The short version
- Baban Hussain, known as Fat Papi, became the first Kurdish artist to appear on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart.
- The track 'Freaked Out,' produced by Australian Owen Omen, surged in popularity after a UK influencer used it for a haircut video.
- The duo is now navigating rapid industry growth, including new management deals and upcoming festival performances.
Baban Hussain, a twenty-two-year-old rapper from Auckland known professionally as Fat Papi, has achieved a significant milestone in the global music industry. His track 'Freaked Out,' created in collaboration with Australian producer Owen Omen, recently debuted at number eighty-eight on the US Billboard Hot 100. This placement marks the first time an artist of Kurdish heritage has appeared on the prestigious chart. It also establishes Hussain as only the second rapper from New Zealand to reach this level of commercial visibility in the United States.
The path to this achievement was neither immediate nor predictable. The song, released in May, initially struggled to gain traction. Hussain described the early performance metrics as poor, noting that the track received little attention despite various promotional efforts. The turning point arrived when Omen, who operates under the name Prodshushy, posted a short video featuring a dance routine set to the line 'Get that bag, you ain’t ever comin’ last.' This clip quickly accumulated 1.5 million views and caught the eye of Jocelyn Meiere, a UK-based influencer with over three million followers.
Meiere, known online as Miss Diva Bob, posted a video showcasing her bob haircut while using the song as background audio. The post resonated widely, sparking a wave of copycat content across social media platforms. Users began posting videos of themselves shaking their hair to the rhythm of the track. The trend expanded beyond hairstyle demonstrations; notable figures including British singer Raye and US rapper Megan Thee Stallion participated in the viral movement, with the latter using the audio while preparing food. This organic spread transformed a stagnant release into a global phenomenon.
The digital surge translated into tangible industry metrics. 'Freaked Out' reached number one on Shazam globally and entered charts in the UK, Australia, and the US. Across YouTube, the song has amassed more than 7.5 billion views. On Spotify, Hussain gained nearly ten million new monthly listeners within a short period. The rapid ascent has been described by both artists as intense and surreal, fundamentally altering their professional trajectories and personal lives.
The collaboration between Hussain and Omen began only four months prior to the song's viral success. They connected online after Hussain recorded vocals over one of Omen's beats and sent the file for feedback. At the time, Omen had approximately 20,000 followers while Hussain had just 800. Despite the disparity in audience size, Omen responded positively to the submission. The pair met in person for the first time in July, reporting a strong creative synergy and an ability to work efficiently together.
Both artists bring distinct cultural backgrounds to their work. Hussain is of Kurdish descent; his parents fled Iraq as refugees in 1999 and settled in Auckland. He grew up within a small Kurdish community and was often the only student of that heritage at his school. Omen is of Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands descent. For Omen, the chart success represents a breakthrough for producers from his region, noting that no one from his background had previously reached this level of recognition in music production.
Hussain views the achievement as a form of representation for his community. He expressed difficulty finding words to convey the significance of representing his hometown and heritage on such a large stage. His musical influences are diverse, ranging from 2015 club music and West Coast hip-hop to artists like Kid Ink and Mustard. He attributes his eclectic taste to growing up listening exclusively to Kurdish music, which he believes sharpened his ear for different styles.
Looking ahead, the duo is focused on sustaining their momentum. They have secured management and record deals and plan to release a new single in September. Their schedule includes performances at Australia's Spilt Milk festival in December. While they aspire to larger venues like Coachella and further collaborations, Hussain acknowledges that maintaining long-term success will require significant effort. He remains confident in their ability to navigate the industry, even if permanent stardom proves elusive.
The case of Fat Papi and Prodshushy highlights the unpredictable nature of modern music discovery. A song can remain obscure for months before a single social media interaction triggers exponential growth. It also underscores the expanding diversity of voices reaching mainstream audiences, as artists from refugee backgrounds and smaller nations find pathways to global charts through digital platforms rather than traditional industry gatekeepers.
Sources behind this briefing
Go to the original reporting
- The Guardian US↗Meet Fat Papi, the little-known NZ rapper catapulted to Billboard 100 fame
