Nigerian hip-hop is experiencing a renaissance, and at the heart of this lyrical revolution is one of the very few females Gneric, a fierce voice from Edo State whose conscious flows, poetic delivery, and fearless expression are rewriting the narrative for women in rap. On April 25, 2025, Gneric solidifies her rising star status with the release of her deeply personal new EP, I Found My Sound — a powerful four-track journey of introspection, resilience, and raw expression.
A Battle Rapper Turned Wordsmith of Emotion
Gneric’s roots lie in Nigeria’s underground battle rap circuit, where she earned her stripes exchanging bars with lyrical titans like Dabu The Gemini. But since her recorded music debut in 2023, she’s been more than just a skilled MC — she’s become a storyteller for a generation seeking truth. Her music reflects the echoes of her idols — Lauryn Hill, Erykah Badu, and Little Simz — yet it remains uniquely hers: filled with honest vulnerability, grit, and Nigerian soul.
In her own words, the making of I Found My Sound was “a rollercoaster of emotions,” a process in which each track mirrored the peaks and valleys of her personal evolution. From the effortless magic of “Road” — crafted during an impromptu studio session with Northern Nigeria’s lyrical titan ILLANOID — to the meditative, spoken-word driven “This Spot,” Gneric isn’t just making music. She’s making statements.
“Many people don’t understand why I combine spoken word with my music,” she reflects. “My background as a battle rapper has opened me up to new ways of expression. Battle rap is poetry to me.”
The project is further elevated by collaborations with two powerful artists:
ILLANOID, a Northern Nigerian rap icon and battle rap veteran whose pen is as sharp as his self-awareness. His gritty cadence on “Applaud” brings balance to Gneric’s introspection — fusing street wisdom with lyrical precision.
Ànesi, the Cameroonian-born, Nigerian-raised genre-bender, brings her Trapiano magic to the mix. Known for her haunting melodies and Billie Eilish-inspired emotional depth, Ànesi adds a rich layer of soul to the project’s sonic palette.
Gneric’s Mission: Expression Without Limits
“I want people to connect with me in diverse ways,” Gneric explains — and that intention is clear. Whether it’s the empowering bounce of “Applaud,” the energizing affirmations of “Activate,” or the contemplative mood of “This Spot,” I Found My Sound feels like a body of work that refuses to be boxed in.
