Zuby
Zuby | |
---|---|
![]() Udezue in 2021 | |
Born | Nzube Olisaebuka Udezue August 19, 1986 Luton, Bedfordshire, England |
Nationality | British |
Alma mater | St Edmund Hall, Oxford |
Occupation | Rapper |
Website | zubymusic |
Nzube Olisaebuka Udezue (born 19 August 1986), better known by his stage name Zuby, is a British rapper. In July 2008, Udezue was misidentified and arrested by police at gunpoint at Bournemouth railway station due to miscommunication regarding a suspect's description.[1] The incident received media coverage and the police apologized for the incident, which was compared to the shooting of Jean Charles de Menezes.[2]
In March 2019, Udezue received worldwide attention after posting a video on Twitter of himself performing a deadlift of 238 kg (525 lb) with a statement saying he had broken the British women's deadlift record while "identifying as a woman".[3] The tweet added to the ongoing, controversial issue of transgender people in sports. Udezue said he does not think trans women should be allowed to compete in women's sports and said that he broke the record to demonstrate the flaws of the arguments of those on the other side of the debate.[4][5]
Early life and education
Nzube Olisaebuka Udezue was born in Luton, Bedfordshire, England, on 19 August 1986.[6][7][8] His father is a doctor and a fellow of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, and his mother a journalist.[9] When Udezue was a year old, his parents moved to Saudi Arabia, where they worked for two decades, and he attended an international school.[10] From the age of 11, Udezue attended a boarding school in the UK and frequently travelled between the two countries.[11][10] Between 2004 and 2007, he studied at St Edmund Hall, Oxford, and graduated with a first-class honours degree in computer science.[2][12][10][13][14] As a child, Udezue played piano and trombone, the latter of which he played in a band. Later, during his teenage years he became interested in hip-hop music.[10]
Career
In 2006, while at university, Udezue started rapping under the name Zuby, and independently released his debut album Commercial Underground, which he says sold over 3,000 copies.[15][10] He released his second album entitled The Unknown Celebrity in December 2007.[16] After graduating, he moved to London and in August 2008, he worked there as a management consultant for Accenture while continuing his music career for two years.[10][9] His next album Commercial Underground 2 was released in October 2011;[17][18] a month later, Udezue pursued his music career full-time.[10] His extended play (EP) entitled Zubstep was released in February 2013.[19] By August 2016, Udezue said he sold over 20,000 albums and released the EP Seven in the same year.[20] Most of his albums are within the hip-hop genre.[2] In 2019, Udezue started his own podcast entitled Real Talk with Zuby.[10][21]
Udezue has been featured on podcasts including: The Ben Shapiro Show,[22] The Joe Rogan Experience,[11] The Rubin Report,[23] The Candace Owens Show,[24] The Adam Carolla Show,[25] and The Glenn Beck Podcast.[26]
Police incident
It took me a couple of seconds to realise that it was me that all those guns were aimed at. I honestly felt like I'd stepped off the train and into a really bad dream. I'm shocked, confused, scared and embarrassed all at the same time. Most of the bystanders had vacated the platform by now, by police order. And I'm not talking about normal police either. This is the Specialist Firearms Unit, about eight of them, machine guns, bulletproof vests, police dogs and all. And they're here to arrest me!
