AFROTERNITY

by Mazbou Q

/
  • Streaming + Download

    Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
    Download available in 16-bit/44.1kHz.

      $7 NZD  or more

     

1.
Yeah, yeah Blacklight, we don’t needa talk about it (Blacklight, yeah) You better act right when you come around it (You dunno how to act) Blacklight, we don’t needa talk about it (Yeah!) The proof’s in the power and we proud of it Ay (Woo!) Blacklight, we don’t needa talk about it (Talk about it) Say it three times, get surrounded by it (What it do!) Blacklight, we don’t needa talk about it But you gon’ hear about it Whatchu think you know about it? (Muse) What’s the price of a black life? Ahhhh Ever seen a mortuary with a black light? Say it in the mirror three times Get ya act right See my UV shine when a black light gleams That's ultimate vision They hoping and wishin' I fall Me on any beat like a war of attrition My mama told me "Boy, patience! We're from a long bloodline of exploitation It's gon’ take a few generations To heal the wounds Don't get consumed in temptations" Mama I'm a little more militant Like every innocent child soldier fillin' his clip Aiming at investors and suits running a loot Living debt free He caught a bullet straight back now he set free And they can front on the news But we got nothin' to prove Cos when you got nothin' left You have nothin' to lose Blacklight, we don’t needa talk about it (Blacklight, yeah) You better act right when you come around it (You dunno how to act) Blacklight, we don’t needa talk about it (Woah no!) The proof’s in the power and we proud of it Ay (Blacklight) Blacklight, we don’t needa talk about it (talk about it) Say it three times, get surrounded by it (Yeah) Blacklight, we don’t needa talk about it But you gon’ hear about it Whatchu think you know about it? A young prophet Mohamed musing on the message How do you teach so many people not to love the wreckage? In a couple seconds it could run all the way to hellish Is it haram to hate your killer? Tell me what you reckon Black liquor through the liver, I’m a cold sinner I hold a mirror to my people just to see the maker Slither baker Come to serve us all a slice of dinner Bitter taste, hit a smile Grip the cold trigger Drip, drip, rosey liquid for your latest winner In an alternate universe we might’ve been unchained That’s a foreign legacy But we’re still untamed Our future make your Queen Lizzie thinner Take up what you make up lest you become drained New generation, one mission We deliver way quicker than your best breaker No checkin’ But never lost like your boats lack direction Siga! Blacklight, we don’t needa talk about it (Talk about it) You better act right when you come around it (You dunno how to act) Blacklight, we don’t needa talk about it (Whatchu talm’ bout?) The proof’s in the power and we proud of it Ay (Ahhh) Blacklight, we don’t needa talk about it (Talk about it) Say it three times, get surrounded by it (Woah no!) Blacklight, we don’t needa talk about it But you gon’ hear about it Whatchu think you know about it? Yo yo (Moopz!) Blacklight, I handle mine with eloquence I'm diligent with mouthin’ it And vigilant of counterfeits When I got to earth He said “There ain't no gettin out of it I didn't put a doubt in it so learn how to be proud of it Look (Bruh) I gave you a gift, better make the most When they take your shine You inject ‘em with a greater dose You gon' feel some highs And experience some greater lows But you gon’ survive and win everything that them haters won't" God, it's really hard trailblazing though Lemme hit you with some honesty The path sucks (Argh) But I won't pass up And if I'm never a star I'll shine without being gassed up (I learnt to shine) Mo Muse and Deesy D, what a match up Homie, don't snooze on the South, West or the East We goin’ after everything that's on the map bruh In the future when they talk ‘bout black music in the N-Z We the ones they gon’ ask of Yeah Sya! They been sleepin’ on us for too long man You hate to see it
2.
Semi Savant 03:56
