NarlyBoyy is a man of many titles. His parents named him Zlanweah Buduo Zarwie, but his close friends and family members call him Zebby. The 24 year old Gospel artist isn’t your typical rapper. Before taking music seriously in 2020 and dropping out of school to do it full time in 2022, he played 3 years of College Football at West Chester University. At WCU he majored in communications to better his videography and graphic design skills.Â
Where is NarlyBoyy from?
NarlyBoyy is from Southwest Philadelphia, Pennsylvania but he was Born in Monrovia, Liberia Africa.
When did NarlyBoyy come to America and why?
NarlyBoyy came to the United States in April of 2008 with his older brother Mankie, his little sister Nina, and his little brother Ninyatoe. At the time of his birth in Liberia there was a civil war going on and the education system wasn’t great. Realizing that, his dad Patrick Zarwie decided that the best thing to do for their kids was to move to the United States.Â
What inspired you to start doing music?
To be honest, I started rapping by accident. My cousin Phil and his friend Niles used to freestyle when I came over to visit and I never said anything, I just watched and listened. One day I just felt compelled to join their cypher and I liked it. After that I recorded my first song on soundcloud with my little brother Ninyatoe to Meek Mill and Rick Ross’s “Tupac Back†beat. What drove me to take it further was when I heard Justin Bieber blew up on youtube. I realized that the trials I’ve faced in my life, my family problems, reading the Bible, and following God’s commands can give me the opportunity to bring my mother Meakpor Y. Meatee and my little brother DaDa who are still in Liberia to the states.Â
Why did NarlyBoyy become a Gospel Artist?
NarlyBoyy became a Gospel artist because he was blessed with the gift of music and he wants to use it to glorify God’s name. “I want my songs to make the listener seek God when they’re going through the worst times of their life. I was a drug addict, sex addict, and all I was doing growing up was running from my problems. In 2022 I was ready to die because I thought I had no way to escape my addictions but that all changed when I met members of the Las Vegas International Church. They taught me how to love God the right way, and doing so has taught me how to love myself and others.Â
How did you get your artist name?
The base of my name is from the word Gnarly. Gnarly means difficult, dangerous, challenging, and in some cases awesome. As a kid every adult, teacher, and close friend said I was difficult to work with and dangerous to be around because I wasn’t easy to manipulate, or control. I was an outside of the box thinker, said stuff normal people wouldn’t say, and did things black kids around Southwest Philly weren’t doing. I used to play lacrosse, do parkour, ride skateboards, and do a lot of extreme things as hobbies. I used to get bullied for it but after a while everybody started doing it and it became awesome to them.Â
Do you have merchandise available? And where can my supporters get some?
I currently have merchandise available called “LuvNarlyâ€. My supporters can get them by directly messaging me on any of my social media accounts. The Unique thing about my merchandise is that all my pieces are customized, one of one, and can’t be bought or resold anywhere.
Who is one Gospel artist you would collaborate with?
One gospel artist I would work with is Caleb Gordon. I started listening to his music in college when I first found God and it helped me turn away from secular music. West Orlando Flow is one of his hardest songs to this day.Â
Who is one secular artist you would collaborate with?
I have a few artists in mind. Meek Mills, NoCap, Rylo Rodriguez, and Polo G. I would collaborate with these artists because they influenced my sound and I loved their songs at a certain point in my life.
© 2023, Logan. All rights reserved.
