Two months ago, Baban Hussain, a 22-year-old Kurdish New Zealander, was working from a self-run studio in Auckland, putting out music to a few thousand followers as little-known rapper Fat Papi.
Then, as modern fairytales go, he made a viral hit that has amassed over 7.5bn views across YouTube, gained him nearly 10m new monthly listeners on Spotify, and catapulted him on to global charts – including the US Billboard Hot 100.
The last feat made history: Hussain is the first Kurdish artist to land on the Billboard Hot 100, and only the second New Zealand rapper to do so.
“It’s a whirlwind,” Hussain tells the Guardian on a video call from a hotel in New York City where he has been promoting his music and meeting with industry. “My life is completely different. It’s a very intense time and honestly amazing and everything we have ever wanted.” » | Eva Corlett in Wellington | Saturday, August 22, 2026
