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.

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

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