Shaboozey’s “A Bar Song” has skyrocketed to the top of the Billboard Hot 100, marking a milestone for the artist known for his blend of country and hip-hop.
Born Collins Obinna Chibueze, Shaboozey has taken the music world by storm this year. Recently named to Time’s 100 Next List and nominated for two CMA Awards, the rising star is seeing his hard work paying off.
“I definitely dreamed of all these things, but it seemed very impossible, you know?” he said.
Shaboozey grew up in Woodbridge, Virginia, the son of Nigerian immigrants. He said his classmates often mispronounced his name. One nickname, “Shaboozey,” stuck and he embraced it as his stage name.
But his journey has not been easy. He once shoveled snow during a storm just to buy a plane ticket to Los Angeles to pursue his dreams.
“How I got here is nothing short of a miracle, you know?” he said.
Shaboozey’s journey to fame
Shaboozey’s big break came when Beyoncé featured him twice on her album ‘Cowboy Carter’. His genre-bending style caught her attention and he collaborated with singer Linda Martell.
Shaboozey told CBS Mornings co-host Gayle King that he doesn’t believe in traditional genres and views music as a “free expression.”
After “Cowboy Carter,” Shaboozey struck gold with “A Bar Song,” which features lyrics from J-Kwon’s 2004 hit “Tipsy.” He shared a memorable moment when J-Kwon DMed him with fire emojis and said, “You have one.”
Shaboozey laughed and recalled, “I was like, damn, J-Kwon hit me. I think once I got that, I was like, there’s definitely something special in this song.”
On his first headlining tour, Shaboozey performed at a sold-out show in New York City.
“This is definitely my dream. I used to not do shows because I thought no one would show up,” he said.
Despite his success, Shaboozey acknowledges the challenges that come with being a black artist creating what is categorized as country music, but said it is something he embraces.
“My whole life has been about challenges, like not being accepted even in places where I should be accepted,” he said. “I feel like I’ve adapted to that. I want to be someone that people remember for doing something.”
Gayle King
