In the latter part of the 2010s, Osayaba Andrew Ize-Iyamu stepped onto the scene as Cruel Santino—having previously gone by Ozzy B and Santi—with a versatile approach that blended various elements accessibly, positioning him prominently within Nigeria’s boundary-crossing Alté scene. The year 2019 saw the release of his well-received first full-length project, Mandy & the Jungle, which fused Nigerian musical traditions, dancehall rhythms, altered rap flows, and R&B sensibilities in a cohesive manner. Then in 2022 came the expansive Subaru Boys: Final Heaven, spanning 21 tracks as a conceptual work.
Born into influences from 1990s R&B, alt-rock, and hip-hop from the West, he kicked off his rapping career as Ozzy B. Taking cues from artists who defy easy categorization such as Drake, Ja Rule, and the Nigerian MC M.I. Abaga, he put out several mixtapes, one example being Suzie’s Funeral in 2016 while still using the Ozzy B identity, prior to switching to the Santi alias for Mandy & the Jungle in 2019, an effort that brought in appearances by DRAM, Tay Iwar, Shane Eagle, Kida Kudz, GoldLink, and additional contributors. The year 2020 marked his deal with Interscope along with the establishment of the Monster Boy label, leading to his introduction under the Cruel Santino name in June via the single “End of the Wicked.” Following that by two years, the daring sci-fi themed album Subaru Boys: Final Heaven dropped, showcasing contributions from Skepta, Amaarae, Koffee, and Gus Dapperton.