Nzube Udezue, describing his encounter with the police[27]
On 5 July 2008,[28] at 3:49 pm, a man displayed an imitation firearm at an indoor shopping centre in Basingstoke; afterwards Hampshire Constabulary distributed a description of him.[1] At 5:24 pm the same day, Udezue boarded a train from Southampton to Bournemouth, which is about 30 miles (48 km) from Basingstoke.[29][28] Shortly thereafter, British Transport Police (BTP), after being notified by Hampshire Police,[27] believed Udezue may have been involved in the Basingstoke incident.[1] Throughout this time, miscommunication about the colour of Udezue's T-shirt occurred; the BTP initially described his shirt as "brown" but it was later described as "dark".[30] About ten officers then blocked off the exits as the train approached Bournemouth railway station.[29][28][12] The train arrived at 6:09 pm and Udezue was arrested at gunpoint and was forced to lie prone and was handcuffed, by Dorset Police.[27][1] Udezue was briefly detained at Bournemouth police station before being released.[27] Dorset Police later issued an apology for the arrest.[27] He was arrested because he was a black man wearing a black t-shirt,[31][29][28][12] which matched the description of the actual suspect. Udezue quipped: "And to think I was going to wear a blue T-shirt this morning".[27][2] Udezue, who had no criminal record,[29][31][12] later described the incident as a "really bad dream" and said he had "never been so traumatised" in his life.[27]
Rather than conducting a full investigation themselves, the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) asked Dorset Police's Professional Standards Department to investigate the three forces involved.[27][30] In a statement, the IPCC said the actions of Dorset Police were "appropriate and proportionate to the circumstances".[29] On 14 July, Udezue's solicitor filed an official complaint to the IPCC over the incident and requested a full and independent investigation into the incident.[30]
A few days after the incident, Udezue's social media accounts received many supportive messages from the public.[29][28][12] Udezue's local Member of Parliament Tobias Ellwood of the Conservative Party stated he backed the actions of the police, saying they do a "very difficult job"[12] and that it is important "police don't fear stepping in for fear of reprisals if they get the wrong person".[12] The arrest was compared to the shooting of Jean Charles de Menezes.[2][29][28][12][30] Entertainment Weekly's Simon Vozick-Levinson described the incident as "something of a cause célèbre".[31] The Guardian's Paul Lewis and Vozick-Levinson said the incident may be an example of racial profiling.[31][1] Udezue, who is of Nigerian heritage, thought his race was not pivotal to the incident but should still be considered a part of any investigation.[30]
Ansichten
In response to a music festival that charged white people double the price it charged people of other ethnicities, Udezue commented: "Well done intersectional radicals. You've become the very racists you claim to stand against."[32][33]
Transgender people
In March 2019, Udezue received worldwide attention after posting on Twitter a video of himself performing a deadlift of 238 kg (525 lb) and subsequently stating he had broken the British women's deadlift record while "identifying as a woman".[3][4][34][5] Shortly after, he made similar comments about the British women's bench press record.[4][3] The tweets added to the ongoing debate about transgender people in sports.[4][5] Udezue has said he does not think trans women should be allowed to compete in women's sport.[5] Udezue went on to say he posted the tweets to demonstrate the "fallacies of the arguments on the other side" and commented: "I have seen people saying there is no inherent biological strength difference between men and women. I posted it being a bit tongue-in-cheek, showing what I think is the obvious absurdity of their argument."[4] After he expressed these views, Rosamund Urwin of The Times described Udezue as an "unlikely feminist icon".[4]
In February 2020, after Udezue posted a tweet advising women on "how to land a great guy", transgender activist Emily Gorcenski, who is a trans woman, replied: "I'm like 95% sure I'm sleeping with more women than you and this is terrible advice".[35] Udezue responded with "Ok dude...", which resulted in his Twitter account being suspended for "hateful conduct".[35] After his manual review was denied, he deleted the tweet and his account was restored.[36]
In September 2020, Udezue, together with other notable figures, signed a letter in support of author J. K. Rowling's views on transgender people.[37]
Personal life
In 2008, Udezue lived in Bournemouth, Dorset, with his parents,[9] and since 2019 he has lived in Southampton.[4] He is a Christian.[29][28] Udezue was also the cousin of the deceased Nigerian rapper Lotanna Udezue, better known as Biglo.[38]
Discography
Studio albums
- Commercial Underground (2006)[15]
- The Unknown Celebrity (2007)[16]
- Commercial Underground 2 (2011)[17]
- Word of Zuby (2021)Cite error: The opening
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tag is malformed or has a bad name (see the help page).
Extended plays
References
- ^ a b c d e Lewis, Paul (9 July 2008). "Nzube Udezue: less innocent than most?". The Guardian. Guardian Media Group. Archived from the original on 22 March 2021. Retrieved 6 April 2020.
- ^ a b c d e Edwards, Richard (9 July 2008). "Oxford graduate Zuby held at gunpoint by police at Bournemouth station". The Telegraph. Archived from the original on 23 September 2018. Retrieved 26 January 2020.
- ^ a b c "Male rapper identifying as female, declares he broke female deadlift record". WQAD. 11 March 2019. Archived from the original on 29 September 2020. Retrieved 18 November 2020.
- ^ a b c d e f g Urwin, Rosamund (3 March 2019). "Rapper Zuby identifies as female to smash weightlifting record". The Times. News UK. Archived from the original on 25 February 2020. Retrieved 6 April 2020.