Pụọ ebe a! Get up outta my position There ain’t a label, it’s a given Some of y’all don’t really do this for a livin And it shows Here we go, gold overload OH NO (Hey!) You are not ready for war You cannot ignore the Semi Savant WOAH STOP Actin’ like we haven’t conquered before (Hey!) Stay on the course SEMI SAVANT Ay This the way it goes Imma Black star Been shining for ages though I gettin plugs now Some figures pay for those I’m on a pathway and I think it’s paved with gold Wait a minute! What? (Woah!) I been doin’ this for eons All this time, been disguised as a peon Big poppies wantin’ me to put the meek on If it's you, you a sucka boy Light that up in neon I see chords as colours I cause a ruckus It's all or nothin They in awe and wonder I force a stutter Like they cords have ruptured That's right There's a king on the inside That's why I keep the chin on the incline The Sun never say "For them I'm gonna dim mine" So I won't negotiate the margin that I win by Stand ground ‘til the feet go numb Singin’ Fo, Fi, Fee Fo Fum Jidenna said the “Chief Don’t Run” My ancestors in the back like “Keep goin’ son” A product of survivors (Yes!) Luckily the black man never tire And thankfully the black women take us higher If you say you stand alone Better get the strap You a liar . We gather together Then scatter and spread out Emphatically chatter bout matters Instead of proactive endeavours It's taggin on twitter It's glamour, it's glitter And grammin' the picture It's fashion playin twister with activism The act is visible for those who active listen and catch the difference If passion fizzes when you can no longer market ya action Then that's just social capitalism Now listen I got Afrikan vision I want to gather the masses scattered And shackled in systems Lackin the wisdom Who actin like they in actual prisons And introduce em to the valiant mission called Pan africanism Listen But it's a mistake to negate the Divine from equations And cave into Satan To aid and abet in his hatin and aim to create the exact situation we need liberation from That's why I got to be a saintly son At times I feel like showin’ them I ain't the one Some folks take to the streets and wanna paint with blood No Spiderman, but an avenger's what we can't become Some say a legend's what I can't become But that's hard for me to believe since I came from one Actually two Big up to mama and pa Y’all made a semi savant And now he’s ready for war Put my feet down where I put ‘em down Renegade stamps They in every town Cosmic timeline, round about It ain’t everyday that it come around
3.
Look Soft core, still a hard case Flow make ya brain shine and ya heart blaze Keep both eyes on me, star gaze Part 5 and I'm still throwin’ up the bar weight Son of the soil, they don’t wanna start shade Steady ready to get froggy but they larvae Cross me, and see all the lights like Kanye Make myself clear like a selfie on a Huawei I rap avid for my melanin inhabitants Uncapped passion when I'm pennin’ on these canvases An incel wanna cover me in bandages They couldn't count on it with an abacus Quick math Stay mean but never deal in averages Wish that I was stackin bread like my sandwiches Extract capital that's handled by the managers Give back to Africans who wranglin’ for scrappages Fist black and upright for my people Didn't think I had to say that we is all equal Homies gettin’ chased outta town like a steeple Pray they make it out alive, brothers gettin’ lethal Situation evil Starbucks Sally like "I knew they was uncivilised, Check my box braids though I got them at the illest price!" Big blind spots courtesy of ill-advice History was written by the hands that tyrannized Every beat that I'm on, I obliterize That's obliterate and vaporize fused Yea I can customize any verb that I use Wax intellect on every verse that I do Smash every set before the final curtain I pull Average rappers I will batter like they fried food They’ll be quite bruised Like they in the ring with Thai dudes I oop- I do it for rejects and throwaways Tell all of my peeps not to stow away Cos folks keepin too much capital Tend to treat others like they is lower case (Woo) Try to move in the holy ways Though at times I desire to throw a vase At a wall in anger cos I get vexed when Artists make trash but they gettin’ cake (Nah) The floor commonplace, so I levitate (Yes) They sleepin’ on me while I leave magic in my wake Hear my peers sayin I even don’t how he make - his own basslines and ‘em tight fat rhythms They try do the same like they might match with him There ain’t no symmetry, I be real fact spittin Busy makin’ hiphop while you makin’ fan fiction Yeah, I make the real black music Y’all make fan fiction Ha Yeah Let’s go Y’all know nothin’ bout this weight (Y’all know about it?) That I’m pushin up (push around) I’m in there every second day I don’t do it for the sway Nah Woo Y’all know nothin’ bout this weight (Y’all know about it?) That I’m pushin up (Uh) I’m in there every second day
