Kuzi Cee talks Global Roots, Viral Success and the Return of Loverboy R&B! Interview w/ Kai Jasper

Posted on 10th February 2026 ListenBack, Guests News

Kuzi Cee talks Global Roots, Viral Success and the Return of Loverboy R&B! Interview w/ Kai Jasper

R&B’s next breakout voice may be coming from an unexpected place, but his sound is instantly familiar. During a recent appearance on Unity Radio, rising artist Kuzi Cee opened up about his global upbringing, the viral success of his breakout single Rather Be, and why he believes emotionally honest “Loverboy R&B” is making a long-overdue comeback.

Born in Zimbabwe and shaped by formative years in London, New York, Toronto, and Pennsylvania, Kuzi Cee now calls Calgary home. That nomadic upbringing, he explained, is central to his identity as an artist. “Moving around so much when I was young, all you really have is your family and the music,” Kuzi Cee said. “You take pieces of each culture and they slowly become who you are.”

That cultural blending is evident in his sound, an R&B foundation layered with New York boom-bap basslines, Zimbabwean Afrobeat rhythms, Toronto dancehall energy, and modern pop sensibilities. The result is what he describes as nostalgic R&B with a modern polish.

His breakout single Rather Be has struck a chord globally, surpassing one million streams and generating more than 6.5 million views across social platforms. Notably, the song gained traction on TikTok before its official release.

Recalling the moment the song began to go viral, Kuzi Cee described it as both chaotic and humbling. “I was calling my manager in the middle of the night saying, ‘I don’t know what’s happening, but the streets are loving it.’ It was really honouring to see people connect with an R&B song like that.”

For Kuzi Cee, TikTok has become less about trends and more about community. In an era where millions of songs are uploaded daily, he sees the platform as a vital tool for connecting artists with listeners who genuinely resonate with their sound.

Musically, Rather Be draws inspiration from early-2000s R&B, particularly the Timbaland-era drum patterns and Destiny’s Child’s Soldier. Kuzi Cee framed the track as a respectful nod to the era that shaped him, rather than a recreation.

A recurring theme throughout the interview was Kuzi Cee’s belief that “Loverboy R&B is back.” He defines the concept as a return to vulnerability, romance, and emotional openness, qualities he feels have been diluted in modern music.

Fans frequently compare his smooth vocal delivery to artists such as Chris Brown, Usher, and even newer global stars like The Weeknd and Burna Boy. Kuzi Cee welcomes the comparisons but remains grounded.

“Those are generational talents,” he said. “If people hear that in my music, I’m grateful. I’ll keep lacing my boots up and doing the work.”

That work has already placed him on stages alongside Nelly, Ashanti, G-Eazy, Mario, and Michael Bublé. Watching those artists perform taught him that emotion outweighs perfection, especially in live settings.

“At the end of the show, I want to be exhausted,” he said. “Sweaty, messy, knowing we left everything out there. People remember how you made them feel.”

Looking ahead to 2026, Kuzi Cee says fans can expect a steady stream of new R&B releases, shaped in part by audience response and social media engagement. Most importantly, he says he has rediscovered joy in the genre that first inspired him.

Check out the full interview here: