Zuby

Nzube Olisaebuka Udezue was born to parents of Nigerian descent in Luton, Bedfordshire, England, on 19 August 1986.[6][7][8][9] His father is a doctor and a fellow of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, and his mother a journalist.[10] He has two brothers and two sisters.[11][12] When Udezue was a year old, his parents moved to Saudi Arabia, where they worked for two decades, and he attended an international school.[13] From the age of 11, Udezue attended a boarding school in the UK and frequently travelled between the two countries.[13][14] Between 2004 and 2007, he studied at St Edmund Hall, Oxford, and graduated with a first-class honours degree in computer science.[2][13][15][16][17] As a child, Udezue played trombone, which he played in a band, and piano. Later, during his teenage years, he became interested in hip-hop music.[13]

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.[13][18] He self-released his second album, entitled The Unknown Celebrity, in December 2007.[19] After graduating, he moved to London, and in August 2008 he worked there as a management consultant for Accenture while continuing to make music.[10][13] In October 2011, Udezue self-released his third album, Commercial Underground 2,[20][21] and then pursued music full time.[13] In February 2013, an extended play (EP) entitled Zubstep was self-released.[22] By August 2016, Udezue claimed that he had sold over 20,000 albums. That year, he released the EP Seven.[23][2] In 2019, Udezue started a podcast, Real Talk with Zuby.[13][24] In 2022, he published a children's book that shows the benefits of self-control and good nutrition.[6] Earlier in 2022, he spoke at a Mises Caucus event at the Libertarian Party convention in Reno, Nevada, where he "talk[ed] about freedom, liberty, and all of that good stuff."[6] Udezue has appeared on The Joe Rogan Experience podcast.[6]

On 5 July 2008,[26] 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.[26][27] Shortly thereafter, British Transport Police (BTP), after being notified by Hampshire Police,[25] 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".[28] About ten officers then blocked off the exits as the train approached Bournemouth railway station.[15][26][27] The train arrived at 6:09 pm. Udezue was arrested at gunpoint, forced to lie prone, and handcuffed by Dorset Police.[1][25] He was briefly detained at Bournemouth police station before being released.[25] Dorset Police later issued an apology for the arrest.[25] He was arrested because he was a black man wearing a black t-shirt,[15][26][27][29] which matched the description of the actual suspect. Udezue quipped: "And to think I was going to wear a blue T-shirt this morning".[25][2] Udezue, who had no criminal record,[15][27][29] later described the incident as a "really bad dream" and said he had "never been so traumatised" in his life.[25]

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.[25][28] In a statement, the IPCC said the actions of Dorset Police were "appropriate and proportionate to the circumstances".[27] 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.[28]

A few days after the incident, Udezue's social media accounts received many supportive messages from the public.[15][26][27] 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",[15] and that it is important "police don't fear stepping in for fear of reprisals if they get the wrong person".[15] The arrest was compared to the shooting of Jean Charles de Menezes.[2][15][26][27][28] Entertainment Weekly's Simon Vozick-Levinson described the incident as "something of a cause célèbre".[29] The Guardian's Paul Lewis and Vozick-Levinson said the incident may be an example of racial profiling.[1][29] 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.[28]

According to Reason, Udezue is "known for an engaging mix of personal uplift and political provocation".[6]

In 2008, Udezue lived in Bournemouth, Dorset, with his parents,[10] and since 2019, he has lived in Southampton.[4] He frequently spends time in the United States.[6] Udezue is a Christian.[26][27] He was also the cousin of the deceased Nigerian rapper Lotanna Udezue, better known as Biglo.[39]

The Tuttle Twins | Season 1, Episode 6 - "The Inflation Monster" | Associate Producer[40]

• Media related to Zuby at Wikimedia Commons