Rayzzo
I met Rayzzo through Ayelet Baron, when I was a guest on the #CreatingIs YouTube series. After the interview, Ayelet told me that she wanted me to meet Rayzzo, and I’m so glad that I did! The video recording of our Hangout barely captures the sunshine in Rayzzo’s smile and his positive energy.
A young, up-and-coming hip hop artist from Nairobi, Kenya (a first for Amused Now), Rayzzo is bringing back 90s-style hip hop and rap. He recently released a new mix tape 96 Till Infinity, his third project to date. “It’s me trying to express myself. These are the things that I have been through; this is my life. It’s me trying to share my experiences in a way that shows how I’ve grown as a musician.”
Rayzzo credits multiple genres of music for influencing his sound: jazz, R&B, soul, reggae and hip hop. His influences include: Fela Kuti, Curtis Mayfield, Jill Scott, Erykah Badu, Bob Marley, Lucky Dube and Tupac Shakur. When it comes to hip hop, Rayzzo says Common is his main influence.
According to Rayzzo, “My music background starts with my mom, who used to be in the choir. She used to sing in churches. I grew up in a musical house. I never went to school to be taught hip hop music. I think it’s something inborn.”
Because Rayzzo lives in Kenya, social media plays a big part in his marketing strategy. “Social media, like Facebook, is good, because it helps me connect with other musicians in the world. It also helps me increase my fan base all over the world. Whenever I post something and someone comments on it, I keep the conversation going. If you interact with your fans in a nice way, that’s how friendship starts, and you can create a very big audience for yourself.”
Rayzzo met Ayelet Baron through his role model and mentor Hital Muraj from the youth group COVIT, “which tries to make this world a better place. It’s a place where youth can come to showcase their talent. We give them life skills and IT knowledge.”
When I asked Rayzzo his advice for other artists, he told me with a giant smile: “When it comes to music, there are so many obstacles. People might not like what you do or might not help you in any way. No matter how much hate you get, as long as it’s your life and something that you like doing, just go home, push it and do what you like. You never know. There are some people out there who will like your music. If you love doing what you do, just keep on doing it.”
What a wonderful philosophy! Rayzzo added, “It keeps me going. No matter what people say, it’s my life I’m trying to express. I’m trying to tell people how I feel.”
Rayzzo’s smile lights up the room. His Amused Now featured artist interview is a feel-good ride that is not to be missed:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RbRD3eakJ7c&feature=youtu.be
Learn more about the youth group COVIT at http://covit.org/
Amused Now Featured Artist Series
Rayzzo
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Cynthia Kahn, Founder of Amused Now
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