4.
Na wetin dey no Na wetin dey no Na wetin dey no Na wetin dey no What’s good? Uh Jaye Moni Heard about me? They don’t know me though But they know from the wave It’s a Moni flow I baptize the beat like a Holy Ghost And now adays I get around n***** Coast to coast I just spread my talents like an octopus And became that rapper that they love the most Link up with Maz He across the globe Two middle fingers up to a xenophobe Like a rolling stone I just rock ‘n’ roll I’m a diamond’s glow with my pockets swole Keep a few bad b****** all around me though Gotta leave with the bag I’m up out the door Dress nice, smell like Issey Super duper freaky just like Missy Bad B, I keep it juicy Remind them of that chick that ran with Biggie It’s Moni Na wetin dey no Yeah See dem times We dey hustle we no get Si na wetin dey no Yeah We dey do our ting We no send Si na wetin dey no Yeah Omo Naija to the ends Si na wetin dey no (Wetin dey no) Na wetin dey no (Wetin dey no) Yeah Na wetin dey no I ain't gon' repeat why I'm culturally piecewise If y'all don't know it by now Then when you gon' realise? Got odds stacked against us But you won't see the dream die Bleak circumstances be precisely where we thrive Biafran in the bloodline Descendent of the sunshine Lackin the vernacular But drink a lot of palm wine They’ll doubt ya sometimes But when they see you rise They’ll be like "It's about time!" "I'm so proud of our kind!" Ha, That's the game though I'm doin' what they won't But I'm steady prayin for my people catchi’ halos Constant on the case load Tryna stack the playdough I wear a hundred hats So you can miss me with the shade bro Yo Y'all needa learn how to play shows I sweat like a detective being discovered on a payroll Chill goes AWOL Me against my peers I make the most art Liken me to Beethove' Na wetin dey no? Na wetin dey no (Rah! rah!) Yeah See dem times We dey hustle we no get Si na wetin dey no (wetin dey no) Yeah We dey do our ting We no send Si na wetin dey no (Wetin dey no) Yeah Omo Naija to the ends Si na wetin dey no (Wetin dey no) Na wetin dey no (Wetin dey no) Yeah Na wetin dey no Jaye Moni, Mazbou, Magugu, Skunkadelic Ndi Naija It’s the take over Now where we at? Auckland city, Cardiff, London! Ay Wetin dey no Wetin dey no Wetin dey no Wetin dey no Ay ay ya Wetin dey no Wetin dey no Wetin dey no Wetin dey no Wetin dey no Na wetin dey no (Wetin dey no) Yeah See dem times We dey hustle we no get Si na wetin dey no (wetin dey no) Yeah We dey do our ting We no send Si na wetin dey no (Wetin dey no) Yeah Omo Naija to the ends Si na wetin dey no (Wetin dey no) Na wetin dey no (Wetin dey no) Yeah Na wetin dey no
5.
Bad Energy Ay Let it fly by First hit em with the side eye Clownin with me That I wouldn't try try See me duck a bad vibe And watch it die die Bad Energy Ay Let it fly by First hit em with the side eye Clownin with me That I wouldn't try try See me duck a bad vibe And watch it die die When I say I'm all in It's neither doubt nor its shadow I killed my hesitation, put it underneath a meadow Negativity just got a stomach full of arrows Put a noose around my unbelief And hung it from the gallows When I protect my energy I'm anything but mellow Bad vibes, crush 'em like a slug under stilettos Imma church boy but I might get froggy like a freddo Cos the best solution is replace the s.o with a revo What I do, I do with guts fam And with the amount skill you can fit into one man Tell Candace she a sucka for being a trump stan But she don't have a clue She only part of the Klux Klan Trash rappers I put 'em back in the dustpan Duck bad verbs and adjectives I don't cuss man Clutch that blessin' my momma hustled with clutched hands Never puff pass or scull back Just hunt cash But mad evil at the root of the love of loot And power too Think the scene is due for another coup So power to Any motherlanders who comin' thru With power moves Black power ooze You bout to view what ours do Made a move not designed for goons and coward dudes Used to make code for pesos, amounted few Then I flew Now I'm creatin tunes makin yo face screw like you was chewin on sour food Bad Energy Ay Let it fly by First hit em with the side eye Clownin with me That I wouldn't try try See me duck a bad vibe And watch it die die Bad Energy Ay Let it fly by First hit em with the side eye Clownin with me That I wouldn't try try See me duck a bad vibe And watch it die die Aye I'm from the city where the hatred will leave 