- ^ a b c d "'Trans women shouldn't be allowed to compete in women's sport'". Sky News. 27 August 2019. Archived from the original on 22 March 2021. Retrieved 6 April 2020.
- ^ Udezue, Nzube [@ZubyMusic] (29 November 2019). "I was born in Luton!" (Tweet). Archived from the original on 29 November 2019. Retrieved 15 January 2020 – via Twitter.
- ^ "Zuby". BBC Music. BBC. Archived from the original on 2 June 2020. Retrieved 2 June 2020.
{{cite web}}
:|archive-date=
/|archive-url=
timestamp mismatch; 3 June 2020 suggested (help) - ^ "Nzube Olisaebuka UDEZUE - Personal Appointments (free information from Companies House)". gov.uk. Retrieved 15 August 2021.
- ^ a b c Ford, Richard; Foster, Patrick (9 July 2008). "Stop and search victim Nzube Udezue relives his gunpoint ordeal". The Times. News UK. Archived from the original on 26 January 2021. Retrieved 26 January 2020.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Shapiro, Ben; Udezue, Nzube (15 September 2019). Zuby - The Ben Shapiro Show Sunday Special Ep. 68 (Podcast). United States. Event occurs at 4:30. Retrieved 3 June 2020 – via YouTube.
I was born in the UK, I actually moved to the Middle East I lived in Saudi Arabia I moved there when I was 1 my parents worked out there for a couple of decades my dad's a doctor and like your wife and my mum was working as journalist at the time. So we lived in Saudi Arabia and I went to school there up until fifth grade so when I was 11 I went boarding school at the age of 11. So I was back and forth between the two countries for a long time did really well in school got into Oxford university and went there to study computer science so I did that for three years. When I was in my first year I started rapping. When I was a kid I used to play piano so I did some music in the past then I also played trombona in a band for a while and then I kind of fell out of love with music and fell back into it. I was a hip-hop fan in my teen years at school I started rapping in university and discovered I had a knack for writing lyrics and performing so I released my first album Commercial Underground when I was 19 and put that out independently sold a few thousand copies and that kind of set the spark of oh this maybe something I can do something with. So I graduated moved to London I worked as a management consultant actually for a couple of years while juggling my music stuff on the side and then in November 2011 I took the plunge and said hey I'm gonna go pursue my music stuff full-time and I haven't starved to death yet so I'm doing something right and then other things have been added to the mix.
- ^ a b Rogan, Joe; Udezue, Nzube (5 September 2019). "Joe Rogan Experience #1346 - Zuby". Archived from the original on 22 March 2021. Retrieved 3 June 2020 – via YouTube.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Lewis, Paul (9 July 2008). "Commuter mistakenly arrested by armed police was 'shocked and scared'". The Guardian. Guardian Media Group. Archived from the original on 22 March 2021. Retrieved 6 April 2020.
- ^ "Are you down with Zuby?". Oxford Today. Vol. 23, no. 2. January–March 2011. p. 18. Archived from the original on 19 April 2013. Retrieved 18 November 2020.
- ^ Pendlebury, Fiona (21 September 2010). "Wrongly arrested Zuby ready to rap". Bournemouth Echo. Archived from the original on 14 April 2021. Retrieved 14 April 2021.
- ^ a b Parkin, Simon (1 June 2012). "Preview: Norwich full gig guide June 1–7". Norwich Evening News. Archived from the original on 22 March 2021. Retrieved 8 April 2020.
- ^ a b Cartlidge, Sarah (23 November 2007). "Music news". Bournemouth Echo. Archived from the original on 20 May 2021. Retrieved 20 May 2021.
- ^ a b Gough, Patrick (17 August 2012). "Zuby: I'm not that interested in impressing record labels or people in the industry". Bournemouth Echo. Archived from the original on 14 May 2021. Retrieved 14 May 2021.
- ^ a b "Commercial Underground 2 (Deluxe Edition)". zubymusic.bandcamp.com. Archived from the original on 22 May 2021. Retrieved 22 May 2021.
{{cite web}}
:|archive-date=
/|archive-url=
timestamp mismatch; 16 February 2021 suggested (help) - ^ a b "Get ready for Zubstep, the new release from Zuby". Bournemouth Echo. 8 February 2013. Archived from the original on 22 May 2021. Retrieved 22 May 2021.
