Drill rapper's latest track sends powerful message of unity

An Auckland-based artist is hoping to help unify the global African diaspora struggling with intergenerational racial trauma.

Nigerian rapper Mazbou Q a.k.a The Rap Scientist collaborated with American hip hop artist, King Green to produce his newest track CLRS.

The drill rapper told Pacific Days African diaspora often battle with unconscious assimilation and disconnection due to colonialism and white supremacy. His song sends a powerful message of solidarity.

“CLRS is a song about unity and in particular I write it from my perspective which is an Afro diaspora perspective. A lot of internal conflict and fighting between Afro diaspora peoples happens as a result of our history.

“So I’m just encouraging people to look beyond that and unify, and see what kind of change we can make together.”

Much like the Pacific peoples’ pride for their home nation colours, CLRS acknowledges the red, black and green of the Pan-African flag that symbolises unity against oppression and imperialism.

On his socials, Mazbou Q says he was hesitant with the end-of-November release date especially due to global conversations happening right now regarding the Israel-Hamas war and conflicts in Sudan. As the flag colours all bare resemblance he didn’t want to be seen as “co-opting with either struggles”.

He says his decision to go ahead fundamentally came down to ensuring indigenous peoples all over heard his words of emancipation.

“Ultimately I decided to go ahead, figuring that messages of hope and unity among oppressed peoples are needed right now, and that I should let God speak into the times through art, as so often happens.

“For the ravaged, the displaced, and the unfree.”

The Rap Scientist has lived in Aotearoa for over 30 years but has always remained connected and staunch in his Nigerian roots and to his culture of the Igbo people.

Beginning his career as a protest musician, Mazbou Q is no stranger to lyrically expressing activism and now with over 210,000 followers on TikTok, Mazbou Q often posts snippets of music and rap theory helping up and commers better their flow.

CLRS is part of his ongoing project called The Sum of Unfinished Businesses with a release date still to be announced. Listen to the full song here.