Biography of Mr. II & Net Worth 2023.
Joseph Mbilinyi (born 1 May 1972), known for his stage names Mr. II, Sugu, and 2-proud, is a Tanzanian politician, human rights activist, and rapper. He was also elected to the Tanzanian Parliament in 2010 and then from 2015 to 2020.
Early Life
Mr. II stemmed from Songea in Southern Tanzania, started to rap in 1990, in his youth when he was still in school. His inspirations were Ice Cube, Niggaz With Attitude, and above all Tupak Shakur. Mr. II was the first Tanzanian rap artist to have major success with his music. Through his music and language, he expresses and addresses politics, social inequalities and other problems that affected Tanzanians. Most would consider his music as a voice for the voiceless, his brand of rap is soulful, lyrical, rhythmical and from the heart. This is because Mr. II is not afraid to tell it like it is, undertaking sensitive issues of concern to many Tanzanians such as democracy, child prostitution, police brutality and corruption.
He became so popular that his music reached audiences even in rural areas where rap had not been heard before. Due to the quality of his music and the message in his music, older people were more accepting to his music and contributed to making him the first Tanzanian rapper to have a mainstream hit. Also making Mr II the M-Net Best Male Artist Grammy Award Winner for Tanzania in 2001. Mr. II is the African Great Lakes region’s most popular Bongo Flava icon, and through this genre he was able to make a difference and create opportunities for the youth.
Discography
Mr. II is the most productive Tanzanian hip hop musician, given the number of released albums:
- Ni Mimi (1995)
- Ndani ya Bongo (1996)
- Niite Mister II (1998)
- Nje ya Bongo (1999)
- Millennium (2000)
- Muziki na Maisha (2001)
- Itikadi (2002)
- Sugu (2004)
- Coming of Age-Ujio Wa Umri (2006)
- VETO (2009)
- Antivirus Mixtapes
