User:Willie PuZo/sandbox

Willie PUZO, aka PUZO, aka Akeem Williamz De Puzo. Real names; Akemfua William Njukeng is a Cameroonian artist / DJ / MC, born in Limbe, in the South West Region of Cameroon. PuZo comes from the Bangwa tribe of Lebialem which is found in the hinterlands of the South West Region of Cameroon.

Born as Akemfua William Njukeng in Bota, Limbe, PuZo's poetic and performing impulses were visible from an early age. However, he began cutting his musical teeth eighteen years ago when, like many young Cameroonians, he went abroad in search of the famous golden fleece. He began experimenting on various musical genres. Eventually, he would become an accomplished DJ/ Performer/ Mc/ Rapper & Stage director with Ultra Music.

In 2008 he worked with NZBZ, a famous urban Chinese trio from the Shenyang music university. A documentary on Hip hop was produced and he also recorded songs with FK Moses and Brassface which went on to win the title of Best underground hip hop act in Shenzhen, China.

In 2012, he formed his crew the ‘Top Spy’ and was co-founder of the entertainment label TOP FASHION, based in Shenzhen. He then proceeded to do a 30 city tour on a high energy act, alongside 6 dancers and a female DJ.

He succeeded to make his name round the country and was contacted by Li Yu Gang, China’s Opera icon for a music collaboration. The song GUO SE TIAN XIAN was a combination of Chinese Opera and contemporary rap music which was highly welcomed in the Chinese community, within and outside of China.

In 2014, he was signed to ‘World Wide Platinum Records’ in Malaysia, where he work on Live music with the bands; True Colors & Ovaload. With his contract, he toured Thailand, Hongkong, Singapore, Indonesia, Philippines, Cambodia and China.

After a long wait, no conclusion was made as to when he would start working on his album, PuZo then split from the label and moved back to China to work as a hype man / DJ and Stage director in nightclubs. He linked up with Chicago born Dj/Producer/Rapper, Xennightz. Both recorded a couple of tracks under the logo of 3rd corner studios but non of the tracks were ever released.

He also wrote songs for the Chinese Idol finalist; Su Ding Qi (Amy Sue) and his work was critically acclaimed. PuZo moved from Beijing to Shanghai in 2015 to form a new crew ‘THE BLACK SKINHEADS’. The Shanghai “Yi Jiu” entertainment company took notice of his work and signed his crew to the label. It is there he had the chance to meet with prominent names like Raz B of the B2K, Treach of Naughty by Nature, the Ying Yang twins, T. Pain, Soulja boy, Lil Bow WOW, Sisqo and many other American artists who were also on tour in China under thesame company.

PuZo has touched and exchanged mics and also shared the stage with Big Djs like; Hardwell, Armin Van Buuren, BlasterJaxx, Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike, LMFAO, Marshmallo, DJ Snake, Lil Jon, Fatman scoop and many other big names. PuZo has been a hype man for major music festivals and events such as the Panda Music fest, Ultra Music Fest and has performed in top 100 clubs all around Asia.

In 2018, he was signed to Asia’s biggest club 1/3 (ONE THIRD) based in Beijing.

Home is home, so goes the cliché. However, to PuZo, it was more than just a cliché. With the outbreak of COVID-19, He returned to Cameroon after a decade and half on foreign stages. On his return home, he has tried his hands on various genres like Makosa, Afrobeat, Hip hop/Rap, Zouk and folklore. This effort saw him release the highly successful single, Mansa Musa – a tribute to the under-appreciated King of the ancient Malian Empire.

Even as PuZo found success with his forays into Makosa and Afrobeat, he was not still satisfied. His heart kept beating for something new and refreshing. His heart pulses kept marching him back to his Bangwa folklore. So PuZo created “ALUNG”, a hybrid musical genre that combines traditional Bangwa rhythm and the Alung hype- form with a touch of modern instrumentation – mostly brass and strings.

PuZo has collaborated with artists and DJs both at home and abroad. His most recent project is a collaboration with a slew of A-listers on the Cameroon music on the song titled “ROYALTY”. Produced by Akocha Music, Royalty featured Longue Longue, Tzy Panchak, Kameni, Strong Bangwa Boy, HardFire, Nyango and MicPower. “ROYALTY” is the first song to feature the Alung style and this song has been nominated for the All African Music Awards, Afrima, in the category of Best Artist, Duo or Group in African traditional.

PuZo is currently working on his solo album that debuts with the hit single “ASAMBA”

One of the main characteristics of Bangwa music is the penchant for the singers to hype up their dancers, listeners, onlookers, and important community leaders. Thus, it is hard to stay indifferent when Bangwa dance music is playing. Rhythmically, Alung is characterized by fast-paced percussions and occasional wind instruments. Until now, Lebialem dance music has been confined to “crydies” and other traditional festival arenas. But PuZo is set to change the game. He is set to bring the infectious rhythms, melodies, and high energy of Lebialem dance forms to the dancehalls of Cameroon and beyond.
 * PuZo’s Alung Music Genre: _a New Dancehall Rhythm from the Lebialem Highlands_*