Yungg Muta intends to live up to the name - But artiste also sowing his own musical seeds

Poetry is said to be lyrics without the music. So it is easy to understand why the grandson of wordsmith Mutabaruka would let his creativity shine through his music.

The artiste is on a mission to not only break into the industry but provide his listeners with purpose through every musical note he creates. Surrounded by music and musical reasonings from birth, he absorbed as much as he could from his family before striking out on his own. Songs such as Miss Intangible, Love Talk and Thank You Jah have built for him a steady fan base of listeners. Born Chafari Campbell, Yungg Muta has the distinction of having not just one famous grandfather but two, as he is also the grandson of veteran music producer Charles Campbell. Yungg Muta has big shoes to fill, because, though he wants to be seen as an artiste in his own right, his bloodline will lend a bit more scrutiny to whatever he offers up to the listening public.

"I knew I had a passion for music from the first time I went to a stage show and go backstage and saw the artistes before and after they went on stage. When I looked at the euphoria on their faces afterwards, I knew good music would be fun and fulfilling," he told THE STAR.

He credits his grandparents as his musical influences because he had been surrounded by quality sounds from a young age and this provided him with the inspiration he needed.

"So, me being their grandchild, I witness them working alongside multiple artistes, big and small, production-wise as well as cooking and keeping them sustained. So I have seen all angles of the music industry. My style of music is a reminder of the foundation, roots and consciousness because the origination and purpose of the music is redemption and upliftment to the black psyche," he said.

So, does he feel any pressure to live up to the famous name?

"If I had the mindset of Babylon, I probably would, but no. I know Jah no give me more than I can bear. Everything set already or is ordained, so nothing is a coincidence and wouldn't be part of my journey. I am exactly where I am supposed to be, doing what I'm supposed to be doing," he said.

Regarding what the 'original Muta' thinks of his music, the artiste said he has received the stamp of approval.

"Well, after playing him some of the music and getting some good comments about it, I would say he likes it. He just wants me to find and chisel out my real form. "Advice wise, he said I have to give more expression. This was about two years ago, still. From then, I have developed into a different and more mature Yungg Muta. I have more expression in certain songs while I'm performing. So those aspects of my craft have been fine-tuned," he said.

He expressed eagerness to work with several artistes, including Marcia Griffiths, Capleton, Sizzla and Beres Hammond.

"I been working on something from 2025 that I have brought forward to 2026. It is my brainchild. It is the debut album of Yungg Muta and what I have been working on for the past year, and more combined with new things from this year. So you will get a taste of something fresh and something that you have heard already. It is very engaging, with some enticing lyrics and sounds."