Rebekah Selena Buffong, professionally known as BEKA BARZ, is a British rapper, singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, record producer and engineer hailing from Worcestershire. She is the daughter of a Montserratian father and a Pakistani mother, and she first discovered her passion for music while being raised in the Seventh-day Adventist church as a PK (Preacher's Kid). During her teenage years, she developed a love for rap, which became a powerful outlet for expressing her feelings and emotions surrounding her identity. Since then, she has carved out her niche in the music industry, blending infectious melodies with articulate and raw rhymes.
Over the past decade and a half, she has emerged from a variety of diverse projects. Unafraid to evoke laughter, tears, dancing, or deep thought, she effortlessly challenges the boundaries of artistic expression. While her music defies easy categorisation, listeners will instantly recognise a BEKA BARZ record when they hear it.
Her dedicated fan base fuels her passion for sharing authentic music. She confidently takes charge of her creative vision by directing and editing her visual content alongside her wife Aimee Buffong through their joint ventures, Four Reel and Propel Pictures.
In January 2024, BEKA was recognised as one of BBC Asian Network's 'Ones To Watch,' further solidifying her status as an emerging artist. Her live performances are captivating, with her energetic stage presence and undeniable charisma. Headlining the BBC Introducing stage at Latitude Festival in 2023 showcased her ability to command a crowd.
Her immense talent has attracted the attention of industry tastemakers, leading to features as the 'Step Up' artist on BBC Radio 1Xtra and 'Artist of the Week' on BBC Asian Network, highlighting her growing influence in the UK music scene. Additionally, she had the opportunity to perform at the prestigious BBC Radio 1's Big Weekend in 2021, sharing the stage with some of the biggest names in music.
In April 2024, BEKA BARZ was one of six UK artists solicited for the inaugural BBC Introducing X PRS Foundation Artist Development Fund, receiving a grant of £2,000 to support her music career. Andrew Marston, the radio presenter for BBC Introducing in Hereford and Worcester, praised her as a groundbreaking artist whose creativity, discipline, and vision set her apart. He noted, "In over 25 years of hosting BBC Introducing, I’ve rarely seen an artist so well-rehearsed, combining original beats, razor-sharp performances, and deep, honest lyricism. Her visually stunning live shows— from BBC Introducing sessions to Lakefest and Latitude— have turned heads across the industry. Even during lockdown, she staged an ambitious performance for Radio 1’s Big Weekend. Alongside her artistry, she has worked behind the scenes, editing over 100 live sessions for BBC iPlayer. Given any opportunity, Beka supersizes it, maximising minimal resources to achieve extraordinary results."
With the highly anticipated mixtape, ‘Autonomy,’ on the horizon—beginning with the single "Wannabe"—BEKA is poised to break even more barriers in UK Rap. Combining the dedication to her craft with her unwavering determination, BEKA BARZ is sure to become a name synonymous with the future of music in the UK and beyond.
