Scaling new heights and getting to the top as a music artist can be challenging. Making a name for yourself in the industry and maintaining and growing a following is demanding and requires a lot of determination, hard work, and resilience.

However, your passion and focus on making it as a country-famous artist can help you push for your dreams against all odds.

Francois Byiringiro, known as Zeo Trap, is a Rwandan rapper and designer who worked through his weaknesses to pursue his dream career and is currently doing well in the industry.

Zeo enjoys making music, especially songs that resonate with people. His goal is to continue growing his name in the music industry, and is also hopeful that people who listen to his music can relate to his songs. He raps to release his emotions, and many people of his age can relate to his lyrics.

Although Zeo’s music career is still so fresh, he has released five songs and one of them reached 200K streams and recently launched an album, Abafana Ibihumbi 100. The album contains 8 tracks.

His fans can’t get enough of his thrilling sound! The album has facilitated notable growth on his social media networks since its release. "I am over the moon that my album has reached many people in this short period of time which is less than two weeks. It’s so inspiring,” Zeo said in an interview with The New Times on Tuesday.

He added: "I was shocked like everyone else, I never thought that my album will boost in a very short time like it did, of course I put in a lot efforts and by god’s grace everything came my way.”

The artiste says that his album is about the hustles the upcoming artistes face in their music journey especially the rappers.

"Rapping is all about the real life and reality, so my album basically focuses on the life and journey of new rising artistes,” Zeo said.

"As my album title (One 1,000 fans) says, there is a line that says "Abafana 100,000 muri bo nta n’umwe waguha Rwf100” what I wanted to say is that people see us on the screens and think that we’re as successful as they see on socials and TVs but that is a different story.

Young rappers face many obstacles unlike others who do other different genres, it has been like that for a long time and nobody can explain why,” Zeo further noted.

The former ‘Byina Trap Gang’ member said that all artistes doing different genres should be treated equally if people really want Rwandan music to grow.

"People really love rap music. You can see that in different shows and concerts organised anywhere in the country, however you hardly hear any rap music playing at almost all of the country's big radios and TV stations.”

"We need a revolution in our music industry, we need a mindset change because this is discrimination being enhanced and is damaging us all. My only request to my fans and music fans is to continue supporting me and other rising talents, the future is bright and we will not let them down,” he added.

About Zeo Trap

Zeo Trap, born name Francois Byiringiro is a Rwandan rapper, song writer, and designer. In Rwanda and the diaspora, he is a new, talented and promising rap music brand.

Zeo was born in 2001 in Biryogo, Nyamirambo in Nyarugenge district, the second in a family of two boys, and grew up with strong music goals from a young age, with a passion to perform on the big stage.

Zeo fell in love with music at a young age because of his elder brother, who used to listen to a lot of rap songs.

He attended nursery school in Kimihurura and continued his primary education at Saint Famille.

In high school, he studied at CSC APADEM in Bugesera District and ESAPAN Mugonero in Ngororero.

He started singing when he was in secondary school in Kigali at age of 14.

Zeo is working hard to take his music to the next level, with the goal of becoming one of the country’s top artistes in a matter of years, and he feels he has what it takes to fulfil his goals.