For SuperSmashBroz, mixing cultures, connecting community are key to making music
Muyi and Noma Okundaye are blood brothers born and raised in Roxbury, but they have more in common than just childhood memories and a vibrant sense of style. The two, who go by Muyi Fre$co and Nasa Nomz professionally, are DJs, musicians and producers, and together they make up the artistic team SuperSmashBroz.
The duo has collaborated with dozens of artists locally and internationally, and here in the Hub they were named DJs of the Year in 2017, 2018 and 2020 at the Boston Music Awards. Their more than 20,000 monthly listeners on Spotify are tuning in from Nigeria, Ghana, Los Angeles, Toronto and, of course, the streets of Roxbury.
“We want to serve as a true bridge throughout the diaspora,” says Fre$co, noting how the SuperSmashBroz music incorporates many genre influences from R&B and Afrobeats to Brazilian funk.
SuperSmashBroz PHOTO: Marika Rosegold/@Marikarosegold
SuperSmashBroz’s newest album, “Loved Ones,” debuted in October and features 12 tracks produced in collaboration with different artists. The brothers say they’ve grown sonically in this album and that they intentionally collaborated with many international artists for a diverse sound. That musical diversity is a reflection of their upbringing here in Boston.
“Being born and raised in Roxbury, we were surrounded by Latinos, we were surrounded by Haitians, Africans, Asians, everybody. So we had a good understanding and good grasp on essentially every type of music,” says Nomz. “Being able to put that all into one cup, stir it up and create our own sound has been probably the coolest and one of the most impactful things for us.”
The album’s title and message are also community-centric, encouraging listeners to cherish and acknowledge their families and loved ones. Those core connections are particularly resonant for SuperSmashBroz, whose relationship as brothers keeps them emotionally and creatively linked.
“The further we go on this journey and the more things we accomplish together, the more you realize how rare it is, the connection my brother and I have,” says Fre$co.
Despite just dropping a big album, the brothers are already knee-deep in new projects, exploring work on scores for films, creating collaborative EPs with new artists and running a nonprofit that teaches DJ and music skills to city youth in Ghana and Boston. The best way to stay up to date with the duo is via social media — @supersmashbroz on Instagram — and their music can be found on most music streaming platforms.
Even with a full plate of projects, Fre$co and Nomz continue to advocate for the Boston music scene and the underrepresented artists here. Often overshadowed by New York, Boston doesn’t get the credit it deserves for its talent, and SuperSmashBroz is proof of that.
“Boston doesn’t get enough credit for its diversity,” says Fre$co. “You can hear the different influences in music right now, and the music that’s coming out of Boston can fit in so many spaces.”
