Auckland-based rapper Chubby Fly is cut from the same lavish cloth as Hip-Hop superstars like Heavy D, Rick Ross and DJ Khaled. A heavyweight in presence and ambition, Chubby is one of New Zealand’s most exciting artists. He’s also a self-made Entrepreneur, with a thriving business portfolio. Chubby is a well-known fixture of Aotearoa’s Rap scene, first as part of Hip-Hop group EMG and from 2018, as a solo act. He’s opened for international acts like Nelly, Tha Dogg Pound and Bow Wow and headlined his own independent tour, honing his live presence and growing his loyal fan base. Chubby’s debut EP, All Praise to The Most Fly, dropped late last year, with a deluxe version featuring remixes and new tracks releasing June 2020. Born and raised in Cape Town, South Africa until the age of 12, Chubby’s stage name is a nod to triumphing over tragedy. “Making myself fly wasn’t always about being cool, it was a defense mechanism,” Chubby says. “As a teenager, I was overweight. I would hide my insecurities behind expensive fashion, like limited edition Air Force 1s that matched one-off BAPE hoodies. Being fly gave me the confidence I needed, and has stuck with me ever since.”