The music industry thrives on evolution, and few artists embody that as boldly as Collins Obinna Chibueze; more popularly known as Shaboozey.
The Nigerian-American is a genre-bender who is breaking boundaries with his unique take on country music—a space where Africans have long been told they don’t belong.
But Shaboozey isn’t just fitting in; he’s owning the narrative, blending country with elements of hip-hop and his African roots to create a sound that’s authentically his and we are predicting that he would walk away with a Grammy Award on Sunday night.
Shaboozey broke into the limelight in 2023 and he has already cemented his superstardom within the music industry. Already, he has earned many accolades and firsts, including five Grammy nominations at the upcoming award show.
He is nominated for Best New Artist along with, Best Country Song and Best Country Solo Performance for his smash hit “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” at the 2025 Grammys, which will take place Feb. 2 in Los Angeles. He is also nominated for best melodic rap performance for his feature on Beyoncé’s song “Spaghettii” along with country music pioneer Linda Martell.
His hit single; A Bar Song (Tipsy) is nominated for Song of the Year alongside the ‘likes of ‘Birds of a Feather’ by Billie Eilish, ‘Texas Hold ’em’ by Beyonce, Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars, ‘Not like us’ by Kendrick Lamar and other former winners is particularly impressive. A Bar Song has generated a lot of buzz, claiming a record-equaling 19th week at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in November 2024.
It is important to note that the only other song with such a record is Lil Nas X’s Old Town Road in 2019. Coincidentally, Old Town Road lost the category to Bad Guy by Billie Eilish and Finneas, who are also nominated this year in the same category for Birds of a Feather. Shaboozy will hope to do one better than Lil Nas X in this regard and clinch the award.
What you should know about Collins Obinna Chibueze; Shaboozy
Shaboozey’s stage name is a cheeky remix of his last name, Chibueze, an Igbo word meaning “God is king.” If you think that’s deep, wait till you hear how he’s honouring his heritage. Born to Nigerian parents, he spent part of his youth navigating the unique chaos of a boarding school in Nigeria.
It wasn’t exactly a walk in the park, but those years gave him a firsthand connection to his roots and an artistic lens shaped by the vibrancy of Nigerian culture. Oh, and let’s not forget his little tribute to the homeland—he credits Nigeria’s herdsmen and farmers for sparking his love of country music. Who would’ve thought that could also inspire cowboy ballads?
From the suburbs of Virginia to the bright lights of Los Angeles, Shaboozey’s journey is a masterclass in blending worlds. His music isn’t just about breaking into the country scene; it’s about honouring the rich musical history of Black artists while proving there’s no limit to what Nigerians can do.
Whether he wins a Grammy Award on Sunday or not (he will), he has already done very well.
And if you think he’s stopping here, you haven’t been paying attention. This is just the beginning.