'em on pavement (Ay) Rated M for mature with the picture I'm paintin' They got that amistad mentality fresh off the slave ship And I keep everything together while chasing these payments Obviously a go-getter I gotta be Haters look and stare But that will not stop a G Grew up around killers hustlin' all kind of things Police flashing lights Crip and blood ones I can't see a way out But I made it yet the hood still in me (Hey) Envious and depressed cos I move consistently (Hey) Goal achieving all the time You could call me the GOAT Blew a bag a few times But I'm stayin' afloat Still I don't recommend that y'all play me for a joke Who naive? Super solid Have no problems sayin' no Quit tryin' to get under my skin Could get choked It's a high probability if you want smoke Let it breathe, gotta chill I'm a super chill dude Will put a foot in yo ass If you get a bit rude To avoid all of that I put forcefields up Easier to do that than to call your bluff Cos it's easy to step away from confrontation Takes a whole lotta strength And a whole lotta patience I been so stressed out I could snap like this beat Keep that B.A.D energy from round me Bad Energy Ay Let it fly by First hit em with the side eye Clownin with me That I wouldn't try try See me duck a bad vibe And watch it die die Bad Energy Ay Let it fly by First hit em with the side eye Clownin with me That I wouldn't try try See me duck a bad vibe And watch it die die Aight
6.
To The Gates 03:57
Yup yeah Grip tight while I stoke these flames One more time, there is no replay I can't let go, I’mma hold these chains One day I'll look back and it won't be pain But right now it comes and it goes in waves (Waves) Never thought I would go these ways I don't sell out I don't betray Nah I won’t be strong Nah I won't be brave Man, it's always been me holding everyone's guts (Guts) But who's gonna hold my spade? (Who?) And dig me deep in a grave So I take these sins to the gates (Yeah) I said “Who's gonna come my way?” And bury me deep in a grave (In a grave) I’mma take these sins to the gates And hope my God gon’ take ‘em away Take ‘em a’ So I scream into the silence of the dawn Feels like it's the only thing that keeps us warm Even though I know you said that you prefer the cold I don't Who's gonna hold my spade? And bury me deep in a grave So I take this sin to the gates And hope my God’s gon’ take it away I said “Who's gonna come my way?” And bury me deep in a grave I'mma this sin to the gates And hope my God gon’ take it away Take it away Yeah No names, no risks (Nothin’) Dreamt about planes and trips (Wanna fly) I had to act strong, mask on ‘Cos I knew I could never put the blame on this (On this) Didn't know your left from your right (You’re right) I didn't know my right from my wrong (I was wrong) I just navigated by feel And I feel more than I could ever write in a song But am I right-ing wrongs? Or is it too little, too late? (Too little, too late) And when I get to the gates Is my God gon’ take it away? (Yeah) I said “Who's gonna come my way?” And bury me deep in a grave (In a grave) I’mma take these sins to the gates And hope my God gon’ take ‘em away Take ‘em a’ So let's wait until the dusk turns into dawn ‘Cos I don't think I'm ready to be strong Even though I know you said that I would just move on I'm torn Who's gonna hold my spade? And bury me deep in a grave So I take this sin to the gates And hope my God’s gon’ take it away I said “Who's gonna come my way?” (My way) And bury me deep in a grave (In a grave) I’mma take this sin to the gates And hope my God gon’ take it away Take it away But in our world of shifting bounds and moving borders I was your calm You were my order And I don't regret a second All the memories that are stored up And moments I kept score of Form my aura So even if I do not speak You can be sure that Nothing's changed I say nothing's changed So meet me early in the morning And I scream into the silence of the dawn Feels like it's the only thing that keeps us warm Even though I know you said that you prefer the cold I don't So let's wait until the dusk turns into dawn ‘Cos I don't think I'm ready to be strong Even though I know you said that I would just move on I'm torn Who's gonna hold my spade? And bury me deep in a grave So I take this sin to the gates And hope my God’s gon’ take it away I said “Who's gonna come my way?” (My way) And bury me deep in a grave (In a grave) I’mma take this sin to the gates And hope my God gon’ take it away Take it away

about

Nigerian-Kiwi hip-hop artist, rapper and producer Mazbou Q has released his highly-anticipated debut EP, AFROTERNITY, which includes the new single ‘Bad Energy’.

Mazbou Q describes ‘Bad Energy’, which features Oklahoma rapper and producer Kevin Posey, as one of the more sonically darker tracks in his discography. But in keeping with the Auckland-based artist’s modus operandi, the message is as powerful and as positive as ever. “The main theme is to not let negativity into our lives and focusing on the positive in any given situation”, says Mazbou Q.

“Ironically, it plays on mainstream hip-hop’s historical tendency toward violent themes by which its usage of violent imagery against an abstract embodiment of ‘bad energy’. The idea is that if we figuratively kill the negativity in our lives, we will be better off for it,” he adds.

The man behind the Mazbou Q moniker – Hugh Ozumba – is no stranger to Aotearoa’s music scene. After carving out a name for himself as Unchained XL, he made the bold move earlier this year of revealing a new stage name and new music. “When I chose the name Unchained XL, it represented whom I was at the time. However, a small but growing part of me was never able to fully embrace it and I have struggled to sit in that discomfort. My response was to retrospectively pack extra layers of meaning into the name, hoping it would resonate more fully with whom I was becoming as an artist. Nevertheless, the more ‘me’ I became through my art, the less ‘me’ the name felt. It was for this reason, as I entered a new year, decade and season of life, I chose my new artist name Mazbou Q - encoded from my birth name,” he explains.

The EP’s first single, ‘To The Gates’, accompanied by a powerful and exquisitely shot video (watch HERE) premiered on NZ’s top hip-hop and R&B station Mai FM and was added to bFM. It was followed by the second single ‘Blacklight’ feat. Mo Muse and Phodiso. Combined both tracks and their videos have received tens of thousands of streams across multiple platforms.

It laid down the foundations for the release of AFROTERNITY, which officially marks a new chapter in the journey of one New Zealand’s most unique artists.

“My music remains unapologetic in its political message - one of anti-racism and black consciousness. On previous records it hasn’t left much space for confidence in self, perhaps as a subconscious concession to New Zealand’s tall poppy syndrome. In AFROTERNITY, I evolve past that - I’m not afraid to shine on this EP.”

credits

released May 1, 2020

license

all rights reserved

tags

about

Mazbou Q Auckland, New Zealand

Mazbou Q is a UK-born, Tāmaki Makaurau based Nigerian artist and producer. Stemming from his background in classical, heavy metal and West African Highlife, Mazbou Q's particular brand of Hiphop challenges the very notion of genre and captivates those with a deep appreciation for musicality. Mazbou Q takes inspiration from the likes of Fela Kuti, The Roots and Black Star. ... more

contact / help

Contact Mazbou Q

Streaming and
Download help

Report this album or account

If you like Mazbou Q, you may also like: