From Bazokizo Fame to Zero: Bruz Newton on Rebuilding After Losing Music Rights

Bruz Newton, the man behind the viral hit "Bazokizo," has finally opened up about his long absence from the music scene.

Speaking on the Obinna Show Live podcast, the choreographer and musician detailed a perfect storm of legal blunders, relationship failures, and the crushing impact of the pandemic.

His story is a cautionary tale for young artists. It highlights how quickly a career can stall when fame is not backed by legal protection.

The Ten-Page Trap

Newton’s downfall began with a pen and a 10-page contract. He became the first Kenyan artist signed to Black Market Records, an international label based in California. At the time, he was excited by promises of global collaborations with stars like Wizkid.

However, the reality was far different. Newton admitted he lacked the experience to navigate the industry’s legal side. He signed the lengthy document without fully grasping the fine print.

"I read to finish, not to understand,” he said.

The consequences were severe. Newton revealed he has never received a single shilling in royalties from his old songs under the label. Because the contract had no exit clause, he was trapped.

To find a way out, he eventually had to walk away from his own intellectual property and start his career again from zero.

"The only exit was actually just leaving those songs and starting again. I actually received back some of my songs last year, the ones that I did before joining the label like Zigwembe, Witinesi and others,” he revealed.

A Lockdown Relationship Crisis

The legal battle coincided with the COVID-19 pandemic. For an artist who relied on live events and dance classes, the lockdown was financially devastating. With no royalties coming in and no stages to perform on, his income vanished.

During this period, Newton moved in with a partner. He describes the relationship as a "triple heartbreak" that left him "functionally traumatized."

He admitted that he tried to change his identity to make the relationship work, which only added to his mental strain.

“My relationship breakup is like a 3-episode movie. The relationship was trying to make me to be something that I was not while entering the relationship,” he said.

Newton explained that the pressure to provide, combined with his own past family traumas, made the situation unbearable.

By the time the pandemic ended, the relationship had collapsed, and Newton had disappeared from the public eye to heal.

Rebuilding from Scratch

Now sporting a signature thick beard, Newton is focused on a comeback. He is currently mentoring young talent, including eight-year-old singer Terry B, and managing his own affairs.

He regained the rights to some of his music, like "Zigwembe," only last year. He is now preparing for his first major live performance in years to show fans the new him.

Newton says he is no longer the "young boy" people remember from 2016. He describes his current phase as a "process of changing every reality" he once knew.