- How Zaylevelten Built a Diehard Base
In Lagos and beyond, a growing number of young music fans are showing up to Zaylevelten’s shows not just to listen, but to recite every line. The Ikorodu-born rapper-producer, real name Chisom Lucky Okoro and known to many as Tenski, is cultivating a dedicated following in real time. At recent performances, including Homecoming events, crowds chant along word for word to tracks and even unreleased snippets, turning concerts into shared rituals.
This connection is clearest in the way fans have embraced the term “Yamski”. It started with the track “Yami” on his 2025 album then 1t g0t crazy, where Zaylevelten uses “yami” to refer to his loyal supporters and inner circle. The phrase quickly evolved into “Yamski” — a stylised call that fans now use as both a community tag and casual slang for “my guy” or “bro”. At shows and in online comments, one hears “Yamski tap in!” and “Tenski, save me!” — phrases that have become badges of belonging for his core audience.
Zaylevelten’s journey began with quieter groundwork in Ikorodu. Early projects such as the l0cked 1n EP (July 2024) and “before 1t g0t crazy” (including its deluxe edition in late 2024) laid the foundation through consistent self-produced releases under the Tenski alias.
The shift happened on October 1, 2025— Nigeria’s Independence Day — when he released the full album “then 1t g0t crazy” via AntagonistsMusic / Lizzy Records. “Yami” in particular helped crystallise the fan identity that would later fuel the Yamski chants.
The momentum continued with the deluxe edition “then 1t g0t crazier”, released on November 28, 2025.
What truly sets Zaylevelten apart is the live experience. Recent clips from Homecoming performances and other shows show audiences singing entire verses to songs like “Guide Pass” and “Gbona”, even as the energy stays high and chaotic. Fans describe being “fully locked in w Tenski” and note how the crowd screams lyrics “word for word” across multiple tracks. This real-time connection has helped him build a cult-like following among Gen Z audiences.
His self-produced Tenski tag remains central. The producer’s alter ego (and vocal tag “Tenski, save me”) has become a recognisable signature for fans.
As 2026 progresses, Zaylevelten shows no signs of slowing. The Ikorodu artist is proving that a dedicated, vocal fanbase can form quickly when grassroots energy and authentic delivery align.
The crowd already knows the words because they have been part of the journey from the beginning.
