UNIFIED Music Group Signs Fat Papi and Prodshushy in New Zealand Expansion

UNIFIED Music Group has signed breakout Aotearoa artist Fat Papi and Perth producer prodshushy to its artist management roster, marking the first signings since the company established its New Zealand operation earlier this year.

The pair will be managed by UNIFIED Artist Management Senior Artist Manager Matt Harvey, whose appointment formally launched the company's New Zealand presence.

Auckland-based Kurdish rapper and songwriter Fat Papi, real name Baban Hussain, has been releasing music independently since 2023. His recent breakthrough has been driven by “FREAKED OUT”, produced by prodshushy, which has amassed over seven billion views on TikTok and more than nine billion views on YouTube Shorts.

The track has also helped Fat Papi reach almost 10 million monthly Spotify listeners and peaked at No. 55 on the Billboard Global 200 and No. 88 on the Billboard Hot 100, while also topping the Official Aotearoa Music Charts.

Fat Papi developed his sound after initially free styling over Skype and teaching himself production and rap. Drawing on his Kurdish heritage and upbringing in Aotearoa, he has worked alongside prodshushy and prodvalen around the Synthclub sound.

Harvey said the signing represented the type of artist development UNIFIED intends to pursue through its New Zealand operation.

“Fat Papi is a generational talent whose music has resonated internationally in a remarkably short space of time,” he said. “'FREAKED OUT' proved that world-class music originating from New Zealand can break global boundaries without compromise.

“Bringing him and shushy into the UNIFIED Artist Management family as our first trans-Tasman management signing since joining forces, sets the standard for what we intend to build here: sustainable, long-term global careers for top-tier local talent.”

Fat Papi said joining UNIFIED would give the pair additional support while retaining their independence. 

“Joining UNIFIED is an exciting next step for shushy and I,” he said. "Being able to work with Matt and access the backing of the wider team gives me the right mix of independence and support.

“I'm proud to represent both my Kurdish heritage and New Zealand on the world stage, and we're just getting started.”

The management deal follows Warner Chappell Music's recently announced worldwide publishing agreement with Fat Papi and prodshushy.

The pair are also set for upcoming appearances at Australia's Spilt Milk festival tour, and New Zealand's Rhythm and Alps in December.