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.

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

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