PERFORMER & RECORDING ARTIST
PERFORMER
As a recording artist, producer, and DJ; The ZYG 808 crafts music at the intersection of underground hip-hop, jazz musicianship, and experimental sensibility. Building each project from the ground up, he treats recording as a fully immersive process—shaping sound, structure, and emotion with intention from first idea to final mix. The result is music that feels raw yet refined, grounded yet exploratory.
From Grammy-nominated early work to NPR-recognized releases, ZYG has earned a reputation for groove-driven production, thoughtful lyricism, and a clear artistic voice. His catalog rewards close listening while signaling to collaborators a disciplined, versatile creative partner who understands both vision and execution.
His upcoming album, Mr. Z, slated for a summer release, marks the next chapter in his artistic evolution. Beyond his solo work, ZYG is a founding member of the WAMPTRONICA collective, where he contributes drums, percussion, and mixing and mastering, and remains active as a DJ for live sets and radio.
Whether behind the boards or on the mic, ZYG operates at the intersection of artistry and craft—making him an artist worth hearing and a collaborator worth building with.
Discography
Mixtape
At The Party (2018)
Studio Albums
BOOM BAP JAZZ (2019)
BEAT LOUNGE NOTES (2021)
BUILD/DESTROY (2024)
MR Z (2026)
EPs
Yet Another 1 (2021)
Shaman (2024)
Selected Singles
”FREAKSHOW” (2024)
”PROJECTILE” (2024)
”SHAMAN” (Trinity) (2025)
“PIONEERS” (2021)
“THUMPIN” (2021)
“Gymnastics” (2021)
“Real Emcees” (2021)
“Another 1” (2021)
“Projectile” (2024)
The ZYG 808 is a dynamic, genre-crossing live performer rooted first and foremost in underground boom bap hip-hop, while moving fluidly through alternative rock and punk spaces with equal authority. Describing his sound as Rock-Hop, ZYG’s performances bridge scenes that don’t often share the same stage, yet respond to the same raw energy, rhythm, and honesty.
A fixture at local and regional festivals across these genres, ZYG has earned a reputation for live shows that are immersive, physical, and unmistakably his own. He is a singer, rapper, drummer, vibraphonist, and keyboardist who builds his performances from scratch, constructing beats live rather than relying on pre-made samples. His sets blend live percussion, melodic instrumentation, and vocals into performances that feel closer to a band in motion than a traditional solo hip-hop act.
ZYG began playing drums at age four and made his first appearance on a record at eight, contributing to an Afro House remix. By age eleven, he was featured as a drummer at the Boston Jazz Festival, and at thirteen he performed as a full member of The GroovaLottos in front of over 48,000 people at the 2017 Gathering of Nations Powwow.
At fifteen, he began busking as a rapping drummer in Boston and Provincetown, developing a performance style grounded in direct audience engagement, groove, and improvisation. That foundation continues to shape a live act that resonates as strongly in intimate underground rooms as it does on festival stages.