b>Do you write your own songs? And if yes, which lyrics are you most proud of \u2014 and why?<\/b><\/p>\n<p>Yes, every single line. I believe in owning my art. When I write, I\u2019m more connected to the beat and to the message. My lyrics come from experience. As for my favorite? I can\u2019t choose. It\u2019s like having five kids and picking your best. Each song is tied to a moment in my life. So I love them all equally. They all tell parts of my story.<\/p>\n<p><b>Your music feels very vibe-heavy \u2014 but what\u2019s the message underneath the vibe? What are you trying to tell young Nigerians?<\/b><\/p>\n<p>I\u2019m saying: Chop life, but keep your head. Enjoy while you\u2019re here \u2014 nobody knows tomorrow. But do it on good conduct. You don\u2019t need to ball in Lekki before you feel good. Celebrate what you have, where you are. Whether you\u2019re in the trenches or uptown, just stay grounded. That\u2019s what Good Conduct stands for. My songs have a message, even when they make you dance.<\/p>\n<p><b>If someone Googles \u201cCruz\u201d today, Tom Cruise or Ted Cruz shows up. What do you want to show up instead, five months from now?<\/b><\/p>\n<div dir=\"auto\">Right now, it\u2019s Ted Cruz, the politician \u2014 not even Tom Cruise anymore. But here\u2019s the thing: my fans will keep searching, scrolling, and sharing until Google adjusts. With my growth and visibility, Google will soon catch up. In five months, I want to pop up as <a href=\"https:\/\/47vibez.com.ng\/tag\/cruz-of-life\/\" title=\"Cruz of Life\">Cruz of Life<\/a> \u2014 The African King of Vibes. That\u2019s the vision. And I\u2019m working daily to make it a reality.<\/div>\n<p><b>What\u2019s one personal struggle you\u2019ve faced recently that most fans don\u2019t know about \u2014 and how did it shape your music?<\/b><\/p>\n<div dir=\"auto\">The <a href=\"https:\/\/47vibez.com.ng\/tag\/phyno\/\" title=\"Phyno\">Phyno<\/a> comparison hit me hard. It made me feel invisible, like I had no lane of my own. And that\u2019s tough for any artist. I started to feel like I could never blow because <a href=\"https:\/\/47vibez.com.ng\/tag\/phyno\/\" title=\"Phyno\">Phyno<\/a> already exists. It was depressing, and it messed with my mind for a while. But I fought it. I went deep into sound development. I refined my delivery, owned my vibe, and the result is what you\u2019re hearing now \u2014 me, not a copy. That pain gave birth to this version of Cruz.<\/div>\n<p><b>Who are your top 3 dream collaborations \u2014 one from Nigeria, one from Africa, and one global?<\/b><\/p>\n<p>I won\u2019t lie \u2014 this is from the heart, not strategy.<\/p>\n<p>Nigeria: Niniola \u2014 her vocals and energy are unmatched.<\/p>\n<p>Africa: Davido \u2014 because he\u2019s raw, real, and connects deeply.<\/p>\n<p>Global: Chris Brown \u2014 because I know our energies would create magic.<\/p>\n<p><b>Last one \u2014 finish this sentence:<\/b><\/p>\n<p>The African KING OF VIBES \u2014 and trust me, Google will agree.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Exclusive Interview with Cruz of Life, the Afropiano Act Reclaiming His Identity One Vibe at a Time In Nigeria\u2019s music industry, the path to stardom is rarely straightforward. It\u2019s filled with identity battles, pressure to fit in, and the shadow of already-established giants. For Rowland Onyedikachi Chima, better known as Cruz, the journey began with [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":295965,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[12025],"tags":[74483,127753,22105,5971,3333,13723,49514,73740,15450,6721,2656],"dealstore":[],"offerexpiration":[],"class_list":["post-295964","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-african-music","tag-cruz","tag-cruz-of-life","tag-depression","tag-east","tag-life","tag-opens","tag-phyno","tag-reinvention","tag-rejection","tag-rising","tag-sound"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v26.4 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>They Said I Sound Like Phyno \u2014 It Sent Me Into Depression\u201d \u2014 Cruz of Life Opens Up on Rejection, Reinvention &amp; Rising from the East - Som2ny Network<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/fivemor.com\/?p=295964\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"They Said I Sound Like Phyno \u2014 It Sent Me Into Depression\u201d \u2014 Cruz of Life Opens Up on Rejection, Reinvention &amp; Rising from the East - Som2ny Network\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Exclusive Interview with Cruz of Life, the Afropiano Act Reclaiming His Identity One Vibe at a Time In Nigeria\u2019s music industry, the path to stardom is rarely straightforward. 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