Shabuzy’s “A Bar Song” soared to the top of the Billboard Hot 100, marking a milestone for the artist known for his fusion of country and hip-hop.
Shabuzi, real name Collins Obinna Chibueze, has taken the music world by storm this year. Recently named to Time Magazine’s Next 100 List and twice nominated for a CMA Award, the rising star is seeing her hard work pay off.
“I certainly dreamed of all this, but it seemed so impossible, you know?” he said.
Shabuji, who grew up in Woodbridge, Virginia, was the son of Nigerian immigrants. He said his classmates often get his name wrong. The nickname ‘Shabuji’ stuck with him and he adopted it as his stage name.
However, his journey was not easy. He once shoveled snow in a storm just to buy a plane ticket to Los Angeles to pursue his dream.
“It’s almost a miracle that I’ve come this far, you know?” he said.
Shabuzi’s journey to fame
Shabouzi’s genre-blending style caught the attention of Beyoncé, who featured him twice on her album Cowboy Carter.
The artist told CBS Morning co-host Gayle King that he doesn’t believe in traditional genres and views music as “free expression.”
Following “Cowboy Carter,” Shabuzy struck gold with “A Bar Song,” which includes lyrics from J-Kwon’s 2004 hit “Tipsy.” He shared a memorable moment when J-Kwon sent him a DM with a fire emoji and said, “I got it.”
Shabuzy recalled with a laugh, “I felt like Jae Kwon hit me. Once I understood that, I thought there was definitely something special about this song.”
On his first headlining tour, Shabuzy performed at a sold-out show in New York City.
“This is definitely my dream. I didn’t do shows before because I thought no one would come,” he said.
Despite his success, Shabouzi admits there are challenges as a black artist making music that falls under country music, but said he accepts it.
“My life has been full of challenges, including not being accepted in places where I should have been,” he said. “I feel like I’ve adapted to it. … I want to be the person that people remember for doing something.”
more