This is the biography of rapper Draze, a Zimbabwean-American hip-hop artist, songwriter, producer, and social justice activist. He has a rich cultural heritage and a background steeped in music.
Early Life
Draze was born Abraham Dumisani Maraire Jr in Seattle, Washington, United States. He is the son of Zimbabwean traditional music icon Dumisani Maraire and Lora Sukutai Chiorah-Dye. Draze is the late music icon Chiwoniso Maraire’s half sister. His early life was filled with music, as he started his career performing in his mother’s Marimba band, Sukutai and occasionally with his father’s Marimba band, Dumi & Minanzi Marimba Ensemble.
Draze Music Career
Draze Biography [Image: @thedrazeexperience/Instagram]
As a child performer, Draze travelled the United States, opening for icons like Miles Davis, Janet Jackson, and Jimmy Buffett. This exposure to diverse musical experiences at a young age likely played a significant role in shaping his artistic development and his unique sound that blends traditional African sounds with hip-hop music.
Draze rose to prominence in 2016 with his video release “The Hood Ain’t the Same,” which targeted the issue of gentrification in the Central District of Seattle, WA (USA). The song became the lead single off the 50 Next compilation to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Space Needle.
Draze has released several albums and singles, including “Seattle Sweeties” (2015), “Hood Ain’t The Same” (2016), “Nice To Meet You” (2016), “Seattle’s Own” (2016), “Born To Win” (2021), “Ain’t Nobody Talking About No Real Shit,” “Building Black Wealth” (feat. Owuor), “The Main Thing” (2021), and “Irony On 23rd” (2021). His music has featured on several TV shows, advertisements, and films, including “The Main Thing” (Angela Rye’s show on Tidal), “Children of the Light” (theme song for the podcast “On One” with Angela Rye), Speedo, The Masked Singer, All American, The Last O.G., Ballers, Empire, Love and Hip Hop, ESPN SportsCenter, Sony PlayStation, NFL Network, Absentia, NBA TV, The Rap Game, NFL Total Access, and Black Ink Crew.
Draze won an Emmy Award in 2022 and has received a nomination for Best Hip-Hop Urban Track from the MCPF Production Music Awards and 2016 Zim Hip Hop Awards in the Best Diaspora category.
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Draze Social Causes
The rapper is also a social justice activist and has launched initiatives such as the “Building Black Wealth” economic anthem and the “Through the Eyes of Art” partnership with the Museum of Pop Culture to promote Black History Month celebrations in Seattle.
Draze Personal Life
Draze Biography [Image: @thedrazeexperience/Instagram]
The rapper is married and has a daughter born in 2001. Draze is based in the United States, but occasionally visits his home country, Zimbabwe.
References
- Draze fuses marimba with hip hop on new single – The Herald
- Draze nominated for ZIM Hip Hop Awards – Pindula
- What the south end sounds like: Draze drops “Seattle’s Own” – The Seattle Globalist – The Seattle Globalist
