Mazbou Q

aka The Rap Scientist, Unchained XL, Hugh Ozumba


Mazbou Q draws from many styles of music. Under his former moniker, Unchained XL, he made Afrobeat-inspired hip hop, which is still central to his sound, but Mazbou Q’s music now extends all the way from sparse, synth-driven beats through to the funky tracks performed live, and modern hip hop sounds of drill and trap. Mazbou has also turned his knowledge of rapping into an incredibly popular social media channel.

The man behind the raps is Hugh Ozumba, who started his career in metalcore band East of Eden. The band inadvertently started when he and his teen friend Spencer Jones got together to record a few demos with no aim in mind. They put a song online and were surprised when people offered to join their band.

Mazbou Q with Kevin Posey
Mazbou Q live at Cross Street festival, Auckland, NZ, 2023.
Photo credit: Gal Hochman
Mazbou Q, high school mentoring
Mazbou Q live in 2024.
Unchained XL in 2019
Photo credit: Geoff Ong
Mazbou Q at Gotham Professional Arts Academy, Brooklyn, NYC, 2024.
Hugh Okechukwu Ozumba aka Mazbou Q in 2015
Mazbou Q at Berklee College of Music, 2024.
Mazbou Q - Now I'm Whole official music video (2023)
Mazbou Q talking at an event
The Science of AESOP ROCK: Galloping Rap Flow?! (2024)
Mazbou Q
Photo credit: Publicity headshot by Raphael Recht
Mazbou Q at BLM protest
Photo credit: Pale Swanney
Mazbou Q as time traveler for 'Don't Stop Regardless' release
Mazbou Q playing bass
Unchained XL - But Do They Know feat. JessB & Nuel Nonso music video (2018)
Mazbou Q - 'Don’t Stop Regardless' | RNZ Music Live Session (2021)
Mazbou Q - 'The Get Up' | RNZ Music Live Session (2021)
Mazbou Q with band in 2024. R-L: Mols-Esme, Fae, Isaac Griffiths, April Haines, Niran.
Unchained XL performs 'Figures' live at the Ellen Melville Centre for 95bFM's Drive Island VIII (2019)
The Science of RAKIM: Swinging Flow?? (2024)
Mazbou Q - Weight On My Bars, Pt. 6 LIVE @ Berklee College, Boston (2023)
Third Culture Minds: Black New Zealanders on how hip hop finally gave them a place to belong. Featuring Mazbou Q, JessB and Mo Muse (2020)
Mazbou Q writing rhymes
Mazbou Q at Hip Hop Congress Conference, 2024.
Mazbou Q - CRYPTOGRAPHY official music video (2025)
Unchained XL live at Music In Parks, Auckland, NZ
Unchained XL (from left): keyboardist Isaac, Hugh Ozumba, and drummer Niran
Unchained XL live with Ankara Shirt
Unchained XL performing 'Weight On My Bars, Pt. III' live on RNZ (2018)
Unchained XL in 2018
Photo credit: Emily Raffils (point and shoot)
Mazbou Q live at Cross Street festival, Auckland, NZ, 2023.
Photo credit: Gal Hochman
Unchained XL - Walk Out music video (2016)
Mazbou Q 'The Science of Rap' Presentation at Berklee College of Music, Boston (2023)
Unchained XL - What You Said music video (2018)
Mazbou Q at Borough of Manhattan Community College (BMCC), NYC, 2024. 
Mazbou Q - Go and Be Free official music video (2022)
Mazbou Q - Beat Up, Bullied and Dunked On live at Ponsonby Social Club, Auckland (2024)
Mazbou Q - CLRS (Official Music Video) ft. King Green (2023)
Mazbou Q - POLYMERS official music video (2025)
Mazbou Q
Photo credit: Publicity shot by Raphael Recht
Mazbou Q - G.O.A.T Problems (Official Music Video) ft. RAIZA BIZA (2021)
Unchained XL
Photo credit: Emily Raffils on point n' shoot
Mazbou Q at Live Womad, 2023.
Mazbou Q at NYU, 2024.
Unchained XL/ Mazbou Q interview discussing hip hop, Nigeria, powerlifting, MMA, colonialism etc (2019)
Unchained XL aka Mazbou Q, 2019
Photo credit: Wolfpack Creative
Kevin Posey X Mazbou Q - Your Shine (official video) ft. Kirsten (2020)
Mazbou Q in 2021
Photo credit: Promo shot by Wolfpack Creative
Unchained XL live with Phodiso
Unchained XL aka Mazbou Q in 2019
Photo credit: Emily Raffils on point n' shoot

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