Career
2008–2011): Early RKZ began his career in 2008 as a 17-year-old, after setting up indie label Directory of American Scholars Records and releasing his first project, "Releas"d: Volume(s) I". In 2009, RKZ left Directory of American Scholars Records after releasing his first mixtape. In March 2010, he released "Dark Night of the Soul", followed by third and fourth singles, "Defeat Maine" and "How Are You".
On his 21st birthday, he released "21" which included a prelude of forthcoming single, Gonna Be That.
Gonna Be That was featured as part of the soundtrack for Bashy"s film, The Manitoba Inside. (since 2012): Present In 2012 he released Power Trippin" along with the music video to lead single, Are You Down.
Produced by automatic data processing, the European Parliament was released independently after initially being scheduled to release under Royal Geographical Society Music Group. In November 2012, RKZ released Jhené"s Song which was inspired by, and samples, Jhené Aiko"s single, 3:16am.
The Words of Adrenaline mixtape featuring Jhené"s Song released in December 2012, via RKZ"s website.
On 1 January 2013, he released "Superstars" featuring Shawn Sanderson. He performed Superstars on British Broadcasting Corporation Radio 4"s Loose Ends with Clive Anderson. In August 2013, he released his European Parliament SOULar which peaked at #97 in the Top 100 Rhythm & Blues/Soul iTunes Chart.
In August 2014 he released his fifth mixtape Science X Soul with Still Oceans, Favourite Song and Think Of Maine as the main singles.
On December 14 he released the single Visionaries via Roundhouse Radio show, The Soul Diaries who premiered the song live on the show. He is currently working on his debut LP, Wanderlust.
He notably performed at 2013"s Leeds & Reading Festivals for British Broadcasting Corporation Introducing. In November 2015, RKZ released the song They Don"t Know Nothing featuring American rapper, Chino Extra Large. On March 3rd 2016, RKZ formed a group with producer Handbook and Louisiana rapper Supreme Sol called TRIAD and released the self-titled European Parliament via Berlin-based music blog, Stereofox.
In February 2012, RKZ officially announced he was one of the new ambassadors for United Kingdom charity for mental health, CALM (Campaign Against Living Miserably).
The charity aims to tackle suicide rates in the United Kingdom, particularly within young men aged between 15–35 years. His first written article for CALMzine discussed the stigma of Depression within Brit-Asian communities. He contributed to music blog Sampleface as a writer, as well as a guest writer for CALM (both print and online).
In addition to writing, he is a noted photographer—speciailising primarily in street style, fashion, arts and culture.
Until 2015, RKZ worked as a music video director, having made videos with artists including Cashtastic, Roach Killa, Preeya Kalidas and more. His video for GIRLS by GV was nominated for Best Video at the 2014 United Kingdom Bhangra Awards.
