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

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