- ^ a b Marsh, Caitlin (18 August 2016). "20,000 albums later: Bournemouth rapper Zuby drops seventh release". Bournemouth Echo. Archived from the original on 14 May 2021. Retrieved 14 May 2021.
- ^ Udezue, Nzube. "About Zuby". Zuby Music. Archived from the original on 22 March 2021. Retrieved 8 April 2020.
- ^ Shapiro, Ben; Udezue, Nzube (15 September 2019). "Zuby - The Ben Shapiro Show Sunday Special Ep. 68". Archived from the original on 22 March 2021. Retrieved 3 June 2020 – via YouTube.
- ^ Rubin, Dave; Udezue, Nzube (22 September 2019). "Social Justice Taking A Toll on Women's Sports & US Blind Spots - Zuby - Poltics - Rubin Report". Archived from the original on 22 March 2021. Retrieved 20 January 2020 – via YouTube.
- ^ Owens, Candace; Udezue, Nzube (7 July 2019). "The Candace Owens Show: Zuby". PragerU. Archived from the original on 7 June 2020. Retrieved 6 April 2020.
- ^ Carolla, Adam; Cesario, Jeff; Udezue, Nzube (2019). "Zuby and Jeff Cesario". adamcarolla.com. Archived from the original on 29 June 2020. Retrieved 20 January 2020.
- ^ Beck, Glenn; Udezue, Nzube (12 October 2019). "Truth Over Politics: A British Rapper's View of America - Zuby - The Glenn Beck Podcast - Ep 54". Archived from the original on 22 March 2021 – via YouTube.
- ^ a b c d e f g h "Rapper traumatised by gun arrest". BBC News. 9 July 2008. Archived from the original on 22 March 2021. Retrieved 6 April 2020.
- ^ a b c d e f g Lewis, Paul (9 July 2008). "'All hell broke loose': Oxford graduate held at gunpoint by police". The Guardian. Guardian Media Group. Archived from the original on 22 March 2021. Retrieved 6 April 2020.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Lewis, Paul (8 July 2008). "Commuter mistakenly held at gunpoint by police". The Guardian. Guardian Media Group. Archived from the original on 22 March 2021. Retrieved 4 June 2020.
- ^ a b c d e Lewis, Paul (14 July 2008). "Commuter Nzube Udezue files complaint over armed arrest ordeal". The Guardian. Guardian Media Group. Archived from the original on 22 March 2021. Retrieved 4 June 2020.
- ^ a b c d Vozick-Levinson, Simon (15 July 2008). "Zuby's case: A mistake or racial profiling?". Entertainment Weekly. Meredith Corporation. Archived from the original on 22 March 2021. Retrieved 4 June 2020.
- ^ Noori Farzan, Antonia (8 July 2019). "A Detroit music festival charged white people double. Then the backlash started". The Washington Post. Nash Holdings. Archived from the original on 5 November 2019. Retrieved 2 June 2020.
- ^ "Rapper pulls out of festival charging 'non-people of colour' double". CTV News. Bell Media. 27 August 2019. Archived from the original on 22 March 2021. Retrieved 6 April 2020.
- ^ Myers, Fraser (24 May 2019). "I became a woman to break the women's deadlift record". Spiked. Archived from the original on 22 March 2021. Retrieved 6 April 2020.
- ^ a b Neale, Spencer (27 February 2020). "'Ok dude': Twitter suspends rapper Zuby for 'hateful' tweet at transgender antifa activist". Washington Examiner. Clarity Media Group. Archived from the original on 22 March 2021. Retrieved 6 April 2020.
- ^ Udezue, Nzube (16 July 2020). "Zuby Shares The Story Behind 'OK Dude'". Archived from the original on 22 May 2021. Retrieved 22 May 2021 – via YouTube.
They did a manual review and emailed me back the next day saying we've done a manual review and we can confirm that this indeed violate our hateful conduct policy so if I wanted by account back I had to delete the tweet. So I had to delete the 'Ok dude' tweet.
- ^ O'Connor, Roisin (28 September 2020). "JK Rowling: Ian McEwan and Graham Linehan among literary figures to support author amid transphobia row". The Independent. Archived from the original on 22 March 2021. Retrieved 21 March 2021.
- ^ Augoye, Jayne (27 December 2020). "Nigerian rapper, Biglo, is dead". Premium Times. Archived from the original on 27 January 2021. Retrieved 14 May 2021.