Shaboozey

The genre-blending multi-hyphenate known as Shaboozey is an eclectic musician, filmmaker, author, and producer whose sound draws varied inspiration from country music, classic rock, '80s pop culture, Afrobeat, jazz, and hip-hop. Though his first output arrived in 2014 in the form of the "Jeff Gordon" single, he wouldn't release his official debut full-length until 2018. That album, Lady Wrangler, was followed by the country- and trap-infused Cowboys Live Forever, Outlaws Never Die in 2022. Along with contributing to Beyoncé's Cowboy Carter album, he topped the Hot Country Songs chart with the Grammy-nominated "A Bar Song (Tipsy)" off his breakout third album, 2024's Where I've Been, Isn't Where I'm Going.

Born Collins Chibueze to Nigerian parents in northern Virginia, he was sent to Nigeria in junior high for boarding school. While there, he developed a sense of rhythm and delved into his cultural heritage. Back in the U.S., he began making music inspired by the likes of Led Zeppelin, Fela Kuti, the Clipse, Roger Waters, and even Backstreet Boys. One of those tracks, "Jeff Gordon," blended ominous trap with haunting piano, highlighting his desire to create a distinctive hybrid sound.

Later, songs such as "Starfoxx" and "Robert Plant" caught the attention of Republic Records, and Chibueze signed with the label in 2017. The next year, he issued the singles "Break the Band (How Could She?)" and "Winning Streak," which combined a bluesy guitar solo, hazy production, and his soulful blend of R&B singing and poetic rapping. The latter song appeared on his official debut LP, Lady Wrangler, which was released that October. Shaboozey's sophomore album, Cowboys Live Forever, Outlaws Never Die, arrived in October 2022 and found him further blurring the genre lines between hip-hip and country. The record featured the single "Tall Boy" and included guest appearances by Powers Pleasant and RMR.

In January 2024, Shaboozey released his moody song "Anabelle" as the first single off his third full-length, Where I've Been, Isn't Where I'm Going. Around the same time, he also collaborated on two tracks on singer Beyoncé's Cowboy Carter album. A second single off his album, "A Bar Song (Tipsy)," arrived in April and quickly followed Beyoncé's "Texas Hold 'Em" to the top of Billboard's Hot Country Charts, marking the first time two Black artists consecutively reached number one on the chart. The album itself was a breakout success for Shaboozey, reaching number five on the pop charts and just missing out on the top position of the country chart. In late 2024, around the time he released his next single, "Good News," the singer was nominated for five Grammy Awards. ~ Neil Z. Yeung