Early Life
Chisom Lucky Okoro, known professionally as Zaylevelten, is a fast-rising Nigerian rapper, record producer, and alternative hip-hop sensation. Born on August 12, 2002, in Lagos State, Nigeria, he was raised in the suburban city of Ikorodu. His ancestral roots trace back to Ohaozara Local Government Area in Ebonyi State. Growing up in Lagos, his formative years were shaped by creative artistic outlets including drawing, dance, and music. He completed his primary education at St. Margaret Primary School before attending Kith and Kin Boarding School, eventually finishing his secondary education at Tindip Secondary School.
Driven by a deep passion for global rap subgenres, Okoro initially recorded music under the moniker Aizay. After listeners repeatedly mispronounced the name, he officially rebranded as Zaylevelten. Combining his exposure to internet-driven underground hip-hop with native African rhythms, he taught himself music production and audio engineering, laying the foundation for a distinctive dual career as both an artist and producer.
Career
Zaylevelten established his presence in the Nigerian music industry through a series of ambitious self-produced projects. In July 2024, he released his debut EP l0cked 1n, followed by his October 2024 tape bef0re 1t g0t crazy. Alongside his vocal work, he produces music under the alter-ego Tenski. His production style—marked by aggressive, distorted 808s and eerie synths—gained widespread popularity through his signature producer tag, “Tenski, save me”, which quickly became a viral pop-culture meme among Nigerian Gen Z listeners.
He achieved major mainstream recognition with the release of his breakout single “Maye”. Music critics and fans cited the track as a landmark moment in Nigerian alternative rap, praising Zaylevelten for reinterpreting American Opium-style rage trap through an authentic Nigerian lens. Consequently, he has emerged as a prominent leader of the new-generation Gen Z rap movement in Nigeria, earning high regard for his experimental trap-fusion sound that blends heavy American rage-rap synths and 808s with traditional African dance genres like South African gqom and Nigerian street pop. On October 1, 2025, he released his 12-track mixtape then 1t g0t crazy via Lizzy Records, followed by the deluxe edition then 1t g0t crazier, which featured mainstream rap titan Odumodublvck.
Continuing his momentum in 2026, Zaylevelten released the B4SAVEME EP, featuring hit records like “Tease Me” and “SuperMega”. His genre-bending style, locally termed “Burti,” blends English, Pidgin, Yoruba, and Igbo over heavy trap production, earning co-signs from industry heavyweights such as Davido and Blaqbonez.
