24 March 2017 - 0 Comments

Once the vibrant character behind the critically-acclaimed hip-hop act Loui The Zu, Mzwétwo is stepping back into the limelight with a killer new tune and video, Young Stunna.

WATCH THE VIDEO HERE

A powerful statement that not only re-establishes the young artist from Auckland as one of New Zealand’s most innovative talents, Young Stunna represents the journey that he’s taken from the moment he first wowed crowds as Loui The Zu, to now, as he makes his mark known simply by his first name - Mzwétwo (pronounced Mez-way-two).
 
“I started making music under my own name because I needed to decide who I wanted to be as an artist. I needed to discover what I liked; what I didn’t like; what I wanted to achieve. I realised that I loved rap and I loved rock ‘n’ roll and that’s what Mzwétwo is about for me - bringing those two worlds together,” says the 22-year-old rapper, songwriter and producer.
 
In 2013, Mzwétwo’s tested the waters with Gallantino - his first EP made under his own name. It caught the discerning ear of reputable music blogs such as Pigeons and Planes and Yours Truly and established the ‘Gallantino collective’, which Mzwétwo and several other young Kiwi creatives, including Young Tapz, are now a part of.
 
“We all share this belief system that we should create things that are progressive. If others can do it, then we shouldn’t do it. But that said, we want to add value - so we’re not trying to push things so far that people can’t grasp it,” explains Mzwétwo
 
Now expanding on the ‘Gallantino’ ideology, Mzwétwo returns with Young Stunna, a raw and dramatic track that straddles the seemingly opposing worlds of rock and hip-hop. It is brought to life by a captivating video directed by Shae Sterling, with Mzwétwo as creative director, and featuring some of New Zealand’s most recognisable fashion brands, from Zambesi to Stolen Girlfriends Club.
 
An ‘in your face’ track, which doesn’t adhere to the rules of genre, Young Stunna and its accompanying video form a potent statement that sets Mzwétwo - who is signed to Honua Music, the publishing company founded by Grammy-nominated producer Axident- apart from the pack.
 
It’s a reminder of how high he set the bar as Loui The Zu, earning a nomination in 2012’s Music Awards Critics’ Choice Prize. But most importantly, it signals a bright future for one of New Zealand music’s most intriguing up-and-comers.

Mzwétwo– Young Stunna is out now.
 
Listen on Spotify here
 
Find Mzwétwo here and here

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