I guess you remember Young Zee. The teenage rapper from Swangz Avenue who captured the attention of folks with his swagger, neat videos and the ‘talk of having money’. Well, years down the road, he is back with a new name. We caught up with him and had this chat.
Man, where have you been all this while?
I have been around, actually in Nairobi. I have been away for a year.
Not, really. It’s been quiet a long while though.
Yes. It has been four years since I left doing music as Young Zee. Something happened. I left Swangz Avenue because at the time they were doing so many things yet I wanted to have focus on me. I then got another manager, Shadrach but the relationship didn’t work out and at that time I was sick and tired. I wanted to quit. I wanted to do normal things like school. I then went to Nairobi. I was there for a year and I came back last year. When I was in Nairobi I decided that I wanted to do music again so I came back.
So what exactly were doing in Nairobi ?
I was at Hill Crest International School.
Now that you’re done with high school, do have plans of joining campus or pursuing music career co-currently?
I am finishing high school in a few months. I want to put a formal end to my education rather than just dropping out. It will be music! I am not dropping out, I am graduating from high school. Many people have done what I’ve done.
Why are you changing your name now?
It was just my instagram handle @zagazillion. It has since stuck.
Do you think the fans will be ready to embrace the name Zagazillion?
I guess. People know me as Young Zee but that’s not me anymore. Young Zee has not put out music in a long while. I am releasing music as Zagazillion.
Other than the name change, what other transformation have gone through?
Last time I was doing hiphop. At that time I was just a kid. I did not know myself properly. Right now, I sing my own hooks, we are doing a different style of production and not limited to hiphop, I call my music style ‘Zaga-vibe’; its a bunch of stuff. I have a song with Voltage Music and many others in store.
Are you under a management right now?
I have my own studio. I have my own producer, Ill Gee. I work with Swangz on promotions.
How have you been able to do that?
My dad has always been supportive since I was 11 years. He is the one who first took me to Swangz Avenue. He was been supportive put to now. Right now it’s me, my dad, Ill Gee and Andy Music also helps with mastering the music.
There have been so many new kids of the block since you left. What do you think about their music?
You mean this Fik Fameica? I don’t listen to them. It’s not my type of vibe but people seem to like them. They are doing good. I would like to work with Raba Daba and Peter Miles. I like reggae-dancehall music.
Don’t you think you missed out a lot when you left for Nairobi given that several young artistes broke out?
I don’t think so. It was necessary for me. Before people used to think Young Zee is just a kid.
What other misconceptions do people have about you?
People think I’m a spoilt rich kid. When I went to promote my first song as Zagazillion without Swangz Avenue and I introduced myself, their hands just started shaking. It is for real. It pisses me off sometimes.
What are doing about it?
I am working with Swangz.
Your message to fans…
This time it is not a small boy thing. We are here to strive for success.